Virgil’s all about the shutouts

CHRIS BASHAM used to play football with a bunch of painters and decorators.

But the Sheffield United star has come a long way since his Stafford Rangers days, having painted a perfect Premier League picture for himself.

Basham was one of the Blades’ outstanding performers in their first season back in the top flight.

The reliable defender played in every game for the South Yorkshire club as they finished ninth and came within a whisker of qualifying for Europe.

His reward has been a new two-year deal at Bramall Lane and deserved accolades as the club’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year.

However, it has not always been fame and glory for the likeable centre-back.

Having been released by boyhood club Newcastle United when he was 16, the teenager worked in a McDonald’s to make ends meet.

And after resurrecting his career at Bolton, he found himself on loan at semi-professional Stafford Rangers.

“I had to clean my own boots at

Stafford and, to be fair, I had to do that at Blackpool as well,” said Basham, who is the Blades’ longest-serving current player with close to 300 appearances.

“I signed for Blackpool when they were in the Premier League and I thought it would all be luxury, but it was really tough to play there.

“When I was at Stafford Rangers, it was one of those where you’d train with the team on a Friday night and on a Saturday we’d just turn up and play.

“I was making mates with lads who were painters and decorators. They were coming to games in their overalls,

Position

Age 32

Clubs

2006–2010: Bolton Wanderers 2006–2007: Stafford Rangers (loan) 2007–2008: Rochdale (loan) 2010–2014: Blackpool 2014–current: Sheffield United

SEASIDE SHUFFLE Basham at Blackpool Defender BASHING GUNNERS Basham has a go at Arsenal and (below) in Bolton days

OBSESSED Virgil van Dijk