The recent fans question and answers with James Constable from the Notts County programme.

Q - What was life like at Chippenham?

A - Life at Chippenham was great and i thought it was a gret opportunity for me and i really enjoyed my time there. The football management there were pretty decent and got us into the play-offs two or three times on the trot.

Q - How big an influence was Paul Merson on you?

A - He was a massive influence as he gave me my first opportunity in the league and i really enjoyed my time with him. It was only a couple of months but it was something i was enjoying and i was bitterly disappointed that it was cut short. You can nenver say if you'd still be there or not but it was a good time and hopefully we will meet again sometime in the future.

Q - Is it an exciting time when the transfer window is open? As a non-league player at Kiddie you must always have had that hope that a league club is going to enquire about you?

A - Obviously you are trying to do your best week in week out so the transfer window doesn't really make that much difference it's just another part of the season. Having said that you do hope that there might be some interest but if you think about that too much it could cause you more damage than good.

Q - Do you think the service to the front two would improve by employing two wingers?

A - it's a tough question as you have to look at how the whole team works. If you have the right wingers then it can work but if you look at the way we've been playing lately I think the service has been good to the front. The thing that is probably affecting us is just a little lack of confidence in front of goal or that killer final touch to kill games off. We are creating chances which is a big positive but as i said it's just about getting that killer touch that puts the ball in rather than just wide of the target.

Q - Confidence must be really low at the moment. How is it then, that morale within the team remains so sky high? And is that what is likely to get us out of trouble?

A - From day one when I started training with Shrewsbury I could see that the lads were a tight knit unit. The belief isthere that we are good enough, we will stay up and can push on and a finish in mid to top half of the table, with the squad and ability that we have got. After the run of results that we've been on you would expect all the lads to be down but it's not at all like that. Of course we are disappointed but in training everyone is buzzing and wants to do the best they can. The boys are sticking together and backing each other and hopefully we can get ourselves out of it.

Q - What did it feel like to score the first ever goal in a cup final at the New Wembley?

A - It was an amazing feeling but it was a shame that we couldn't hold on and lift that trophy as that would have capped the day off. Even though we lost the game in the end it will be a day that I always remember.

Q - James, do you set yourself goal targets for a season? If so what was your aim for this season at shrews and what is your target for next season?

A - You set yourself targets but sometimes they are not necessarily a number of goals but just to be on the score sheet regularly as well as creating and generally helping the team to a top three finish every season. I just set a target to myself to train as hard as I can and give 110% in every training session and game and then hopefully the goals will come from that.

Q - How have you settled in at Shrewsbury?

A - it's been brilliant since me and Scott pulled up at the stadium. We met the old gaffer and the staff and had a look around the place. We had the first training session on the Friday and I knew from then that the move was a good decision. I'm now looking forward to the rest of my 2 1/2 years at the club.

Q - How are your Shrews team mates different/Similar to your Old Kidderminster Team Mates?

A - I think they are pretty similar to be honest, they are all friendly and I feel that I can talk to all of them. It's the same as it was at Kiddy in that they are all driven and want to succeed. That's the main reason I came here as I could see the structure here is set to go places. I'm quite a determined and ambitious person and I also see that in the rest of the lads.

Q - Do you miss your old job working in the knicker factory and do you miss getting up so early.

A - I did that when I was about 17 or 18, playing for Chippenham and working in a knicker elastic factory. I see it as something I did that helped to ground me. When you've been there and got up at quarter to five each morning and then worked until two in the afternoon, then coming home to get some lunch before going out and coaching and then going on to training helps to ground you a bit. It then helps you to understand how lucky you are to have this opportunity to be playing league football and thinking back helps to keep you on your toes to make you work hard to stay where you are.

Q - What is your best goal you have scored and why?

A - It was probably the second one I scored for Kidderminster at Wembley last year. At the time it meant we went in 2-0 up, at half-time we had the praise and were asked for more of the same but unfortunately it didn't work out. The goal is special because to hear all the noise and see the faces of the Stevenage fans is something that I'll never forget.

Q - What are the major differences between playing in the conference and league 2?

A - To be honest they are not massively different other than in the conference it is a bit more physical and you get a lot more kicks. The level of ability of the players is slightly higher in the league and the speed of the play is quicker. This season with the likes of Morecambe who have come up and done well it shows you the difference between the two leagues isn't that great.

Q - What did it feel like when you scored the equalizing goal against the MK Dons?
A - It was a great feeling as it is to score any goal but having been 3-0 down and managing to get it back to 3-3 is a great achievement to nick a point. When you are a striker you are training everyday to score and when you do it is a great feeling and that never changes.

Q - What sold you into coming to Shrewsbury Town?

A - The club didn't really need selling to me to be fair. When I pulled up on the car park and saw the stadium and then walking in to meet everyone I knew straight away that this was the place for me. Once I'd spoken to the club and heard about their drive for success and how they'd set the club up to achieve that it sold me straight away.

Q - When you were playing for Chippenham did you think you could make it in the league?

A - Yes definitely. I never gave up that dream I'd had since being a youngster at school playing football every break time when you always wanted to be a professional footballer. You obviously sacrifice a lot as a kid to achieve that, staying in on Friday nights and as you get older you give up a lot of time and miss out on a lot of stuff. If you don't do that and make the sacrifices then you won't be in the position to make it in the game.

Q - Who are your footballing heroes and what team do you support?

A - Probably Alan Shearer and as I got older Thierry Henry, Michael Owen and people like that. Players that show you that it doesn't matter what age, height or size you are if you have got that instinct of goal scoring and enjoy doing it then you can do well. I supported Tottenham and grew up watching Gazza and Gary Lineker.

Q - What was the first gig you went to, where was it and when?

A - I don't think I've been to a gig. I love music and am absolutely mad about it but with things like Sky I don't really see the point in going out and paying loads of money to go and sit so far back you can't see the band.

Q - You were quite close to a hat-trick against MK Dons. Do you have any match-balls in your collection and do you tend to remember most of your goals?

A - Yes I do have a few match balls from my time at Kidderminster Harriers from the games against Vauxhall Motors, a hat-trick against Exeter City and 3 or 4 others. Obviously what I'm hoping for is my first Football League hat-trick and hopefully that won't be too long in coming.

Q - Are you feeling any added pressure because of the club's league position?

A - I'm the type of person who puts a lot of pressure on myself to do well, get goals and to help the team by doing well. The lads know the league position we are in is not where we should be. In training you can see that we are all pulling together and hopefully we can take that spirit to get us out of this position.

Q - Early days, but are the managerial styles of Gary Peters and Paul Simpson completely different?

A - Not really, they are both nice guys who want to be successful and to improve the clubs league position and looking around the training ground and at the players I can't see any reason we can't improve that position. The training methods we've been doing this week have probably focused a little more on fitness work and things like that. It's a new chapter for everybody and the boys are getting to know how things will work with the new gaffer and at the moment it all is very positive.

Decisions, Decisions.

Sun or Mirror? - Sun
Indian or Chinese? - Indian
Sugababes or Girls Aloud? - Girls Aloud definitely
Corrie or EastEnders? - EastEnders
BMW M5 or BMW X5? - X5
McClaren or Sven? - Sven
Simpsons or Family Guy? - Simpsons
Magners or Guinness? - Neither
Christina or Beyonce? - Christina
Parky or Jonathan Ross? - Jonathan Ross
X Box 360 or PS3? - PS3
KFC or McDonalds? - McDonalds
Holidays with lads or girlfriend/wife? - With the girlfriend
Match of the Day or The Championship - Match of the Day
Cats or Dogs? - Dogs
Rolex or Tag? - Tag
Tiger Woods or Roger Federer? - Both are legends but probably Federer
Cinema or Home DVD? - Home DVD
Reebok or Nike? - Nike
Cloughie or Jose? - Jose
X Factor or Come Dancing? - X Factor
Sauna or Jacuzzi? - Jacuzzi
Ralph Lauren or Giorgio Armani? - Giorgio Armani