I first started watching and developing my love for Bournemouth at 10 years old.

My family had moved to the area from Watford, and the club almost immediately started to influence my future career. Out of the blue I was given a card by a scout, who told me they wanted me to attend training.

Sean O’Driscoll was living in the same town as me while he was still playing and, from the age of 14, when I’d no means of transport, he offered to drive me in. We developed a strange relationship, because he didn’t talk too much and I was very shy, so those journeys were quite quiet.

But I certainly respected him greatly, and I hoped that he liked me. He also went on to coach and manage me; I’ve no doubt that I use his methods to this day.

Sean (below, right) had a huge influence on my footballing opinions. How you coach, how you speak to players. He was unique in seeing the game differently.

He was also the first person I spoke to who wanted to challenge the way things had always been done in football, which is the only way you actually get real change. He didn’t conform to giving a verbal battering if you lost, which at that time was part of everybody’s consciousness.