Here in Theo Walcott's own words, and those of his family and friends, is the story of the Arsenal and England forward's rise – from pillow-fighting star of the Southampton youth team to self-effacing international

Theo Walcott When I was 10 years old my teacher got us to imagine our future. I drew a timeline of the rest of my life. I had just started playing football, so I drew pictures of me as a professional footballer. I imagined I'd drive a nice car, have a nice house, and win the World Cup with England. I'd have two wives – one would die and so I would get remarried (I haven't told my girlfriend Mel that bit yet) – and then I'd die aged 90. It was all very far-fetched, but the footballer part has come true.

As a little kid, I wasn't even interested in football. The first time I played I was nine and I volunteered to go in goal thinking it would be exciting to save penalties. In fact, it was really boring. Up until then football had just been having a kickaround in the playground at lunchtime. We used to pretend we were making our own Nike adverts; 10 years later, I made one for real.

My friend Adam gave me my first chance to play in an organised match, for Steventon, when I was 10. The team were one player short and I joined in. I had never played before, but I came on and scored a perfect hat-trick: header, left foot, right foot. At the time I didn't even know what that was. I can't explain how I did it; it just seemed to come naturally to me. I'll never forget that moment.

Don Walcott, dad That was the first time we ever watched Theo play a match. He scored a hat-trick and it was a big surprise. Newbury wanted to sign him after that, and I said I didn't even know he could play football.

Steve Taylor, AFC Newbury coach We had a six-a-side the following Sunday, and Theo came along. He was very raw, but showed so much potential. I remember saying to his dad: "Don, he'll play professional football one day". Don said, "You've got to be joking", but I meant it.

The thing that stood out about Theo was his unbelievable pace. He looked like an Olympic sprinter. He ran as fast with the ball as without it, which is quite an art. He knew where to run and the ball just seemed to stick to him; he was a joy to watch.

We signed him there and then and brought him along to play Hungerford. I said to the opposition: "We've got a Brazilian" – that was what we called Theo – and he went and scored a hat-trick in his very first game for us.

Theo Walcott I didn't really have a clue what football was about at that time. Dad had an old video of him playing for the RAF, doing this one skill he had – I call it the Don Walcott special – and he made me watch that a lot. Otherwise my biggest inspiration was Michael Owen, because he made football look easy.

When I was 11 I was invited to be a ballboy at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea played Liverpool. I was a Liverpool fan, so I was gutted that they lost 2-0. Afterwards, I was introduced to the players – I found it terrifying. I can remember walking into the dressing room and the first thing I saw was Zola's bum as he reached for his towel! I felt like a scared little pup, because there were so many people in one room. I got to meet Michael Owen, though, and we had our picture taken together. Six years later, at the World Cup in Germany, I brought out that photo and showed it to him. It was a funny moment.

Lynn Walcott, mum I realised Theo had a special talent when he was 13. I remember saying to Don: "He's going to make it", but Mr Negative here said: "No, we mustn't say that." People kept telling us he was special for his age. There was this term his coaches used: "the full package". There were lots of boys with skills, but the difference, we were told, was his character.

Andy Ritchie, youth coach at Southampton FC academy The first time I heard about Theo was when he trialled at Southampton. The U13s had just played Chelsea and we won 5-2. That was unusual; we rarely scored that many against Chelsea. Then my friend told me that this young lad called Theo Walcott had scored three. He hadn't even signed for us yet.

I've worked in football for 17 years at Crystal Palace, Charlton, Chelsea and Southampton and I've never met a boy like him, even at Chelsea where John Terry was in my youth team. As soon as I saw Theo play he just looked so natural. It's something you can't teach. Like that run he made against Liverpool in the Champions League; it was George Best all over – riding scything tackles, he just kept going. To have someone like that in your team as a coach… oh, you're very lucky.

Jumpers for goalposts: Theo Walcott. Photograph: Harry Borden

Theo Walcott Playing youth football meant a lot of goals, and a lot of travelling. My dad drove me everywhere and we got through quite a few cars as a result. Once, on our way to Eastleigh to play Arsenal, we broke down and I was distraught because we were going to miss the start of the game. We had to call grandad to rescue us. After the World Cup I bought my dad a car to make up for all the ones that had blown up over the years.

In my second season at Southampton, aged 13, my dad bet me £100 I couldn't score 30 goals in one season. I was like, "Wow, that's a lot of money." The very last game we were playing Tottenham and I was on 28 goals. My dad was filming the game and as I scored my 29th you could hear him getting nervous about losing the bet. In the last five minutes, I won a penalty. My dad started mumbling on the tape: "If he scores this, he gets £100." Instead, I hit the bar.

Andy Ritchie He was 15 years old when it finally sunk in just how special he was. We were playing Arsenal in an FA Youth Cup game at St Mary's and Theo scored the winning goal with his weaker foot after an incredible first touch. To do that against Arsenal, against boys three years older, outpacing them, and in that stadium in front of a number of high-profile people… that was when I knew that he was different. It wasn't just about pace then – he had delivered on the biggest stage. It was then that I knew Southampton couldn't keep him.

Jake Thomson, best friend from Southampton When we first met at Southampton everyone knew he was going to play professionally, you could see he had that little something extra.

When we turned 16 we all moved into digs called the Lodge. That was a lot of fun – water fights and pillow fights, lads messing about. Theo shared a room with Gareth Bale and I was next door. He was training with the first team by then, but back at the Lodge he was just one of us. He called himself the "underwear bandit"; he put pants on his head, like a mask, and went in people's rooms and hit them with towels!

Theo Walcott It was only when I started playing for Southampton reserves, aged 15, that the thought of becoming a professional began to seem real. At 16, I moved into digs with the other players my age, and we had a great time. We had pillow fights – some people used to turn the pillow cases round so that you got hit with the zip, all those stupid things you do as a kid. Before Gareth Bale and I left we signed our names on the wall of our room.

Georges Prost, Southampton U17s For a coach, he was a wonderful lad to work with – he had such enthusiasm. English lads are always good in motivation and discipline, but Theo had one other advantage: technique. Whereas in France we have lads training every day, even at U13 level, in England they are not so technically aware; they are only doing two training sessions a week. Theo, however, was different because he always played up an age group. We did a lot of repetition – right foot, left foot, control, always working with the ball. I think playing above his age really helped him to develop very quickly.

Lynn Walcott The day that he signed for Arsenal we knew everything was going to change for the whole family. I remember that day: 20 January 2006. I was in Sainsbury's with my daughter and I got a call from Don. He said: "Quick, you've got to get to Hertfordshire now! It's going ahead, he's signing!" I whizzed out the shop. He was only 16 at the time; he wasn't even old enough to drive. The next thing we knew Theo was called up for the World Cup squad and we had journalists camping out in our village day and night, knocking on the door.

Jake Thomson All of a sudden, he was off to Arsenal. It was strange – I was used to seeing him every day, then he was gone. He came to say goodbye and someone said: "Oh you'll probably go to the World Cup." His dad was in the kitchen and said: "Don't be stupid!" When I heard he got the call-up I couldn't believe it.

Theo Walcott Moving to Arsenal was a big contrast, from running around with your mates to being serious. I had to grow up fast. I was really quiet, as you would be walking into the changing room with Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès and Freddie Ljungberg there. I was starstruck. On the pitch I also struggled to be myself. In a reserve game for Southampton, against Portsmouth, I had injured my shoulder when Linvoy Primus fell on my arm. Southampton said it was just a dead arm, but when I went to Arsenal it came up on the medical that I was going to have problems with both shoulders. It wasn't Linvoy's fault, it was just genetics. That first season at Arsenal I dislocated my shoulder in every game. Nobody knew at the time, but my shoulder kept popping in and out during matches; it was very painful and I couldn't play at my best. I had to hold it when I was running.

Don Walcott What I really admire about Theo is his attitude. The way he handled the World Cup situation, at 17, I don't think many people could do that. His view on life, his respect for other players, and how he conducts himself – I think that is all very important. He's had to be like that since he was 16, and that is quite something. And he's never changed. I'm not sure I would have been like that. It's a unique gift that will take him a long way in life.

David James, England team-mate There was an understanding from very early on that Theo had his head screwed on. He didn't play at the 2006 World Cup, but I saw him do some amazing things in training. I remember we had a little five-a-side, and I literally threw a ball at him and he volleyed it first time into the back of the net. I thought, "That's not bad."

Theo Walcott If I was quiet at Arsenal, I was even quieter with England. During that 2006 World Cup, I made a DVD diary. I filmed the fans as I was looking out from the team bus, and interviewed the players, but I felt more like a fan myself. I was just a little kid, and it was strange for me. When I watch it back now I see myself looking into the camera talking about whether I'll play. It was sad in the end, not getting the chance. I'll definitely do another diary for the World Cup next year, if I make it. Even now, with England, it can still be a bit daunting. I always sit next to David Beckham when we eat – my sister gets really jealous when I tell her. I'm there staring at his tattoos thinking, "Wow, they're fantastic." He definitely influenced me to get mine. David always looks after me; he's a really nice guy.

Steve Taylor I'm not at all surprised at how far he's got. If ever anyone criticised him, he always came back stronger, let his feet do the talking. He did the same thing for England, came back and scored a hat-trick against Croatia after all that criticism. That result was a big stepping stone for England.

David James Theo reminds me of Michael Owen. Michael never shouted the odds across the table; he always kept himself to himself. Theo is the same – even after the Croatia game, he went there, scored three goals and went home. There wasn't any change in him. The lads started calling him Lewis Hamilton – because he's quicker than Lewis's car. With all that, you could excuse a young player for being a bit big-headed, but he was exactly the same afterwards. A mature, quiet, sensible young lad – I genuinely like him.

Jake Thomson I always say the only thing that's changed about Theo is that his wallet's got bigger. He's a top guy, with a great family. I have never seen him as "Theo Walcott"; he's just my friend. We still mess about like kids. He's very mature when he needs to be, but around people who know him he's silly. When someone says something boring we shut our eyes and pretend to go to sleep.

Lynn Walcott I still get a kick out of walking behind Theo, and seeing people's faces turn. I never tire of that being really funny. I never worried about him being a footballer – how many people get paid to do something you love so much?

Andy Ritchie He's great with the supporters, he just has that human touch. He's a marketing man's dream, he is Beckhamesque in that respect – a great ambassador for the game of football.

Theo Walcott I'm still only 20, but I feel like I'm coming into my own now. There's a lot more for me to achieve with Arsenal, and England, but I don't think I'm seen as a kid any more, I'm more established. Remembering back to how I used to check the squad list every week at Arsenal, to see if my name was on it, now it feels good to know that I'm always there. Still, I sometimes check just to make sure. All those years ago, when I was 10 and planned out my life story, I predicted that England would win the World Cup. I don't think I was clever enough to write down the year it would happen, but it would be a dream come true if it was 2010, and I was a part of it. OSM