I ALWAYS wanted to be a sports journalist and fortunately achieved my childhood dream as all those school sports reports submitted to the paper turned into a career.

Of course, the ultimate would have been to play sport professionally and there wasn’t many sports I didn’t try my hand at.

But despite skills that were not too shabby, I always knew from an early age running out at the Macron, Old Trafford or Wembley would be a pipe dream. So what is the next best thing for a sports-mad youngster I thought? Well surely covering it had to be that next aim.

I have to admit, much as I love speaking to sports stars, coaches and competitors and putting it all into print there has always been a yearning deep down to be a radio commentator.

In the days before Sky TV invented football, or so many seem to assume these days, in the late 1980s radio where it was at.

Before mum and dad were worn down in letting me go to football on my own, the airwaves were my salvation on a Saturday afternoon.

After the morning big shop with mum, my day consisted of Saint and Greavsie on ITV and either BBC Radio Manchester or Piccadilly, waiting for the scores to come in.

I have always admired radio commentators and still do. It is one thing on TV stating the obvious to those who can see the action; it is another painting a picture for those listening on FM, AM or LW. Not only are you the eyes of the listener but you also have to keep track of all that’s going on around the game and relay that.

Since BBC Five Live was established, it has taken commentary into the digital age but kept the old traditions and deserves high praise.

The prime example has to be the superb Test Match Special which has been providing cricket coverage for almost 60 years. The likes of Henry Blofeld, Jonathan Agnew and the late Brian Johnston’s voices are all instantly recognisable and I still prefer to switch on the wireless than tune into Sky for my cricket fix.

It is the same with football. I find the expert analysis more informative than just Michael Owen or Owen Hargreaves stating the obvious. Thank heavens for x30 fast forward on Sky+.

Saturated TV coverage dominates these days for kids but radio still has its place and I hope voices made famous over microphones in tight press boxes can continue to inspire future generations of failed sports stars like yours truly.