I first persuaded my dad to take me to Old Trafford with him when I was four. We'd leave Bury around 11am, then have pie and chips at Marina's Grill – a traditional northern cafe near the ground. We'd be in K- Stand around 1pm, for a 3pm kickoff. Dad would be off having pints with his mates but I enjoyed sitting on my own.
My earliest memory is of my nan's bacon hotpot. I ate that every Monday for 20 years. Also her pea and ham soup, on Thursdays. Nan still brings round pea and ham soup each Thursday. I wanted a broth on our menu at Cafe Football [his London restaurant with Ryan Giggs], but I got overruled.
For most of my teens I was going to chippies four or five times a week. Stephen Street Chippy, Haymarket Street Chippy, Tompsons Chicken on The Rock … they're important landmarks in Bury. In those days we'd have our tea at 4.30pm, so by 7pm, hungry again, go for 28p chips and gravy at least.
