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A quick quiz question. Name the two footballers who were regulars in Manchester United’s first team ten years ago and who now play their football together at the world’s oldest club?

I recently drove over the Peak District to see Alan Smith, 34, at his new home which he shares with his fiancée near Chesterfield. The Leeds lad is not keen on interviews, but the former United ‘keeper Kevin Pilkington, now goalkeeper coach at Meadow Lane, passed on his number and Smith agreed to speak to do an in depth interview for the new FourFourTwo magazine.

Smith enjoyed a rich career at the Uniteds of Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle, before dropping down to play for MK Dons and now Notts County. He also played 19 times for England and admitted it could have been more had his younger self been more reliable in staying on the pitch.

While at Leeds, Smith wasn’t popular with Manchester United fans because he was a hero in Yorkshire, a talented local boy playing for an exceptional Leeds side who’d reached the semi finals of the European Cup. Only more so when he said that he’d never play for Manchester United.

“I did say that,” he admits. “I've also learned to never say never in football. When I said it I was young and naive and never thought that a) Man United would ever want me and b) Leeds would ever sell me. Look how silly I was.”

Smith, understandably, also didn't envisage Leeds getting relegated.

“I would probably have never left if we hadn't gone down but Leeds were trying to sell me to the highest bidder. It was a free for all and I didn't like it,” he explains in a still strong Leeds brogue.

The move to Old Trafford in 2004 went down as well in West Yorkshire as the departures of Joe Jordan, Gordon McQueen and Eric Cantona.

“As for criticism, I would have been a fool if I thought that would never have happened,” Smith explains. “I'd been at the club when Eric left to go to Old Trafford. I was ball boy the day he came back and scored at the Kop and saw the feelings that day.

“I spoke to Sir Alex and he said: 'I never thought you'd be brave enough to make that decision.' But the Leeds I left wasn't the Leeds I knew. There were people in charge of the club who I didn't like. I went to meetings and saw some bizarre things, with me being touted about to the highest bidder.

"I had the chance to go from a team who'd been relegated to the champions of the country. Arguably the greatest club manager ever wanted me. How could I turn that down?

“What I found at Old Trafford was a club who wanted Leeds back up because they loved those games, but sadly Leeds haven't been back up.”

Leeds owed Smith a fee for the transfer but he waived it.

“I had five years left on my contract,” he explained. “I was entitled to money but the last thing I wanted was to see Leeds go bankrupt. I've never spoken about it because I don't want to speak badly about my club. I've been back once and most people were pleasant with me. With hindsight, I think people realise there were serious problems (at Leeds).”

Despite his past, Smith won over Manchester United fans with his attitude and work rate.

"He started really well and I got on with Smudge,” said Roy Keane said. “One thing that struck me about him was that he never drank. That made him stand out, a bit. He’d still have a late night with us, and a craic and a laugh. He’d stay until the bitter end. I’d stopped drinking by this time, so we’d end up chatting together. We were the only two left capable of holding a conversation.”

Of Smith’s United career, Keane added: “It wasn’t that he didn't reach his potential; he just didn’t get the breaks. Or the breaks he got – injuries – were the ones you’d never want.”

Smith’s leg break at Anfield remains one of the more horrific injuries witnessed by fans, but the support he received from his teammates club and fans after meant Manchester United won his respect as a “proper football club” which he still holds to this day.

The other player? Roy Carroll, who this week played for Northern Ireland in their 2-1 win against Finland.

MORE: Manchester United fans have picked their squad for next season - now pick your starting XI.