PAST PORTS: Dean Fitzgerald

NAME: Dean Fitzgerald

AGE: 40

POSITION: Centre midfield (or wherever Big Ronnie told me to play)

TIME WITH PORTS: 2002-2004

CLUBS BEFORE PORTADOWN: Shelbourne and Newry Town

CLUBS AFTER PORTADOWN: Longford Town and Glentoran FC

HIGHLIGHT AS A PORTADOWN PLAYER: Irish League champions in 2002, plus playing in Champions’ League qualifiers

BEST MATE AT PORTADOWN: I spent a lot of time with Big Vinny (Arkins) on the road but it would have to be Gary Hamilton. Gary is still my best mate in the Irish League to this day

FUNNIEST TEAM-MATE: We had an amazing dressing room and some very funny lads

HARDEST TEAM-MATE: Mickey Collins aside, we had a few silent assassins like Pat McGibbon, John Convery, “The Famous Philly Major”, Cullen Feeney and Big Vinny

TEAM-MATE WITH MOST SKILL: Hammo (Gary Hamilton) had all the tricks and flicks and would always look over to me with a wee wink when they came off. We used to try and out-do each other with the nutmeg count in games!

PICK YOUR PFC FIVE-A-SIDE TEAM: Myself, Kyle Neill, Cullen Feeney, Gary Hamilton, Vinny Arkins

FAVOURITE AWAY GROUND: A packed Oval has some noise and you could never fault the Windsor Park pitch

PRE-MATCH SUPERSTITIONS: I wore number seven so had to do something like a ritual with the ball seven times (just one of many)

TOUGHEST RIVAL PLAYER: Packie McAllister or Darren Lockhart

RIVAL PLAYER YOU MOST RATED: Darren Lockhart, Colin Nixon or Paul Leeman

TEAM YOU LOVED TO BEAT: Linfield

MODERN LIFE: I was studying IT during my Ports days and am still in that industry, plus playing for St James’ Gate in Dublin’s LSL.