Name: Paul Benson
Date of birth: 23/6/1980
Club: Dagenham & Redbridge
Position: Striker

What car do you drive?
I've got a Ford Focus and a Renault Clio, which is playing up a bit at the moment.

First car?
My Renault Clio. I've only been driving for a few years - since I became a footballer, which was when I was 24. When I was working before I was a footballer I never really needed to drive.

Favourite Film?
Scarface. I like the gangster films with Robert de Niro and Al Pacino. Godfather and Goodfellas are my other favourites.

Favourite TV programme?
Gavin and Stacey when it was on. At the moment it's the Apprentice. I wouldn't go on there for the world. The gaffer's pretty tough but he doesn't come across as tough as Alan Sugar. It's easier being a footballer.

Favourite band?
Kings of Leon. It changes every so often with me. I do like R&B as well.

Most expensive item you've bought?
Probably my TV. It's a 50-inch LG and cost £1,200. It's so big it doesn't fit into my front room. But watching TV is one of my guilty pleasures.

Do you do DIY?
Badly, although I'm much more comfortable outdoors than indoors. When I put up shelves they always end up looking wonky. I've got two months off now so I'm doing the gardening and letting myself loose a little bit. At the moment I'm laying new turf, which is quite brave, although the back garden is only about 25 square foot.

Any DIY disasters?
When I was doing up the bathroom in my old flat I was taking the tiles off the wall and the whole wall came crashing down. I ended up having to plasterboard the whole wall back together. It took an hour to take the tiles off and two days to put them back up.

Perfect woman - apart from wife/girlfriend?
Kate Moss. She's a natural beauty.

The lads are over for dinner, what do you cook?
A barbecue. A few burgers and marinaded steaks. Put them on the barby and have a bit of salad. I'm quite adept in the kitchen. Not had any disasters. I cook

If you were the manager of the club, who would you sign?
Lionel Messi. I think he is the best in the world at moment. Definitely the most skilful.

Room mate on tour?
Ben Strevens. He's a perfect roommate. He has no bad habits and doesn't snore. He's the best one I could have had. I once roomed with Trevor Kandol and woke up 3am in the morning to find he was having a shower. God knows why.

Best prank on tour?
This is a good one although I can't reveal any names. There was an incident where one lad had a girl in his room. A few of the boys went in there and covered them with flour while they were in the act. He wasn't happy. He couldn't say much because these things aren't supposed to happen.

If you weren't a footballer, what would you be?
An accountant. Which is what I was doing before I became a footballer. Before Dagenham I had been training to be an accountant for four years. I was doing my studying while working full-time at an accountancy firm in the City.

Most embarrassing moment in football?
The time we were playing Accrington Stanley at home. I came on for last 5 minutes, gave away a foul straight away with my first touch and the gaffer ripped in to me after the game in front of everyone. I felt like it was a bit harsh. It was my first touch after all.

Best goal you've ever scored?
Kidderminster away in the Conference. I chased a long ball down into the corner, the keeper came out and tried to close me down but I shot from by the corner flag, lifted it over him and into the net. It's on YouTube and probably the only goal I've scored that I would never be able to score again. No matter how many times I could try, I would never be able to get hold of it any better.

Best stadium you've played at?
Walkers Stadium or Valley Parade.

Golf handicap?
I don't have one. I play badly. Golf is my handicap.

Life after football?
I will be looking to do another trade - something like an electrician or plumbing. If I find that too difficult or I'm struggling, I will go down the accountancy route. I would rather work for myself than another company.

Best freebie you've ever had?
A pair of boots from Tony Roberts, who combines being our goalkeeper with coaching the Academy goalkeepers at Arsenal part-time. He gives me quite a lot of boots. I'm apparently wearing Kieran Gibbs' boots at the moment. Although he is much smaller than me, we're both size nine.

Worst dresser at your club?
It's probably me. They all dress well. No-one wears any rascal gear. I'm rarely out of a tracksuit. If you asked any of the other lads they would say me. So I have to hold my hand up.

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