Ryan Catney can't understand how he earned a reputation for being a 'dirty player' in the Irish League.
The former midfielder spent over a decade at Cliftonville and played a crucial role in the club's back-to-back title successes in 2013 and '14.
Catney forged a formidable partnership with Barry Johnston during those championship seasons, with their pragmatic approach affording the team's flair players a freedom to entertain and deliver goals.
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That reputation often led to rival fans labelling Catney a 'dirty player'. Even after suffering a double leg-break in a challenge with Howard Beverland in 2017, it was the Cliftonville player who was criticised for going in too heavy in the tackle.
"I made 100-200 tackles like that one. A lot was made of that challenge," Catney told Belfast Live's That's What I Call Football podcast.
"Football people know that was my game. I was always aggressive. It wasn't the first time I made a tackle like that.
"I always said I went for the ball. And no matter what people say, I wasn't that dirty. People say I was dirty but I only got about two red cards in my whole career.
"I maybe got away with it a bit. But I wasn't the animal that people made me out to be.
"I wasn't out to break people's legs like people made out. That's not how I remember it.
"It only seems to be a certain section of people who thought I was out to break someone's leg every week. But it wasn't the case with me."
A lot of the physical nature of football has been diluted in recent years, with referees offering players greater protection on the pitch.
Despite the role of the 'midfield enforcer' being eroded, Catney says history will dictate how important a job it was.
"If you look at all the title-winning teams over the past 20-30 years, you look at their midfield and there is always a dog in there," he said.
"Players like Michael Gault and Jamie Mulgrew who have been around, Declan Caddell, Mickey Collins, Packie McAllister. There is always a player or players who will take the fight to other teams.
"And that's why these teams are successful. Most of the title-winning teams have that type of player, along with those players who can play the pass."
Catney spent 12 years at Solitude before he was released in the summer of 2019.
He failed to feature under new manager Paddy McLaughlin who took up the reins in January that year.
The midfielder admits he was "devastated" to part company with the club he grew up with, but says he accepted the youthful direction McLaughlin was taking the club in.
"Yeah it was disappointing. You are there for 12 years and it is your club," he said.
"Paddy came in and wanted to move a different direction and that's fine. It is gut-wrenching."
He joked: "My time at Cliftonville actually ended with me being sent off in my last game.
"I think that was my last red card. But it was the best 12 years of my life, football wise.
"The highs definitely outweighed the lows."
Catney continued his career in the Ballymena and Provincial League, linking up with former teammate Barry Johnston at West Belfast club St James' Swifts.
He would hang up his boots one year later, with family and work commitments overriding his desire to prolong his career.
"I was warned against it (joining St James' Swifts). After Cliftonville I would never have played for another Irish League club because I wouldn't have felt comfortable going back to Solitude," he said.
"Janty was getting on the managerial ladder at St James' and he invited me down, so I said I would help him out.
"There was definitely a target on my back and there were players out to get me. You have this hard man reputation and all that rubbish that comes with it.
"People say 'I am going to smash him'. And your priorities change, I was getting older and you start asking yourself is it worth it.
"I played one season and jacked it in after that."
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