Luton Town striker Craig Mackail-Smith shares his football memories
First game you watched live? It was definitely a Watford game, and I think it was against Wolves. I was a big Watford fan and I went to watch them quite a lot. I think Gary Porter might have scored and they won 2-1. I used to go a lot because I did not start playing football until I was 16 and it cost only £10 to go and watch! All my friends were massive supporters and we loved it. First football hero? That would probably be Alan Shearer. I always wanted to be a striker and at the time he was scoring so many goals for Southampton and then Blackburn. He was such a good finisher – left foot, right foot, volleys, headers. He could do the lot. He was not the most skilful player but, if you gave him a chance, he scored every time. First football boots? I can just about remember them – they were Mizuno! Not too bad. I was lucky that my mum and dad were happy to get me boots when I needed them and they did the best they could. Back then, boots were not about colour. Mine were just black. I try to make mine last these days because they become more comfortable as you break them in. First kit? I think it was a Watford one, which I won in a competition in my local paper. I don’t know if I had to do anything or not, but I won the Watford kit. I had the Blackburn kit from when they won the league in 94-95. First professional game? In the Football League, it was for Peterborough against Wrexham. I came on for the last 20 minutes and we won 3-0 – George Boyd scored! To play professionally was amazing because it took me a while to get there. I left a close-knit team in Dagenham but was very lucky at Peterborough. Darren Ferguson was the boss and he was a good coach – very attacking! We were a very entertaining side so, as a striker, it was a fantastic time. First professional goal? It was for Peterborough, of course, away at Bury. A ball was played over the top and I controlled it and mishit it into the corner. It was a real Mackail-Smith finish! I think it was three games after my debut, so I was relieved, but I was always relaxed then and just loving life because I’d thought my chance to be a pro had gone. I was never concerned about scoring, I was just enjoying the moment and having lots of fun. My favourite ever goal, though, was for Scotland against Liechtenstein in a Euro qualifier in October 2011. First red card? I am lucky enough to say I have not had one yet! I try to stay away from that kind of stuff, but you get booked for so much these days. The game has changed so much from when I made my debut. The tackles that used to go flying in were crazy and you would just get a yellow. I remember playing Brentford away and I was on a yellow. I tripped someone down the wing and thought that was it, but I was lucky! Fingers crossed I never get one.