Well, the "new year" is well and truly with us, doesn't the time pass quickly? I thought now would be timely to have a look back at my career as 'Sven'.

On. February 19, 2001, a chance remark at my office by a colleague called Paul (as Paul is reading these diary entries, I'd better say it was Paul Smith from St. Helens!)took me on the first step into this strange double life.

He said I looked like Sven, but as I know nothing about football, hadn't a clue about what he was talking about!

He explained that it was the (then) new England Football club manager ... I was still non the wiser.

The same week, another colleague in the Bolton office said "you Look like Sven Eriksson."

Now this might be worth investigating.

Less than two days later someone shouted from a car "There's Sven" now I was sure about it.

The next step....TV.