Name: Michael Raynes
Position: Defender
Date of Birth: 15th October 1987
Club: Rotherham United
Previous Clubs: Stockport County, Scunthorpe United

What do you remember about your first ever match?
It was away at Swansea City for Stockport County in the FA Cup and Mark Lillis gave me my chance. I was only 17 and I don't think I touched the ball, but I did get a yellow card

Who was your childhood hero?
Oddly for a centre-half my hero was Eric Cantona because I was a Manchester United fan and I loved everything he did

When did you realise you had a chance to progress in the game?
When I was first taken on as a YT at Stockport. I was thrown into train with the pros almost straight away and from then onwards felt I had half a chance

Which coach had the biggest influence on your career?
Jim Gannon at Stockport. I had about 101 injuries as a kid but he was always there to lift me off the floor and help me and he is the one who got me to the level I am at now

What did you spend your first wage packet on?
I think I paid my Mum back some of the money I owed her

Does your squad number have a special meaning to you?
No, it never has done. I don't think centre halves bother with things like that, we just get on with it and leave that sort of thing to the flair players

Who did you last swap shirts with?
I have never ever done it. Most of the clubs I have played for make you pay for shirts if you do that!

How has the game changed for the better since you became a pro?
A levelling of standards - not in respect of the Premier League but in the other leagues I fell most teams can beat any of the others on their day

If you could have coached yourself when you were a teenager, what advice would you have passed on?
I would have said to myself not to think too far ahead and to enjoy life. The seasons fly past: I am only 25 but I would tell my younger self to savour every game

If you stay in the game at the end of your career, what will you do? a) Manager; b) Coach; c) Scout; d) Physio; e) Pundit?
Right now I would step away from the game, spend time with my family and enjoy Christmas and things like that, but ask me again in 10 years or so and I might change my mind

What do you want to be best remembered for at the end of your career?
I'd like the fans to remember me as a player who gave everything, was level headed, and did what he could.

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