Playing for your hometown club and playing alongside some of the world's best players is something that most football fans can only dream of.

Well, for Andy Campbell it was a reality.

From watching Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park with his dad, to scoring for the club against Manchester United in the Premier League, only a small percentage of footballers are fortunate enough to have carved out a career in the game that they love - and the former striker certainly hasn't taken any of it for granted.

Campbell made 35 senior appearances during his time at the Riverside Stadium and scored seven goals before being sold on to join former Middlesbrough boss Lennie Lawrence with Cardiff City.

The striker was blessed with outrageous pace, and it was that which saw him burst into the first team fold during what was arguably the most exciting era of Middlesbrough's history.

Campbell spoke exclusively to Football League World about his time on Teesside, and why his Roy Of The Rovers tale is one that will live with him forever.

"First and foremost, to sign for the club that I grew up watching with my dad was a dream come true, and then to see the club evolve so quickly was amazing," said Campbell.

“We moved to the Riverside in my first year as a YTS after spending years at Ayresome Park with my dad watching Bernie Slaven and my heroes.

“I looked up to them and then to go to the Riverside and to bring in players like Nick Barmby – you knew straight away that the club was potentially wanting to go somewhere special, but no one could imagine the route that they were going to take.

“To sign Juninho, and then to bring in Emerson and then the likes of Boksic, Ravenelli, Gianluca Festa and all of these was just a dream come true for me as a fan, first and foremost.

“To train with them week in, week out and be a part of that squad – and to play my own part as well was just an absolute dream.

“It’s an old cliché that dreams come true, but to play for your hometown club is one thing but to play with world class players like that was something else.”

While Campbell was living the dream at the Riverside Stadium, the frontman said that training alongside some of the best in the world was no walk in the park.

He said: "It’s extremely exciting but it’s also nerve-wracking because you want people to think good of you.

"You want them to think that you’re a good player and that you’ve got potential.

“Every day was a new challenge; every day was exciting and every day was nerve-wracking. It didn’t get easier every day, it was just tough every day as we were working on new things.

“Some days you were with those kinds of players and some days you were against them, so it brought all-sorts of different challenges.

“The times that you did find yourself in the team or the squad, it was just so exciting.

“Everyone just wanted to be a part of it. All of my family, all of my friends were wanting to know what so-and-so was like in training, and they were just a joy to be around.

“People were so passionate about their football and these players came to Middlesbrough to better themselves. It was just another world, really.”

But while playing alongside the likes of Juninho and Emerson was a dream come true, that shouldn't detract from Andy Campbell's own achievements at the club.

Campbell spent seven years with the Middlesbrough first team - a spell which according to the former striker, has made enough memories to last a lifetime.

Asked for his favourite Middlesbrough moment, Campbell said: "There’s loads.

“My debut was against Sheffield Wednesday live on Sky Sports. I was standing there just waiting for the ball to go out and it felt like an eternity!

“When I eventually got on I just loved every minute. It was only seven or eight minutes as a cameo but I loved every minute.

“The following week I made my full debut against Liverpool at Anfield.

“To get to play at Anfield and make your full debut there, it’s just unbelievable. It was Ian Rush’s last game as well so that made it even more special.

"My first goal against Sunderland – I think it was the Coca Cola Cup then at the Riverside and then scored twice against Manchester United – once in the league and once in the cup.

“Things like that no one can ever take away from me.

“I managed to get an England U21 call-up with my first cap being at the Riverside and scored my first goal in a World Cup qualifier.

“Middlesbrough Football Club opened so many doors for me and gave me so many highlights for my career – I can only thank the fans and players and staff for the opportunity that they gave me.”