I was a fan once, and I remember what it was like approaching footballers for their autographs. I used to get starstruck a lot of the time.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I learned a lot about handling fans from established stars.
I like meeting all my fans and signing autographs, although it can all get a bit crazy. Yesterday, for example, a boy just came over and planted a big kiss on my face! I was like, 'Hello?'
I'm a big soccer fan, so any soccer player that I meet, I always get star struck. I've met a lot of big stars - Justin Timberlake, Michael Buble - and I don't ever get starstruck, but when I met famous ex-football players, I just got completely starstruck.
When I was a teenager, my idol was the Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff. He's the only person I've ever asked for an autograph.
I really enjoy being with my fans. They offer great support and encouragement to me. I like signing autographs and posing for pictures.
Having signed a few autographs in my time, I always wonder what the heck people do with them.
I get as much fan mail today and sign as many autographs as I did when I played. It's mind-boggling to a certain degree.
I love being able to sign autographs when I get that extra free time after a round just to be able to give back to the fans.
If kids see you on the street and they want an autograph, that's a big honour so I spend half an hour before I get in the ground and 40 minutes to an hour after the game with the Everton fans signing autographs.
I always signed autographs when I could and always stayed and chatted with them when I could.