David James

“There tends to be a misguided, populist view about what makes a good goalkeeper. It is not just about making great saves; what Van der Sar brings to Man United's game is not just shot stopping, but the way he controls the area and his unbelievable confidence in the relationship between him and his back line.”

“Football is a force for good so why don't more men's clubs become genuine community clubs and serve their communities regardless of gender?”

“Do goalkeepers get nervous about the dreaded spot-kick? I don't, not any more.”

“I have always reflected on goals conceded throughout my career - win, lose or draw, there is always thinking to be done.”

“Just because footballers earn a lot, it does not follow that they should be expected to divvy it up to everyone who asks for it.”

“Derby games are about more than points in the league, or cup victories, they are about bragging rights that extend well beyond an afternoon of football.”

“I'm always happy being where I'm at, even if things aren't great. Because that's life, isn't it?”

“To practise saving free-kicks you want a great free-kick taker.”

“Despite my reservations, I do think there is scope for the Premier League to consider regionalised academies - but only if the pupils there were independent of any one club.”

“At even the youngest age level, football is becoming a factory production line.”

“When I left Watford - where I had several goalkeeping coaches - to join Liverpool, I had to ask Graeme Souness to bring in a coach for me as they didn't have one.”

“Football as an industry invests a huge amount of energy and cash into serving local communities.”

“Over the years I have got used to the media coverage, its tendency to swing between really good and really bad, and I've learned to stop thinking that it means the world. Still, its influence should never be underestimated.”

“Me and my friends started playing because we loved the game and the social aspect of it. We weren't dreaming of playing for England.”

“It would be foolish to think that 22, 23 individuals in a group are going to get on famously; there are rifts everywhere.”

“Football shouldn't be about kids becoming superstars, it should just be about having fun.”

“There are positives to players being shipped out. There are always young players in the dressing room thinking: 'Great! I really hope he goes so I get a chance.' But unfortunately the media don't pick up on things like that.”

“The very idea that women should not be influential beyond backroom roles is archaic: you can wash my kit but don't you dare have any input into the game. That's ridiculous.”

“There are some wonderful organisations out there which have helped football become a much more enjoyable game for everyone, from stuff in the crowd being aimed at players - that's gone, or pretty much gone.”

“Freedom of speech is fine, if you dislike someone you are entitled to that but in regards to racist abuse, sexist abuse, homophobic abuse it shouldn't be tolerated and if social media companies can do something about it they should do.”