Andy King leans forward in his chair when he's talking about his passion for the game and the difficulties to adapt once a footballer's playing career comes to end.
"I think it's more now," when asked whether he still has the same motivation as a teenager coming through the ranks at Leicester. "When you're young you feel like it's something you do for enjoyment but when you get older, you realise that the life of a player is not going to last forever and you want to maximise the feeling you get after the game."
The 34-year-old is in the twilight of his career as he juggles playing a key role in Nigel Pearson's squad and coaching at the same time. On Saturday, he was pulling out some dance moves on the pitch after Alex Scott scored his first league goal of the season in the 2-0 win over Blackpool.
That in a sense is a glimpse of King's determination to soak up those moments but he is fully aware there's a ticking clock on his time as a player. "The winning feeling on Saturday, you've played well, the team has played well and you've won.
"There's no feeling like that and when you get older you realise the buzz and feeling are not going to last forever so you look at other ways to get that whether it's coaching or management. Your love of football almost comes with age because you're not going to get those feelings forever.
"Especially at a club where it's more to me than just three points on a Saturday because my family supports Bristol City so it's important to me to make them happy, to make the supporters happy. You want to try and enjoy it as much as you can."
King has rolled back the years in his last two league starts, stepping into midfield to help ensure back-to-back clean sheets. He may be called upon once again at Luton given City's injury crisis as Pearson sweats on the fitness of Matty James.
He has had to adapt his game over the years, dropping into a more defensive-minded role, including playing centre-back towards the end of last year. King has proven he still has plenty to offer at this level and while that may not be playing week-in-week-out, he's still a valuable player to have in the squad both for his ability on the pitch and experience off it.
His contract at City expires at the end of the season and while there has been no decision made on whether he'll continue as a player or move into a permanent coaching role, King just wants to enjoy the final 10 games of the season. He added: "I'm taking it week to week, to be honest.
"I'm in no rush to jump into anything. I'm really enjoying my football, enjoying it day-to-day with the lads and it's a great changing room. Like I've said to you guys already, the feeling isn't going to last forever. When you're enjoying it so much you don't want it to end so I'm just enjoying it for what it is at the moment."
When that time to hang up his boots eventually arrives, whether that's this year or in three years' time, King is already putting in the building blocks to stay in the game. Pearson, who speaks so highly of him as a player and a person, has backed him to have a successful managerial career in the future.
He has been completing his Football Associate of Wales coaching badges, as well as working with the City first-team and the Under-23s. For other players, however, life after football can be difficult to get to grips with.
King believes there needs to be a better support system for retired players having spoken to former team-mates who have found the transition of retirement difficult. He added: "I think it's very difficult, I'm at that age where people I've come through with are at the end of their careers now and I think until that career does finish it's hard to say because you're still in on a daily basis thinking of the next game.
"You're thinking Luton next, when am I training next, I think the minute that can go like that (clicks fingers) it does make it hard. From speaking to players who have retired already, I don't think there's a great support system.
"Whether that be the PFA or the individual club, although it's not on the individual club, to be honest. From what I've heard from people who have finished it's not ideal but I imagine it's the same as someone having a job doing anything and then they come out of that job, their routine has gone, and all of a sudden, they're not doing something they love or enjoy.
"I would imagine it's hard, it's not just football, so I don't think it's just a football thing. People who move jobs do struggle so I don't think it can be laid just on a football base.
"I can only answer from people who I've spoken to who have finished. I think there can be some more communication to check up on how people are doing but you can't force people to do anything.
"I see some stuff where they say there should be training camps for lads who have retired or courses, but you might put the courses on and nobody does them so ultimately it's not down to organisations to try and facilitate for everyone, you have to take some ownership for yourself and I think put things in place while you're playing as well.
"But I understand it's a very hard transition from what I've been told and not one I'm overly looking forward to. Being a player is the best thing in the world and as you get older you understand that and don't take it for granted.
"It's something I'm sure for many lads is really difficult."
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