England Programme - buy online now

A series in England match programmes, TheFA.com ask England players to choose their heroes and explain why. Here we bring you this season's selection of stories and today we hear from recent Three Lions debutant, Joe Hart.

Joe Hart has made  a swift rise through the ranks. After making his debut for Shrewsbury Town aged just 17, he has spent almost all of the last season as the number one at Manchester City, earning the Young Player of the Year award.

He’d already made his Under-21 debut against Spain in February 2007, and the end of season trip to Trinidad and Tobago saw him start the game in Port Of Spain and become the latest England debutant.

Hart now explains all about his footballing hero and it comes as no surprise to hear that it's another England stopper.

“David Seaman was my hero when I was younger,” he says. “He was a great player, not just a great goalkeeper.

“I watched the games during Euro 96 – he made some important stops against Scotland and Spain. When he saved Gary McAllister’s penalty – that was a big moment for England.

“I also remember another penalty save he made when Arsenal beat Sampdoria in the Cup Winners’ Cup.

"He was a bit of a specialist. “He was a tremendous goalkeeper for both club and country.”

Hart’s own rise is all the more remarkable given that initially he shied away from the competitive atmosphere of youth football to play as striker with his mates on a Sunday.

Having found his best position, however, Hart isn’t making any predictions about following Seaman’s career path.

“I’m not one to set myself goals and targets," he revealed.

"I just want to keep going and day after day keep trying to improve, play well in games and make opportunities for myself. And if opportunities come my way then I’ll be ready to take them.”

A lot of praise has come Hart’s way of late, but he tries not to think about it too much.

“I was on loan at Blackpool this time last year," he added. "We won every game and it was a good experience, but I was third choice at City back then. Andreas [Isaksson] has lost his place at the minute, but the same could happen to me so I don’t take anything for granted.

“I’m just going to keep playing and try to do the best I can whenever I get on the pitch and hopefully I can keep my place in whatever teams I am playing for, City or England."

England Programme - buy online now