Lined up in a 3-5-2 formation

1 GK – Stephen Bywater: From my FA Youth Cup winning team. A fearless shot stopper who commanded his area very well. He would jump in front of a bus for the team.

2 CB – Rio Ferdinand: Harry (Redknapp) called him a Rolls Royce and he was right. The complete modern day centre half, he had the lot and I was lucky enough to play with him in a couple of testimonials.

3 CB – Neil Ruddock: An old fashioned, tough-as-nails centre back who had a sweet left foot and could head it past the halfway line. I enjoyed my time at Swindon town with him.

4 CB – Izzy Iriekpen: Captain of my FA Youth Cup winning side. A leader who is also comfortable on the ball. He almost became the youngest ever player to appear for West Ham at just 16 but the referee’s whistle went just as he was about to come on at Old Trafford!

5 RM – Adam Newton: The player of the FA Youth Cup final. He had electric pace and had a great delivery into the box. He assisted two of my goals in the final.

6 CM – Michael Carrick: Another player from the FA Youth Cup winning team who has gone on to become an exceptional professional. An excellent passer of the ball who has won everything at club level, and he is another England international.

7 CM – Joe Cole: Another team mate from the FA Youth Cup side. Ian Wright nicknamed him ‘the conjuror’ as his ability was simply breathtakingly. Another who went on to have a great career and become an England international.

8 CM – Jeff Minton: We called him “glue boot” for a reason! We played together in a very good side at Canvey Island and then at Chelmsford City where we won the Ryman Premier League. In my opinion he is the best player to grace non-league football.

9 ST – Peter Crouch: I played four games with Peter at Spurs in the under-19s and scored four goals thanks to his knock-downs! A very good player on the ball for a tall lad and another who’s had a great career, and his goal ratio for England isn’t bad either.

10 ST – Paolo Di Canio: I was lucky enough to be his boot boy when I was an apprentice at West Ham and also to come on in a first team pre-season friendly and play up front with him. If he said he would chop you then he want it! It was an honour to have cleaned his boots. A crazy character.

11 LM – Ricky Holmes: Another from the Chelmsford City team which won promotion. He was very direct, he scored and created goals and had great pace. It was only a matter of time before he played in the Football League (now at Northampton Town). He is also an England C international.