JAMES ARTHUR

The X Factor graduate talks Gazza Burgers, McCoist nutmegs, Ronaldo's invite and Scherzinger's trophy query

- Chris Flanagan

What was the first game you ever attended?

Middlesbrough vs Inter in 1996. It was a pre-season friendly and I was in the North Stand, our hardcore stand at Boro. We'd just signed Fabrizio Ravanelli – I think that was his first game.

Do you have a matchday routine?

You get off the train and there's a long walk past a few pubs and the Transporter Bridge. For the first games I went to, we'd go to the pubs by Ayresome Park – I think there was a pub called The Ayresome and we'd go there. I'd get to the ground pretty early, watch the teams warm up and buy a programme – I used to have a Gazza Burger or a Juninho Hot Dog. The Gazza Burger was pretty debaucherous: kebab meat, a couple of patties, all the sauces, onions. Basically, a kebab within a burger. Very Gazza!

Who was your childhood hero and did you ever meet them?

Juninho, he was just magic to watch. One of my very first memories was Ravanelli's league debut, the 3-3 draw against Liverpool, when he scored a hat-trick. We taped Match of the Day, I watched it in the morning, then went out and started copying Juninho and Ravanelli's link-up play in the street. I fell in love with that Middlesbrough era. I've never met Juninho, but I've been lucky to meet a few footballers – the first was Frank Lampard when I went into Radio 2 and he was there. I felt more starstruck seeing him than some of the stars that came through X Factor. He was such a lovely bloke. I also met Rio Ferdinand when I was on X Factor and he was lovely too. He sent me a load of his hats.

After you won X Factor, your mentor Nicole Scherzinger joined you for a gig in Middlesbrough and the club gave you both shirts. Is she still a fan?