football firsts
Daniel Nardiello talks us through his football memories
First match?
After my dad had retired, he took me to my first Coventry game when I was five or six with my uncle and my grandad. It was against Southampton and I think It was 2-2.
The thing that really stands out for me was being in a massive group of blokes, people screaming at the pitch and my dad getting me some chips at half-time. It was like a lads’ day out and although I already loved football, that really got me into it.
First hero?
I loved Micky Quinn – he just scored goals and I used to argue with my dad that he was good enough to play for England.
Darren Huckerby was great at Coventry as well. He was someone I wanted to play like, and I still remember his goal against Manchester United when we beat them 3-2 in 1997. On Match of the Day you could see me and all my pals going mad behind the goal, which is a good memory.
First kit?
I think I had Coventry kits every year from the age of five or six – sometimes I had the home, away and third kits. I remember a purple third kit that I used to wear all the time. It’s probably horrific to look at now but it was my favourite.
My dad came from an Italian family and played for Wales, so I had Italy and Wales shirts growing up, and every now and then I’d get a Juventus one, too.
First boots?
They were Adidas Copa Mundials and I was probably about eight years old. I still remember them to this day, they were the comfiest boots ever. They got absolutely battered, but my dad did make me wash them after every game I played.
First game?
My first ever game was for Manchester United against Arsenal at Highbury in the League Cup when I was about 18. I came on with 20 minutes to go, we got absolutely tonked 4-0 but it was still incredible.
My first start was against Leicester about a year later and some of the players in the team that day were phenomenal – the likes of Beckham and Ferdinand. I didn’t do amazingly but the chance to start at Old Trafford is something I’ll never forget.
First goal?
It was for Swansea against Southend in the Football League Trophy. The goal was a bit of a deflection from eight yards out and it was harder to miss, but it was nice to get my first professional goal. That loan move gave me a good understanding of football because League Two was nothing like I had expected.
I went to Barnsley next and that was a really good spell. I got two goals and an assist on my debut there against Blackpool and I remember the day vividly.
We’d had a double session at Man United and Sir Alex told me I was going out on loan, and they wanted me to play that day. After 70 minutes I was blowing out of my backside, but thankfully it all went to plan.
First red card?
It was for Barnsley away at Huddersfield in 2006 for two yellow cards. I’d only been on the pitch for 15 minutes! I can’t remember what the first one was for but the second was for swearing at the ref. I was out of order, so I deserved it, and it was a bit of a dampener because we had a big night out in Leeds afterwards which I then wasn’t really up for!