I am proud of my black roots and of the black blood that runs in my veins.
I had an early taste of fame. I was 20, going out with TV presenter Dani Behr and we'd have paparazzi chasing us. I'm not comfortable being photographed, though I accept it is part of the job. I had to ask myself, 'What comes first, being a celebrity or footballer?'
There's never been completion in my football career because I've always been striving for that next thing.
Too much money at a young age, it just takes your eye off the ball. And you're not as hungry as players used to be. You think you've made it before you've done anything.
What you've got to realise is that footballers, and me in particular, have seen everything in the changing room. Everything. I've seen the manager kicking off with the players, the players kicking off with him, players fighting each other, managers fighting, everything.
Celebrity culture, it's everywhere, isn't it? It's reality TV, Big Brother. I didn't become a footballer to be famous, I became a footballer to be successful. I didn't want to be famous. Now people want to be famous. Why? Why would you want people following you about all day?
Where I grew up, people obviously knew my dad because it's a small place and he was the top player for Swinton - they'd go and watch him play, see him in the papers, so they knew he was black.
All players have 'ordinary' periods in their career and it's hard to explain why. So at these times, its all about self belief, hard work and hopefully you get the break and your form returns.
I like to let my football do the talking, I'm respectful of other good teams such as Arsenal.
My weight doesn't really fluctuate, but I make sure I don't eat late at night. It's about making sure I'm right physically because mentally I'm OK.
When you lose a game or don't play well you can't wait for the next one, because it soon disappears, the disappointment.
Every footballer wants to play forever. And if you are going to keep on playing - to enjoy it to the full - you want to win games, and as a result, trophies.
You get yourself prepared for a big game, you get yourself up for it. Then afterwards you don't sleep or eat properly.
As a footballer I can't imagine life without the use of one of my legs... Sadly this is exactly what happens to thousands of children every year when they accidentally step on a landmine.
Many players want to make as much money as they can and change teams for ten grand. How is that going to make much difference to their lives?
I do not wish to hide my origins, nor do I seek to make it a subject of conversation. I am what I am.
I'm not comfortable being photographed, though I accept it is part of the job.
If I feel I'm not influencing games, not scoring goals or making goals, then that's the time I'd pack it in.
I didn't become a footballer to be famous, I became a footballer to be successful. I didn't want to be famous. Now people want to be famous. Why? Why would you want people following you about all day? I couldn't think of anything worse.
A lot of people don't know that my father is black.
