"To reach it with the club that, not just you support, but you're born half a mile away from the stadium, you used to kick a ball up against the gates and try and sneak in without a ticket. And then to captain this great football club is incredible."
For Mark Noble, the honour of representing West Ham United in the Premier League 300 times, with many wearing the armband and the extra responsibility as a local lad, is extra special.
He joined West Ham at the age of 12 and worked his way up through the academy until, aged 18, he made his Premier League debut in August 2005, as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers.
"We'd just been promoted and I came on," he recalls. "I remember going home after and sitting on the end of my mum and dad's bed, a mile down the road from the ground.
"And to play 300 Premier League games for the club you support is pretty special.
"I am always going to be associated with the club."
To commemorate his achievement Noble was presented with a Premier League Milestone Award.
Having travelled so far with the east London club and represented them with distinction, Noble is hoping that, as well as the award, West Ham will offer him something else in return.
"I'm hoping for all the games I've played there, they'll probably let me in for free!"
