English Football League / Ben Herd / 20 August 2008 /

Shrewsbury's Ben Herd gives another insight into the life of a professional football and picks his England right-back.

It's only really since I left Watford that I've realised just how many friends I've made in the game. As with any walk of life, at football clubs there's lads you get on with better than others but, because you're living in each other's pockets every week, there's an onus on you to work harder at building decent relationships with everyone.

I still keep in contact with Paul Mayo and Andy 'Fez' Ferrell, who were both pro's with me at Watford. I went to Paul's wedding in the summer and Fez lodged at my house for a few months when he was playing for Hereford. Lovely guy, but eventually I had to get rid of him. He was doing my head in, he never shut up! He claimed he had to go anyway to live nearer to Hereford but I think he knew he was a hyper-active Geordie.

As for up here at Shrewsbury, Kelvin Langmead is probably my closest mate, probably because we're just about the longest-serving players at the club. He came and lived with me for a year or so until he got himself sorted. With my girlfriend still living nearer London, it was no trouble really. Now it's just the two of us as she moved up here a couple of years back having finished her university course.

Another lad I speak to a lot is Ben Davies. His partner is good friends with my partner so we end up going out for dinner quite a bit, or going round each other's houses. So it's quite a good social scene, really.

It's nice to switch off sometimes, too. I've got quite a big garden which I like looking after and I take the dogs out for a walk every day. It's funny when I stop and think about it, although I like to switch off I can't easily think of any friends that aren't football-mad. It can feel quite insular - this big circle of people all moving around from one place to the other.

But I've been at Shrewsbury a few years now and quite like the routine. If that sounds like I'm bored, I'm certainly not, but it's nice to have a bit of structure while at the same time keep life fresh. Our coach, John McMahon, keeps training sessions different and lively, although away from the football pitches it can seem a bit samey from day-to-day, I know how lucky I am to be playing football for a living.

My routine at home can be quite similar day-to-day, but that's good for me. The dogs always get a walk before training and I like to get out there and be active after training, that's just my way. I'm often down the gym for an hour or two or, like I said, out in the garden.

Tonight's a night I'll definitely be indoors, though, seeing how Capello has influenced the England style ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. I think we've got to see as near to our 'A' team as possible tonight - no messing around.

As for my position, right-back, that's a really interesting one. Ignoring who's in the squad or not for this particular game, I'd probably go with Glen Johnson as he combines the best of pace, power, defensive and attacking ability. I see Micah Richards more as a centre-half and Gary Neville's still coming back from his injuries.

As for a result, England for me at [1.71], and bet on it being 2-1 at [9.6]. I also like to have a go at guessing the first goalscorer so I'm suggesting Steven Gerrard at [10.5].

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