I’m proud of my 100 games and my England hero brother (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

I’m proud of my 100 games and my England hero brother

10:51am Thursday 6th September 2007 in West Ham By Guardian-series

IT was a great result on Saturday, we played well and it should have been six or seven nil.

It was a great all-round performance from the boys and definitely nice to get one back on Reading.

I felt fresh and it was great to keep a cleansheet, especially playing against my friend Leroy Lita. I didn't want to let him get the better of me.

We had a bit of banter after the game on the phone - he wasn't happy. I enjoy playing against my friends and enjoyed every minute of it at the Madejski.

Someone told me it was my 100th start for West Ham, and that's definitely something that makes me proud. I aim to play as many games as I can for the Hammers.

It's a great feeling and a great honour to play that many games for a club like this. It's my club.

Shaving my head was just a coincidence though. I cut my hair in the summer because I got tired of having to go to the hair-dresser so often and when the barber came to the hotel on Saturday I said, Lets go down a touch,' so we went down all the way. I haven't decided whether I'm going to stick with it yet - it depends how I feel next time.

The training ground is pretty quiet this week. With all the boys off on international duty there are only seven of us left.

But we're going to train hard today (Thursday) and Friday. It is difficult because you are limited to what you can do with so many players away, but the coaches make it worthwhile. And I am looking forward to everyone coming back, because you miss some of the banter and the characters with so many people missing.

When everyone's here, the atmosphere will be buzzing.

We all just enjoy each other's company and I think that's starting to show on the pitch as well.

Obviously, we don't have a match this weekend, but I'll be going to the England game on Saturday to support my brother Rio. He's getting some unfair stick at the moment from the press, with people saying he shouldn't be playing. That's absolute rubbish. He's done so much for his country. He's gone to two World Cups and been England's best player. People should remember that.

But he'll let them write what they want and get on with his job. I'm sure he'll have a very good game.