“I played against Newcastle on the Wednesday in the Football League Centenary game and it went to extra-time,” recalled Sharpe. “So I was playing two hours of football before making my official debut against West Ham on the Saturday.



” It was all pretty quick. I was expecting to be in the Reserves for a couple of years when I came in at 17 but, by the time the season had started, I was in the team. Unfortunately, I had a hernia around Christmas time and didn’t really play again that season.

“I was always a left-winger but obviously we had a few injuries and, getting into the team as a 17-year-old, full-back was a bit of an easier position to play with the game in front of you. I played the first half of my first season here at left-back and edged my way forward to start playing left wing. It did help as, back then, I was always renowned as being a little bit lazy as a kid!”