The Saturday Interview: This week, GARETH AINSWORTH, who was twice denied a play-off chance by his favourite club and hero

FOR a player who wasn't good enough to get in to his school team, discarded by his beloved Blackburn Rovers and first played professional football for free, Gareth Ainsworth hasn't done too badly.

The Blackburn-born winger will be the first to admit that it has been something of a rollercoaster ride -- from the soccer scrapheap, through the lower divisions and on to the promised land of the Premiership.

He's suffered more knock backs than most and an injury nightmare that ended any hopes of international glory.

But his policy to play hard but fair, always give 100 per cent and carry on the values instilled in him by his family have served him well.

"I am a football fan first and foremost and I have had the chance to play at the highest level," said Ainsworth. "You can't ask for much more than that and that is something I will never forget.

"I am lucky to have a family around me who have given me tremendous support throughout my career. My dad has been my biggest inspiration and has had a massive influence on my career. My mum and brother Liam have also been a great support."

Dad Bill also happens to be Ainsworth's agent and has negotiated deals that have taken him from the Vauxhall Conference to the Premiership.

"Not many players can say that is this day and age."

His parents are also his biggest fans and will be at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow to watch their son play for Cardiff City against Queens Park Rangers in the Division Two play-off final.

Ainsworth has only played eight games for City but has quickly become a firm favourite at Ninian Park.

"It is going to be a fantastic occasion and I only hope I get to play a part," said Ainsworth who has just completed his three-match ban after getting sent off against Bristol City in a league game. "The sending off could not have come at a worse time but it just makes me even more determined to do well. I am like a coiled spring."

Ainsworth's Cardiff contract is up in the summer, but he is hoping he has done enough to earn a new one. He's certainly impressed the fans.

"The fans have been fantastic and have really taken to me. They appreciate my direct style of play and my commitment. But to be honest that is they only way I know how to play.

"Cardiff is a massive city and a massive club and I would love to stay here."

As Ainsworth prepares for the big match, it must seem like a million miles away from the days he couldn't get in to the St Augustine's High School team.

"It might sound strange but I didn't get picked for the school team in my first year. I knew I was good enough but maybe it was just nerves. I got in the year after and went on to play for the town team."

It was never an instant rise to fame for young Ainsworth. In fact, it wasn't until his dad started up a Holy Souls football team that he became really involved.

In those days it was his brother Liam who was expected to go on to become a professional footballer.

Ainsworth wasn't even scouted as a youngster and wrote a series of letters to local clubs to try and get a trial.

"My dad composed the letters and I sent them off. It was a dream come true when Blackburn Rovers invited me along."

Ainsworth, then 17, played in the same team as David May, Lenny Johnrose, Jason Wilcox and Peter Thorne, who he has teamed up again with at Cardiff City.

Looking back though, Ainsworth never thought he would move away from Ewood Park. He cleaned the boots of Frank Stapleton and Colin Hendry and had dreams of lining up alongside his all-time hero Simon Garner.

But after serving two years as an apprentice his world fell apart when he was released.

"I was absolutely gutted. It was tragic. I got home and just broke down. I thought I was going to be at Rovers forever and score lots of goals for them. I sat on the Riverside with my dad and Simon Garner was my hero. I really thought I was going to get the chance to play alongside him but it never happened.

"That's when the letter writing started again."

After a brief stint with Sammy McIroy's Northwich, Ainsworth signed for Preston in 1991 and made his League debut at Shrewsbury. Incredibly, in his first month as a professional player he didn't get a wage.

"I was playing for free. Even when I did get a wage, it was very small."

Ainsworth's first spell at Preston only lasted six months but Cambridge came knocking and manager John Beck was to change his career forever.

"If I had never met John Beck then I would never have played in the Premiership. I owe a lot to him because he always had faith in my ability and gave me my big break."

Ainsworth scored his first league goal in October 1991 on his debut against a Bristol City side that included Andy Cole. It was a Cambridge side including Dion Dublin and Steve Claridge that was pipped to a play-off place by Blackburn Rovers.

"It was ironic that the club I had supported all my life and had let me go as a player had done me out of a chance of playing in the play-offs. Mind you, I was at Wembley to see Rovers beat Leicester in the final."

Cambridge's play-off failure cost Beck his job but he was soon offered the post at Preston and he took Ainsworth with him.

It was there that dad Bill negotiated Ainsworth's first proper contract.

While at Preston, Ainsworth was to receive another Rovers-related body blow in the shape of idol Simon Garner.

"We reached the Division Three Play-Off final at Wembley in the 1992/93 season against Wycombe. We were winning 2-1 at half-time but Garner took control after the break, scored a goal and Wycombe won 4-2. Simon gave me a big hug at the final whistle. I'll always remember that."

When Gary Peters took over at Preston, Ainsworth was told he was no longer in his plans. But with Beck now in charge at Lincoln City it wasn't long before the call came -- and this time he was sold for a fee.

"That's when I knew I had made it. It was only £50,000 but I remember thinking a club has actually paid a fee for me."

Ainsworth enjoyed his most prolific spell at Sincil Bank, scoring 37 goals in 83 appearances.

"That spell was what put Gareth Ainsworth on the map. I was delighted to score so many goals from midfield."

His form attracted the attentions of John Rudge's Port Vale where he signed for £500,000. The highlight of his two-season stay at Vale was scoring against David Seaman in a FA Cup replay penalty shoot-out. Vale lost and Arsenal went on to win the double in 1998.

"My regret from that game is that I never got to swap shirts with an Arsenal player. I completely forgot but at least I kept the shirt from when I scored a goal against David Seaman."

By now, Ainsworth was playing the best football of his career and later that season the big move came. Spurs, Leeds and Fulham were all interested but in the end it was Wimbledon who paid £2 million for his services.

"I was buzzing. I was in the Premiership and in peak condition. I scored two goals at Aston Villa in the 1999/200 season and there was even talk of Kevin Keegan calling me in to the England squad. But then I picked up a bad injury and I was out of the game for two years.

"That has got to be the worst moment of my career. I thought if I was going to pick up a bad injury why couldn't it have been in Division Three and not the Premiership?"

Ainsworth was never to fully figure in Wimbledon's plans again and after loan spells at Preston and Walsall, Cardiff signed him in March - renewing his ties with Peter Thorne.

"It's funny really. I spent two years with him then didn't see him for another 13 until I came to Cardiff. He has been a great mate since I arrived and you could say my career has come full circle."

The Premiership, Wembley and now the Millennium Stadium - not bad for a player who couldn't get in his school team!