Hull City captain James Chester admits he was fortunate to learn his trade at today's opponents Manchester United.
Only now, as he closes in a 150 league games, he is beginning to fully appreciate the tutelage he enjoyed.
"I don't think I realised how lucky I was until I left," said Chester to the Hull Daily Mail.
"I probably had the best upbringing a young lad in football could get, with the coaches and the facilities that were there for me.
"Looking back, I'm grateful for the time I spent there and, without them, I don't think I'd be as high up in my career as I've got.
"When I got scouted, I don't think I quite realised what it all meant but as the years went on I knew.
"I was a United fan. My mum and dad were United fans, so it was only right for me to go there. I went when I was eight or nine and I was there until I signed for Hull when I was 21.
"It was a long time and there's a lot of people there who helped me along the way.
"People who I've not seen since I left, so it'll be nice to see them when we play them on Boxing Day."
