Footballer David Platt had a successful career playing for the likes of Aston Villa and Arsenal as well as being one of the very few British players, at the time, to have a successful career abroad signing for Bari, Juventus and Sampdoria. As well as playing well at club level he also played for, and captained, his country and was a member of the 1990 squad which finished fourth at the World Cup.After retiring in 2001 David now commentates as well as writing a column in Four Four Two. But he is all set to lace up his boots again all in the name of charity as he takes part in the Premier League All Stars football tournament with a whole host of former player, celebrities and fans.

What is Premier League All Stars all about?
Basically it's an initative that Sky 1 have got involved with the Premier League to organise a footballl competition and rather than just being former player, or just celebrities what they have done is mixed it all together and sprinkled terrace supporters in there as well. So basically each team in the Premier League will be represented by four former players, three celebrity supporters and a few terrace supporters as well, so it's like a mixture of everything. It's started as a bit of fun, it seems that a bit of fun at this moment in time, but once the former players get theor next week and start putting their boot on and playing against each other I'm sure it will get very competitive. But the be all and end all is that the further you get in the competition, with your club, the more money will go to that club's chosen charity. So in many ways, like I said it will start out as a bit of fun, the middle of it will be very very competitive but the end result is a good cause and the money goes to charity.
You are playing for Aston Villa who else is on your team and what charity are you supporting?

I'm not a hundred per cent sure, like I say it's the clubs charities, we are just representing the club and thenit will be the club who decide whcih charity it is. The former players that I'm playing with are Dean Saunders and Tony Daley and we have got the goalkeeper Dale Belford our celebrity fans are Richie Neville. from the band Five, and Gareth Gates and apparently we have got a third one who is going to be confirmed, they are either scratching around to find a celebrity fan for Aston Villa or we are going to make a big splash in the transfer market.

Have you got a good chance of winning and who are your biggest rivals?

It's difficult to say I mean if I looked at this and went ten years or so ago and looked at the players I could probably give you a decent answer but unfortunately time and age is a great leveller really. Just looking at this, and the people I know, Jamie Redknapp and Gary McAllister are both playing for Liverpool and have both retained their fitness so they will be pretty strong. Then looking at this I'm thinking about Newcastle Rob Lee and Warren Barton have retained their fitness and you have still got the ability of Peter Beardsley sprinkled in there as well I got this this morning with everyone's players and I think Liverpool and Newcastle would be to teams I wouldn't want to come up against.

How did you get involved and why did you get involved?

Basically, like I said, it started as a bit of fun, you know Sky, who I'm working with BSKYB on a regular basis doing some commentary and things like that for football, so the contact came through that. it's a bit of fun but you are going to get that competitive edge you are going to mix with people played with and played against as well so that will be a lot of fun. But I suppose what swings it really is that you want to give your name, your aid and your help, if you like, to things that are for a good cause.

You had a very successful football career was it difficult to retire?

Yes, yes it is difficult to retire in many ways because you know you are going to miss it because ther is no going back to it. I think in a lot of jobs you might think I'm going to change my job direction and go off and do something different but if you don't like that you can always revert back, not in all cases but most cases. But obviously football is something where age creeps upon you and plays a big part on that and everyone has to retire at a relatively young age. I think the worst part is the first two or three years when you still feel as though if you worked hard enough and got your fitness back to a level you could play but once you get to a point where you realise that age is playing a big factor. but to be honest with you, you try and put that to the back of your mind, I do miss playing and I do miss my career obviously, but it's something that you have to be realistic about.

Was football always a career you wanted to pursue?

Yeah, yeh it was. At the end of the day I enjoyed playing and I would have played regardless of whether I became a professional I would have played in the park or during your lunch time when you are at work etc etc. It was great to be able to do something that you really enjoy.

You played in Europe and how did that differ from playing in the domestic teams here in the UK?

At the time it differed massively more so because where I went, Serie A, in Italy was where all the bast players were so tactically the game was different I was playing week in week out with, and against, the top players in Europe. I think where we have got to know our own Premier League rivals La Liga in Spain and Serie A in Italy and it's much of a muchness, in terms of the level of football that it being played, I loved my time over in Italy from a playing point of view and a lifestyle point of view, but I can understand why players remain in the Premiership and play with their clubs.

What was it like to play for England?

Well I think that it's the pinnacle of anybody's career I think when you go into the career of being a footballer you want to get as high as you possibly can and to play for your country, and subsequently captain your country which is what I did, is the pinnacle of your career. You look back at the clubs that you played at with fond memories but you have only got one country, if you like, one birthright and to actually represent it, and for me to captain it as well, is phenomenal and something that you can always look back on and no one can ever take away from you.

And finally where can avid footy or celebrity fans watch the Premier League All Stars football tournament?

The tournament starts this Sunday 23 September and it's live on Sky 1 every night from 8pm for eight days with the final being on the 30 September. Or if you want to go and watch it live then you can do by logging on to sky.co.uk and all the information is on the website with regard to how to get tickets.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

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