For a Boxing Day special, Rob Mager speaks to amateur Manchester boxer Danny Armstrong, 22

What weight do you box at and what’s your record like?
I fight at welterweight and weigh in at about 65kg before a fight – 10st 5lbs in old money. I've had 21 bouts in all but some of them were unlicensed. My official amateur record from seven fights is W5 (with two KOs) L1 and one disqualification.

What’s been your career highlight so far?
I was quite proud to fight over in Malta last summer. I did six hard rounds against a pro called Daniel Micallef and narrowly lost on points. My best win though was when I won my fight at a Varsity boxing show for Sheffield. My dad and all my mates came to watch and the atmosphere was electric. I came out to Fools Gold by The Stone Roses and the place went wild. I met my girlfriend that night as well.

Are you mates with any of your opponents and what is the level of sportsmanship like at your level?
There's a lad I fought a couple of years ago who trains at the same gym as me. He's gone pro now and I wish him all the best. Everyone on the circuit is generally sound and sportsmanship is a big thing for me. I don't see the point in being moody with anyone because if you want to punch each other in the head then you can do. Simple.

When did you get into the sport?
I was interested from quite a young age but my mum wouldn't let me fight until I was a bit older. I started going to the gym properly when I turned 13. Ricky Hatton was a big deal at the time and I really wanted to be him.

Do you have any other boxing heroes?
Roberto Duran is my all-time favourite fighter. The guy is just machismo personified. Five foot seven inches of snarling pugnacity. I must also give an honourable mention to the late Arturo Gatti who was like a human highlight reel.

How do you prepare for a fight?
I train my hardest every day in the run up and make sure my diet is right. This means no booze, sadly. It's easy to do once you get into a routine but the last week is particularly difficult while I make weight and go over the fight again and again in my head. You can drive yourself loopy sometimes trying to throw every punch before you're even in the ring.

Will you have to watch what you eat and drink over the Christmas period?
I've got a bit of time off so I think I'll allow myself at least a couple of beers and a mince pie. I cut out drinking and eating rubbish for most of the year so I make sure I enjoy it when I can.

You’re from an area that is home to several non-league sides. Do you manage to see any of them in action?
I go and watch Trafford FC whenever I can. Shawe View is right next to my nana's house so I've been to a few games over the years and my dad used to take me when I was little. I watched them draw 2-2 with a Manchester United reserve side a couple of years ago. That was a big deal and I was really pleased for them even though I'm a Red.

Any fights lined up for the new year?
I'll be fighting in February in a Sheffield versus Manchester tournament and then afterwards I've got the British Universities and Colleges Championship. This means I've got a bit of time to shed my Christmas weight.

Rob Mager catches up with ex-Leicester, Ipswich and England U-21 centre forward James Scowcroft

You’re a Suffolk lad with Gorton heritage. How does that work?
My grandparents lived on Highgate Crescent just off Ryderbrow Road and I used to come up to Manchester a lot in the holidays. My brother was a big United fan so we’d go to Old Trafford. We’d also go to all the other local clubs too like Stockport and Oldham and even make it to some of the non-league ones like Hyde. We were football daft.

Do you remember much about Abbey Hey FC?
Yeah. During the eighties Abbey Hey’s ground just sprang up from nowhere on a bit of land about 100 yards from where my nan and granddad lived. I got my dad to take me over once to have a look at it. I had this fascination with football grounds and I looked at it and thought: "Wow, that’s amazing." Where I lived in Suffolk all you got was fields but here was a smart little ground literally at the end of my grandparents’ street.

Did you get to many games?
No but when I was 13 or 14 I remember hopping over the fence with some of the kids from the estate to have a kick about on the pitch. I was on the books with Ipswich at the time but none of the local kids could believe it.

Do you have any other experience of non-league football?
I finished playing two years ago at 35, an age where I wasn’t really ready to retire. I had an offer to go to Bradford but I didn’t want to uproot the family so I went and played for my local team Bury Town for a season in the Ryman Premier. A lot of professional footballers say ‘sod non-league’ when they come out but I loved it.

You’ve always been a match-going Manchester United fan. It must be a buzz to watch matches as a fan now you’ve hung up your boots.
I've had 18 years of pre-match meals, buses and hotels so now I just enjoy a few pints and the walk to the ground. I do about 20 games home and away a season. Being in the away end at places like Anfield where the police have got their eye on you is a world away from the match-day that pundits and commentator experience. They haven’t got a clue what it’s really like.

What was it like playing against United?
I played against them several times and the highlight of my whole career was playing at Old Trafford just after Ipswich had been promoted in 1999/2000. We’d had a great start to the season and were third a week before Christmas but came unstuck against United. We were beaten 2-0 but it could have been ten. We just couldn’t get the ball off them.

Is it true you once nearly signed for City?
Yes, Joe Royle nearly signed me in 2000 but went for George Weah instead. It was in the Evening News and blues who lived in Gorton went round to my nan’s to ask whether I would be signing.

What was the England experience like?
I had two years in the Under-21s and made five caps with squads that also featured Frank Lampard, the Nevilles, Nicky Butt, Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen and Emile Heskey.

Did you get on with Gorton lad Nicky Butt?
My first game was against Poland at Wolves. Me and Butty were both injured at the time and the physio told us to miss training and go for a swim. I was obviously a big United fan but he was my team mate so I had to play it cool.
I knew he was from Gorton so got chatting and told him where my grandparents lived. I then racked my brain for things that I knew from Gorton to talk to him about to keep the conversation going and said: "Have you ever been to the Gorton Tub on Hyde Road?" It was the worst question I’ve ever asked anyone in my life. He looked at me and replied: "Yeah, I’ve been there."
He never mentioned it again but was always sound with me when we met up. You would sometimes see Beckham and some of the others understandably living it up but Butty didn’t. He’s a down-to-earth lad who knows his roots.

Do you have any plans for the future?
I’d love to be a manager one day. I’ve worked under some great managers and have already done my UEFA B coaching badge. I’m coaching the Ipswich Academy at the moment and it’s great working with the kids to see their enthusiasm and love for the game.

Hear more from James by following @Scowy1975 on Twitter