What was your most memorable game?
There was a game at Bradford on a Tuesday night (February 11, 1992). We won 2-1. It won?t be a game that supporters remember so much but it certainly sticks in my mind.
It was a cold night and I was in my second spell at the club, this time more as a coach. But that night we had injuries so I got played in that game.
It was great because I was still desperate to play.
We had hit a sticky little spell on our way to promotion from Division Three with Terry Cooper. I played about another four games on the trot and we didn?t lose any of them. I was about 35-36 then.
My experience just steadied the ship a little bit.
And your biggest disappointment?
It had to be joining Blues for my first spell. It was a great honour and something that I always wanted to do ? to play for my home-town club.
But the way things went when I joined was horrible. The owners had pulled everything, we had nowhere to train, all our best players were sold and we were terrible.
What should have been a very proud time turned out to be so disappointing.
So your second spell was better then?
It was, because we actually achieved something.
With Terry we got promoted, which was great. I didn?t play in that last game against Shrewsbury but it sure was a great day.
The club was on a sounder and better footing.
The first time as a player was soul-destroying. The crowd was down to five or six thousand. They had no hope, they knew it was bad.
We didn?t believe we could even get a point half the time because we were not good enough.
Garry Pendrey was great as a boss, he tried to get everyone bubbling as best as he could, but he didn?t have a chance.
And do you have any funny stories?
There are lots of funny stories but at the time it wasn?t funny because it was so serious.
The punters were going mad during my first time at the club.
I remember a game against Barnsley at home and we got beat 5-3. I actually scored a cracking goal.
In the corner area, there were all sorts of objects flying around. Tony Godden, the goalkeeper, did his usual trick and ran down the centre tunnel.
After the game the punters were angry.
John Trewick, a local lad, didn?t get on well with the punters, that?s no secret. The lads were all in the bath when all of a sudden a brick came through the dressing room window.
The brick had a sticker on with John Trewick?s name on it. The only problem was, it hit Vince Overson.
We were all sitting in the bath and this brick came flying through the window, we were all ducking and scarpering. It was crazy.
What do you make of the current Blues team?
It?s similar to when I was there because a lot of the young lads are getting a chance.
They?ve lost some experienced players, but the young kids have done great. I think. (Mitch) Hancox and (Callum) Reilly have performed better than many expected.
There?s a few new players so it will be interesting to see how they get on this year. I think they?ll be all right.?
Who is your best friend in football?
A lad I played with at Sunderland called Gordon Chisholm. We both played centre-half.
He moved to Scotland and was manager of Queen of the South. Now he?s back at Sunderland doing a lot of the overseas work in Africa for them.
Ally McCoist is another very close friend. I lived with him for 18 months when I was at Sunderland.
I?ve kept in close contact with those two.
What was the last match you watched live?
It was France versus Uruguay in the Under-20 World Cup final in Turkey.
I was over there for a fair few of the games. It was a good tournament with a few surprise packages.
What are you up to now?
I am head of recruitment at Everton. I?m enjoying it, I?m kept busy. I do some of the local scouting and a fair bit abroad.
With the old manager (David Moyes) leaving for Manchester Utd and a lot of backroom staff joining him, I feel a bit like the last man standing. There?s a few of us still here, though.?
*Ian Atkins was talking to Gregg Evans.
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