Tottenham Hotspur's flying winger, Gareth Bale opens up about his younger days and life at White Hart Lane.

A sense of your background? I know you are from Cardiff, what are your parent's names?

Frank and Debbie - I also have a sister called Vicky. My dad is a caretaker at a Welsh-speaking school in Cardiff and my mum works at a legal firm. I am the youngest.

What are your memories? In what part of Cardiff did you live?

In Whitchurch and I went to Whitchurch High School. Everything was very local in terms of friends and people we knew - my best friend Ellis lived across the back from me (still does now). I remember my childhood spending time in the back garden or down at the park with my friends, playing football, messing around - doing what all kids do.

Sport was always huge in your mind?

My dad was always into sport and my mum was when she was younger, as was my sister. I kind of followed in the family footsteps. My dad played either rugby or football.

Did he have a preference for you when you were younger?

From literally the age of three, I just liked football. I always used to ask him to take me over to the park to practice - it was always football for me and I was left footed from the start I think.

Was sport a big thing at the school?

Yes, it was massive on sport - a big complex and very sports-orientated. I was into everything in school to do with sport - apart from rugby! I maybe played two games during the whole of my schooling and that was because I got forced to.

You look like you would be an outstanding full-back, centre or wing though?

We played rugby in PE lessons and stuff, but it was too physical. A few of my friends played but they were big and I thought this is not for me - I am too skinny for this game! One of them is playing for Wales now, Sam Warburton, who was in my class.

Your former PE teacher said about you that you were one of the most generous people he ever had to educate. This is a nice thing to say - what do you think he meant?

I don't know. I just went to school and did what normal people do - just being a normal person really.

If you are in school and one of the most talented, there are two ways you can play it really. Were you always conscious of being a team player rather than the best individual all the time?

I was just myself, I didn't think I was special or more gifted than anyone else. I just went to school as a normal kid and never thought anything of it.

Did you really want to be a professional footballer from an early age?

Yes, for as long as I can remember I've wanted to be a footballer. People have asked me in the past what would I do if I didn't make it, but I don't think I've ever thought anything different. There wasn't a Plan B so thank God Plan A turned out alright!

You always had a deep belief that you could be?

Yes, my parents always said that if I worked hard then I would be good enough to do it. They have always put that into me and my sister, with her teaching course at university and me with football - always encouraged us, always supported us. My mum and dad travelled thousands and thousands of miles taking me to Southampton and back and they still come to every home game now to watch. They do the same for my sister, supporting us through thick and thin, no matter what the cost - always putting us first.

Would your dad have been your biggest influence?

Definitely, without question. Whenever he came back from work tired I was always screaming at him to take me out and even from a young age at Southampton, if I did something wrong he would let me know and be honest. I get to learn from his perspective and it helps me.

Did you need a lot of support or, even though you appreciated it, were you able to work things out in your own head pretty well?

I think everything helped. I always knew what I wanted to do and it was always nice to have the back-up and support from my parents, just to keep me going and pushing me forward. That is the good mix that we had and it's worked. My dad knew how to deal with me if I played well and a bit over confident, while if I was down he would pick me up. If I had a bad game he would tell me about it, I might have been a bit upset but, at the end of the day, it is always best and I can learn from it. He still does it to this day.

You played for Wales at 16, you scored for Wales at 17, you were sought by clubs from a very early age. With all these indications from a very early age, you were being told you were good by things that were happening to you. Was that easy to deal with? How did you counter that within your own head?

I don't think I am bright enough to think about things like that!! I was just a normal person. Even when I was doing well at Southampton I just carried my life on as if it was normal. Even though my life was changing and it was different, it was something that just kind of happened and was normal in a way. I haven't really changed, I just take each day as it comes and whatever happens, happens.

When Southampton came in for you what other options were there at the time?

I was only about eight or nine. I remember going for a trial in Bath, which was a satellite academy for Southampton, and after a week or two of a six-week trial they said they wanted to sign me. I never looked back really. I remember Cardiff did try and come in for me when I had been at Southampton for a year or so, but Southampton had been very good to us and they were just too late as I was 100 per cent focused on Southampton.

You did GCSEs then went to Southampton?

As soon as I finished my GCSEs, about four or five days later I moved down there. I trained there between year 10 and 11 for two days a week on a Monday and Tuesday, so didn't go to school on those days - so it was a lot of travelling.

It must have been difficult to do well in your GCSEs given that you weren't in school on Mondays and Tuesdays?

It was a bit of a concerned, but I wasn't really the brightest kid in school anyway. I used to try as hard as I could and I did get an A in PE, but that was only because of football... I got six GCSEs in the end, A to Cs, so I actually did ok as I was only predicted to get one. I just went in there and wrote what I could!

You got into the Southampton team early?

At the end of my first season as a scholar I played the last two or three games at the age of 16, then the following season I played the whole time in the first team. They were in the Championship and in the full season I played we got to the Play-offs and lost on penalties to Derby...

You did some running at school as well?

I did some cross-country, athletics and stuff. I used to do pretty much everything as I had endurance and speed. I ran for South Wales and Cardiff schools in cross-country, while athletics I never really took on because it was at weekends so I didn't do that because of football. I can't remember all my times, but I think I did the 1500m in 4.08. I used to be quite good at it. I played hockey in Year 8 and we reached the Wales final - I scored two!

Speed is something you would work on. Has that got better as you've got older, or have you had to work really hard to keep it up?

I've always been quite quick. I remember having a problem with my back when I was 12 or 13 when it went out of alignment, my hamstrings went tight. Until I got that fixed I was struggling a bit because I was growing a lot and was in the middle of a big growth spurt because I was quite small when I was younger. I had the problem for about six months, but apart from that I've been quite quick and sharp and have definitely got quicker as I've got older - more powerful.

When you knew Spurs were interested, what was the situation? Was there a choice?

I think there were a lot of clubs interested. I am not sure if Man Utd made a bid, but this is the only club I saw and until I came here I didn't realise how big the club was. When I got shown around I took in how big it is with the tradition as well. You could see that it was a club looking to go forward and I wanted to play first team football. Coming here, I had the opportunity to do that - that is what I wanted to do. It has been a really good decision.

You had a fantastic second half of last season, but you had a tough time establishing yourself as a first team player. How were you at that time?

I was injured coming here from Southampton so I was a bit slow into the season. I started off quite well, scoring two or three goals in nine or ten games then I got a bad foot injury that kept me out for six months and it was a massive setback. We had changes of manager and I don't think at first I was back to my old self after the injury and I kept getting niggles and stuff. When Harry came in it was another change, the team was doing well and I didn't really get my chance. I had to work on certain parts of my game and since Harry has been here I have done that, training with them and learning. I have learned a lot and bought it into my game and, being on the sideline is obviously frustrating, but if you are going to be on the bench you might as well learn from it and watch other players rather than sulking. It paid off for me when I got given my chance, but I am still learning. Hopefully if I do that I will become a better player.

From reading articles you would get the impression that Harry thought you could be defensively stronger. Was that part of it?

Because I am such an attacking full-back, it was the defensive side of my game that I never really concentrated on before. Being a left back though, your first job is to defend before you start going forward. When I was young at Southampton I was just bombing on and it was something I needed to learn. It hasn't been easy not playing, but I have coped with it well and worked hard. When I got my chance I made sure I was ready.

You have also moved forward in the team, but would you say full-back or further forward is your best position?

When I was younger I played a lot in left midfield before pushing back to defence. I was always back and forth and comfy at both. I enjoy them both, enjoy getting forward and haven't really got a favourite position. As long as I am playing I don't mind.

In terms of confidence, did you feel something happening to you last season? Against Arsenal and Chelsea you just looked on a different level?

I always thought if I got a run in the team that my confidence would build and build. As much as you can learn on the training pitch, there is nothing like a game situation. Every game I learn in and take to the next one. Playing every week is helping me and in each game I felt I got better and was improving all the way. I think that might have shown against Arsenal and Chelsea because it was towards the end of the season and I felt a lot more confident by then.

You are a non-drinker - where did that come from and was there a thought that this might help you?

I don't know, I don't like following people and just don't like it. I suppose it could help me, but I haven't wanted to drink and when I have tasted it I have just spat it straight out. It is something that has never really interested me and I am not one to jump on the bandwagon.

This is a big season for Spurs - what are your thoughts?

It was a massive achievement for us last season, with Manchester City making big investments, and probably being the favourites along with Liverpool to get the fourth spot. We are not in the Champions League yet as such and we know how important these games are to qualify. We are all prepared for the season and these games.

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