I was born in Yorkshire and grew up in Wakefield. My first real team were called Alltoffs and I played as an eight year old in their under 11's until I got picked to play for the district team. That's where scouts spotted me and I signed as a schoolboy to Leeds United in their School of Excellence. I've always been a big Leeds fan, my uncle used to take me, so it was great to sign for them. Unfortunately, Leeds started getting rid of a lot of young lads and I eventually ended up talking to Man City, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby. I eventually signed a six year contract at Maine Road - 2 as a schoolboy, 2 as an apprentice and 2 as a pro. I did pretty well on trial at City.
Were you academically minded at school?
I wasn't brain of Britain but I worked hard and ended up leaving at 16 with 6 grade A-C's which was okay. I wasn't brainy, but I revised hard - in fact one of my nicknames is "revise"!
Who were your boyhood heroes?
David Batty. He was Leeds through and through and gave so much for the team (at this stage Chris goes into fan overdrive, and names the Leeds championship winning team!). I was also very impressed with how Vinnie Jones was with the fans. He'd always spend 20 minutes before every home match spending time with the disabled supporters and he seemed a top bloke.
You're perceived as an inexperienced player but you've had 7 clubs now…
Yeah, I've been around a bit, but most of the clubs I only spent a very short time on loan at. I played in City's reserves under Frank Clark but I wasn't ready for the first team so I was sent on loan to Cardiff who were in the Third Division (where they belong - ed). I enjoyed it there as Cardiff are a big club in a big city but I returned to City and managed to break into the first team and score on my debut against Crewe But City had several managers in a short space of time and when Joe Royle came in he sent me on loan straight away to Blackpool. This was a bad move for everyone as Blackpool had not watched me and their manager, Nigel Worthington, wanted a different type of player, and I ended up playing only two games.
From there I had loan spells at Scarborough and Northampton but things never really got going. I returned to Maine Road with three years of my contract left but the boss said I was surplus to requirements straight away. Thing was, I was a young lad buying a house and I didn't want to move, but eventually I got the message that I wasn't going to make the grade at City. I was demoted to the bench in the reserves at Burnley. I came on and scored three but next week I was still on the bench so I knew it was time to move.
So you moved to Mansfield?
Yeah, I just wanted to become a better player, and I was stagnating at City. In fairness the move to Field Mill was absolutely superb for me. The fans were great and I was given a spot in the first team. I started on a monthly contract and scored something like 6 in my first 4 games. After that I really felt at home there but it was difficult for us because we had no money so we could never really progress too far. Saying that I can't praise the fans enough.
It got a bit tough getting used to the training facilities after being at Maine Road. I'd gone from having everything done on a plate to washing my own kit. We hadn't got our own training ground so ended up using school pitches, some without nets, so it was a bit of a culture shock! It was a tiny squad at Mansfield so when there were a few injuries training would get badly disrupted due to the small numbers.
I had a great relationship with the gaffer, Billy Deardon. I thank him so much for what he's done for me. His man-management was second-to-none and straight away gave me a run of first team games. When he left the team had a dip in form, so did I, and the goals dried up.
Any favourite goals from your tike with the Stags?
I suppose that goal against Steve Cotterill's Cheltenham sticks out. A forty-yarder on the first day of the season. I also scored a cracker on Sky once which was great because they analysed the trajectory, speed and all sorts. Ha ha. Yeah, that was a top goal. Plus the FA Cup game against Huddersfield where we absolutely hammered them and I got three. We were awesome that day!
Whilst you were scoring goals at Mansfied there was always paper talk about you being snapped up…
Yeah, I knew that there were a few teams interested in me and keeping tabs on me. There seemed to be a lot of politics involved in the speculation about me. The first team which came in for me were Luton but the club didn't really want me to go to a club in the same division. Wigan also tried top sign me for around £200,000 but that never worked out as well. There was no pressure for me to leave and I was quite happy banging the goals in at Mansfield. Then a few bigger clubs like Sheffield Wednesday, Preston and Leicester joined the hunt.
So how come you ended up at Stoke?
Steve Cotterill, basically. No disrespect to the other clubs or managers but Cotterill really wanted me, and said how much he was looking forward to working with me and improving me. As a player, that's what you want to hear.
Did you think you had a better chance of getting in the first team at Stoke?
I suppose so, but that's not having a go at the forwards here already. We had a very small squad and you look at Leicester and they had something like 8 forwards on their books. I just wanted to be a part of a first team squad, and Stoke gave me that chance. Billy Dearden was good mates with Rudgey after their time at Port Vale and he said that Stoke would be a good move for me. He said the ground, support and training facilities were excellent and that it was a matter of time before the club got back to the big time.
You've said how much Cotterill's influence led you to sign for us. What about his departure?
I was totally shocked and gutted. No-one had a sniff of what was going to happen beforehand. I was stuck in a jam on the M6 going to the ground on that particular morning and (AVTAK columnist) Gareth Owen phoned me to break the news. I told him to sod off as no way was it true, but I put the radio on and heard it for myself.
The players were off that week as we had no game on the Saturday so it was a bit eerie when I got to the ground as only the injured players were in. By that time it had sunk in. I can sympathise with the fans who felt short-changed and gutted but I respected his decision when he jumped at the chance of working at the top level. Any player in the First Division would have done the same thing but I know it was a bitter pill for the fans to swallow. I was gutted that I never really had the chance to train with him as I was injured. I reckon he'd have really brought my game on. But hes' gone now and we have to look forward.
Has he contacted the players since?
The others I don't know about, but he phoned me up a few days later and we wished each other well. I did feel a little let down at first but I can understand why he went.
What are your initial thoughts about Tony Pulis?
Good ones. He's only been here a couple of w1eeks and he's still finding his feet. Fair play to him, he's come in at a very difficult time straight into a relegation battle - but he wanted the job even after Burley turned it down. He's now trying to get his own ideas across and it will take time, but I've been impressed with him so far.
What did the players know about the Burley situation?
We were told nowt. In fact, we knew the same as the fans. We were never told that it was going to be him and we were told to meet him on the Thursday morning after the Watford game. We were sat in the changing room when I think Rudgey told us the news. I remember James O'Connor asking what was going on. We were all in the dark with it.
When you were injured were a mard-arse or are you the get-on-with-it sort?
Ha, ha. I just got on with it. Steve Cotterill was great with me and I just came in every day and did my work and had my treatment. Cotts told me to go home and don't mopse about, be a human being, but it's only natural to try to stretch it a bit and see how it's coming along.
At first I was told it was a fortnight out, but the first few days it really swelled up. Apparently, I'd burst a capsule in my ankle and the pain was massive - it even went up to my knee! I had 3 scans and soon realised it was more than a twist or sprain. What I need now is games for match fitness - I need as many as possible.
Are you a bit frustrated at the minute, not starting on a regular basis?
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit frustrated, but I understand the reasons why. We've been struggling and haven't scored many goals. I was bought as a goalscorer so it I a bit frustrating only getting 10 minutes here and there. But it's up to me to take my chance when it comes. That was why I was gutted when I missed that sitter against Grimsby. I still can't believe I missed. I'd let the lads down and still feel I owe em for that one. I'll make it up though. Back to your question I'm just happy to be part of a big, First Division club.
Did you feel any pressure being our only Summer signing and coming with a big reputation?
Yes, I suppose I did, but it's part and parcel of the job. I'd rather be a striker than a goalie as I know I'll always get chances if I miss. If I wasn't under the microscope then I know I wasn't doing well, so added pressure comes with the positive that you are probably being successful. All strikers thrive on goals and the fact that I scored in the reserves today (V Chesterfied 7-0) means I will be on a high and very confident if I'm picked at Gillingham on Saturday.
Is it a nervous dressing room at the moment?
The team was used to winning regularly over the past 12 months and it's quite hard for players who are quite inexperienced to go through such a bad spell. It's a bit of a culture shock. But we have to turn it down. We've got a young side who have found out that at a higher level you get punished for your mistakes a lot more. I stand by my reckoning that someone will get a bloody good hiding off us soon - it's not as though we're not making the chances.
The gaffer has pulled a few up about a night out they had in Stafford? Your thoughts…
I knew that some of the lads were going out but I wasn't really ever going myself. I'm not a big drinker and it doesn't take much to get me arseholed anyway, so I gave it a miss. I thought that the lads were a bit daft to go out where they could be spotted. We all need to unwind but there are times and places. When you've lost 7 on the bounce I tend to lie low, ha ha! If we'd won 7 on the bounce there'd be fans buying em drinks, but that's just how it is nowadays. All the lads have apologised and that's the end of it as far as the boss is concerned.
So the Xmas 'do' is not sorted yet?
Ha, ha. No, not yet.
Which lower league players do you think could do a job at First Division level?
There are some good young players at Mansfield. Two lads with a bright future are Liam Williamson and Craig Disley who are very capable young lads. Plymouth I remember have two good centre halves and Danny Allsopp at Notts County is a good forward. All those are good players who just need a chance.
Who is the hardest opponent you've faced?
Dean Richards when we played Southampton in the Worthington. He was just awesome, different class. I played Boro in a pre-season friendly last year and Southgate and Ehiogu were both top drawer, great readers of the game.
You haven't really had any chants whilst you've been with us. Any at Mansfield?
Just the original "Oh Chrissie, Chrissie" chant. My missus winds me up with that one, as do my mates. I'd quite like a new chant but can't think of one off hand.
Do you go on any of the Stoke websites or read the papers about yourself?
I don't personally go on the sites but I know that my Dad trawls them. As for the papers, my parents keepa scrap book so if I've done well I get them and hand them over. It get's a bit pricey if you're doing well. I've been interviewed a couple of times by the Mansfield fanzine (the excellent "Yellow Brick Road" -ed) and they're cracking lads.
Who are your best mates at Stoke?
When I came I didn't know anyone so I tried to get on with everyone. They're all top lads,a great bunch. I suppose my closest mate is Gareth Owen as we spent so much time with the physio. He's a top lad with a fantastic attitude to the game. We went to the Peter Kay gig up Hanley a few weeks back. That was a cracking night out. I love Peter Kay.
And finally Chris what will you do when you retire?
I'd like to coach and stay in the game if I could. I'd also like to get into property as well.