MILLWALL: Neil Harris interview

How different is your life now you are a pro to before you got your big break?

When I started in non-league I was working in the City of London, getting up at six in the morning, jumping on the train to do a day's work, then grabbing a train back home only to drive an hour up to Cambridge simply to train.

I wouldn’t get home until midnight and then I’d still have to be up at six o’clock again the next day.

Now I’m a pro, I can come in and work as hard as I can for a few hours on my game.

My apprenticeship in life from working in the City has enabled me to appreciate everyday of my footballing career.

If I ever need reminding how lucky I am, I only have to talk to my friends who have good jobs but the hours they spend away from their families make me realise how lucky I am.

Stuart Neathercott was quoted as saying you were a podgy non-league player when you first arrived at Millwall. Did you feel you had to prove yourself to the pros?

I think Stuart Nethercott summed it up quite well when he said I was a podgy non-league kid when I signed.

I’ve always been fit but the demands of professional football are so much greater than people realise and it took me a good pre-season to catch up with the rest of the guys.

You have overcome a lot of challenges throughout your career. Has this driven you on to achieve more?

I would like to describe myself as a winner but also fairly level headed, so when exciting and great things happen, I try not to get too carried away.

When I have the low points in my life and career, I try not to get disheartened.

That mentality has definitely helped me deal with the low points, my illness, leaving the club first time round, as well as my disappointing spell at Nottingham Forest.

But the more I’ve had disappointments, the more I’ve wanted to bounce back and prove myself as a winner again.

Do you ever think what might have been had your illness not cut you down in your prime?

No, I never think what might have been, that’s for other people to decide.

Consistently I’ve never been the same player as I was, I’m honest enough to admit that.

I had a life threatening illness, so I’m just happy to be here and fortunate to play football everyday.

Was it a big relief to finally bag your comeback goal against Watford?

I’d longed for that goal. I’ve found the more you want something, the harder it is to achieve.

Sometimes you are best just trying to chill out and let these things happen.

The Watford goal was something that people have spoke about a lot, family, friends, fans, teammates - they all wanted it just as much as I did.

To achieve it on New Year's Day was surreal and coincidental I suppose.

It was a stroke of luck that it happened at a ground where so many Millwall fans had travelled to watch us.

Have you achieved everything you wanted in your career?

No, I’ve been fortunate to achieve a lot in my career but after winning the league in 2001, I’ve always wanted more success.

You should be driven by success and I am.

The aim this year is to simply be part of a successful team again.

But I wouldn’t say I’ve achieved everything I wanted because until the day I stop playing, I will always want to score goals and that will always drive me on.

Has it been hectic trying to get your testimonial sorted?

Yeah, you could definitely say that.

It might be half me and a lot of other people to be fair.

There is no greater honour in football than being awarded a testimonial because they are given for loyalty to a club, not only by the player, but the club and the fans who support the individual.

I feel extremely lucky, proud and privileged to have played for a great club like Millwall because not a lot of players have done that.

Why did you choose Hearts as the opponents for your big day?

I know how proud Millwall are of their roots and how proud Millwall supporters are of their parents and grandparents and great grandparents, as well as their pride for their club.

So when it boiled down to making a final decision on the team I wanted, I thought the Scottish root was ideal because of the 125 year anniversary.

Also, I’m very patriotic and thought an English rivalry with a Scottish club was something I’d enjoy and I know the fans will too.

Do you still feel you have something to bring to the side in the Championship?

Definitely. I’ve scored goals in the Championship before, so I have the experience.

I bagged a few last year, which shows I’m not over the hill just yet, and I will always want to score goals until the day I stop playing.

I still feel I’ve got plenty of years of playing in me left, as I’ve got the enthusiasm of a youth team player. I want nothing more than to be in the team.