Dean Lewington – The MK Dons defender talks us through his football firsts

First game you watched live? My first match would’ve been a Fulham game when I was only a few months old because my dad (Ray Lewington) used to play for them. My family would take me down when they could and we’d sit in the Cottage. The first match I remember was against Cardiff when I was four or five-years old. We went all the time. Luckily, I’ve had the chance to play there once – it has a great charm to it. First hero? My first Fulham hero was actually Andy Sayer. He was a striker and when I was young, I used to idolise him. I used to go down to training to watch them and he was my favourite. You always looked out for players that scored goals. I also loved John Barnes, below, when I was young too. He was amazing for Liverpool. First boots? They were a pair of Hi-Tec boots, actually. I can’t remember the exact name of them but they were passed down from family friends who had inherited them as well, so they were a bit of tradition. I’ve now passed them on as well so I had to keep up the tradition – I’m not sure where they are. First kit? It was actually a Liverpool kit. I had a home one that was sponsored by Crown Paints, a real classic. I think it was from the mid-80s so I was around four when I got it. It was a great shirt. I wore it all the time. It was a Christmas present. First game? It was an away match for Wimbledon against Sheffield Wednesday in 2003. I came on for about two or three minutes and only touched the ball once, so not exactly a memorable debut but the chance to come on at a place like Hillsborough when you’re young is incredible. I’d been on the bench the previous five games and then the boss, Stuart Murdoch, brought me on leftmidfield, which isn’t my position, but it didn’t matter – we were 4-2 down. It was a mixture of happiness and fear because it’s so different to anything else you’ve done before but it was a bit of a whirlwind. First goal? It was Reading away in 2003. I scored a header from about 15 yards out. I have to admit it was a pretty good goal – I was surprised! I certainly wasn’t expecting to score something like that. It was the following season from my debut and I just got on the end of it and it went in. It was on Boxing Day, so it was a nice little present. First red card? It was at home to Reading in 2004. It was the same season as I scored my first goal, so it was an eventful one. There was a bit of a goalmouth scramble and one player was just lying on the ball so I just booted him in the ribs, I think, trying to get the ball out. I got the red for violent conduct. They had a few big players come up to me and grab me. I tried to be a little bit tougher than what I was. It was a bit of a reckless thing to do and I don’t know what I was thinking.