Micah Richards has revealed he nearly got into a fight with a Leeds United fan on his only trip to his hometown stadium as a player.
After growing up in the Chapeltown area of Leeds, Richards' progression through the youth ranks at Manchester City meant he never faced a trip to Elland Road until late in his career at Aston Villa.
Injury problems at the end of his career meant he was unable to feature much for Villa, and he sat out the game against the Whites, watching it from the stands instead.
Speaking on the Match of the Day: Top 10 podcast, Richards revealed that one fan took exception to him applauding a Villa shot whilst sat in the home end at Elland Road.
He said: "We were playing there when I was at Villa - both teams trying to come up from the Championship, so there was a bit of a rivalry.
"I went to watch the game and I don't know why but my tickets were in the Leeds end. I wasn't playing - shock.
"Villa had a shot and I didn't even cheer, I must have just clapped my hands, then some guy next to me was like, 'what are you doing in here, fella?'
"I was like, 'what are you on about? I'm watching the game'.
"He said the Villa fans were at the other end - he didn't know I was a player. Then he said 'come round here'.
"He didn't know I'm from Chapeltown in Leeds - we can handle ourselves - but, at the same time, I've got to be professional.
"I was with Steve Bruce's son Alex, who was telling me to calm down, but then the fella stood up and, back in the day, where I'm from, if someone stands up, you've got to stand up as well.
"So I'm standing up, he didn't try to hit me, but he came to my face, but I was thinking if I fought him I'd get in trouble, so I left it, but afterwards, I said 'after, me and you, outside - no cameras, nothing'.
"And he s**t himself. Absolutely.
"That's the only experience I've got from Elland Road."
Richards was asked if he ever went to see the Whites play when growing up in the city but, being an Arsenal fan, he admitted it was not something he had an interest in.
He said: "I think I went once when I won a competition with school but I supported Arsenal as a youngster, so it was never somewhere I wanted to go.
"It's a good atmosphere, though, isn't it?"
