First game you watched live?
England against South Africa in 1997 at Old Trafford. I was over with a group from the Dublin League when I was 15 and England won 2-1. Phil Masinga scored for South Africa. I was also a mascot for Bray Wanderers in the Irish Premier League when I was seven.
First football hero?
It pains me as a Liverpool fan to say this, but my hero is Peter Schmeichel. He was the best keeper of my generation. He had absolutely everything. He was such a commanding presence in the area and he could also pull off world-class saves. For a big man he should not be that agile, but he was. It was absolutely terrible as a Liverpool fan, but he was the only player on their side that I could really appreciate.
First pair of boots?
They were a terrible pair of black and blue Hi-Tec boots. They came right around my ankles and, for some reason, they were moulded as well. I remember wearing them in all sorts of conditions with no grip, but back then I didn’t have a clue about what good boots were.
First kit?
I had all the Liverpool goalkeeper kits. My first was the yellow and black Bruce Grobbelaar kit, but there was also the Packie Bonner Italia 1990 Republic of Ireland kit. I was eight then and there are maybe one or two games prior to 1990 that I can actually remember, but I have a great memory of that World Cup. I remember where I was for every single game.
First professional game?
I saved a penalty with my first touch. I made my Nottingham Forest debut off the bench at Crystal Palace in 2000. Dave Beasant got sent off in the last minute, when we were winning 3-2, but thankfully I came on and saved the penalty. Julian Gray scored initially, but it had to be retaken for encroachment and I saved it – and the game. I was 18 and Neil Ruddock was stood on the sideline. He shook me on the shoulder and told me to make a name for myself. I thought ‘get stuffed mate, you don’t mean that, you’re with Palace!’
First professional goal?
It was three months ago against Portsmouth with the last kick of the game. That is the only goal in open play I have scored. The 48 hours after that were ridiculous. There were about 100 messages on my phone. It never stopped ringing. I was sat in my living room on the Wednesday with Sky Sports interviewing me live – it was absolutely nuts. It was a massive point for us, and to do it against Pompey was brilliant.
First red card?
I have had three. My first was away to Barnet in 2013 and we lost 4-1. But then this season I was sent off twice in four games – against Leyton Orient and Hartlepool – in identical incidents. One-on-ones, chopped them straight to the shoes, completely accidental, but the referee got it right every time. If a goalkeeper gets sent off, it is going to be in the box and lead to a penalty, which nine times out of ten is a goal, so you do feel guilty. You have a very long walk from your goal to the tunnel and you try to avoid eye contact with anybody.
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