In an exclusive interview for England TV, John said he gets it a lot:

"When I speak to people they say I look about 27," he explained, "they say ‘you look older than you are’, but maybe that’s part of the way I play on the pitch as well.

Terry is likely to be partnering another man who shows maturity beyond his years, fellow 23-year-old Ledley King, in the centre of defence today, and is glad to be lining up alongside an old accomplice.

"We used to play with each other in a team called Senrab when we were younger - I was in midfield, Ledley was still the centre-half.

"It’s good to be playing alongside him now as well."

Having two players in a single youth team move into international football is a rare achievement, and Terry has no doubt his former coaches will be proud when they both line-up for England

"Paul Rolls and Kevin Nicholls were the manager and coach at the time, so thanks to them really, because we enjoyed our time there.

"We had some great players and I bet they’re both very proud today.

John Terry is now hoping today's opening World Cup qualifier with Austria will be the start of something special.

"I waited a long time to get my England debut but when it finally came I was the proudest man ever - it was a fantastic achievement.

"When you talk as a kid about playing for your country that’s a dream come true.

"But if you speak to every kid as well, to be able to play in a World Cup tournament would be the biggest thing ever, and that definitely goes for me."

"I’ve had a taste of the championship, and now it’s the big one, the World Cup, and hopefully I can be a big part of the build-up to that, and hopefully a big part of the tournament."

"We can compete with the best, we showed that against France and other teams over there, so hopefully things go well and we can prove to everybody just how good we are."

04 September 2004  
John Terry Exclusive