Lallana was a joy to play with . .. he’d get me out of trouble!
EXETER CITY and former Southampton midfielder LLOYD JAMES on exaggerating his age to get a game, doing battle with Dimitar Berbatov and facing his childhood hero Ryan Giggs:
FIRST FOOTBALL MEMORY
The first thing I remember was going to training for Keynsham Town under sevens when I was five. The manager asked me if I was available to play in a game and my dad had told me beforehand that I wasn’t allowed as I was two years younger. As I was walking off I told the manager: ‘I’m all right, I’m old enough.’ That little porkie pie got me in and I played my first ever game.
BEST PLAYER I’VE PLAYED WITH
Adam Lallana at Southampton. Gareth Bale is up there but as an all-round footballer I’d have to say Lallana. He had a few injuries when we were in the youth team but once he got a full year, during his second-year scholarship, he came on in leaps and bounds. Lallana was a joy to play with. He played off the striker, was always available for a pass and would get me out of a lot of trouble.
TOUGHEST OPPONENT
Dimitar Berbatov. I played against him for Southampton in the FA Cup in 2009. He has this aura that he looks a bit lazy but once you play against him you see his movement off the ball and how strong he is.
FAVOURITE FOOTBALLING MOMENT
There have been a few. To play in two play-off finals at Wembley (with Leyton Orient and Exeter) has been good.
SPORTING HERO
When I was growing up it was Ryan Giggs. I would always want to be him when I was out playing with my mates . . . not that I could dribble past players! I played against him in that Cup tie and while he wasn’t in his prime, he was still fantastic.
TOUGHEST AWAY GROUND
Mansfield. It’s always a tough place to go and I haven’t got too many fond memories of playing there.
THE FIRST ALBUM I BOUGHT
It would have been a Peter Andre album. I used to love him, the Spice Girls and Mark Morrison when I was a kid.
KARAOKE SONG
Sweet Caroline. Everybody is singing along with you!
BEST-DRESSED TEAM-MATE
Apart from myself, Ryan Harley is very smartly dressed. But the best-dressed person at the club would be Paul Tisdale, the gaffer.
DREAM DINNER-PARTY GUESTS
I’ve always been a Manchester United fan. I’d like to have a chat with David Beckham, and I would definitely invite Sir Alex Ferguson. I’d have to invite my wife, too.
IF I WASN’T A FOOTBALLER
I would love to be a golfer, but I’m no way good enough. I’m playing off 15, but it could be 28 on a bad day!