I had fish and chips plus Peronis before surprise Billericay game and turned into Liverpool legend Jan Molby

While sports nutritionists have spent years trying to find the best football superfood, it turns out fish and chips once did the job for Jamie O’Hara.

On top of that, a couple of bottles for Peroni didn’t go amiss, but only because the former Tottenham midfielder-turned talkSPORT host didn’t think he’d be playing.

Coming towards the end of his playing career in 2017, O’Hara left the Football League for Isthmian League side Billericay Town on a player-manager basis.

The move turned out to be a very enjoyable one for O’Hara, who won four trophies in four years throughout different roles as a midfielder and assistant coach.

However, one match sticks in his head more than any other, when he was much more of a coach than a player.

“I’ll never forget it,” O’Hara began “We were playing at home and I wasn’t really playing. 

“I wasn’t really involved as I was player-coach but I was there more as the assistant manager just helping the boys.

“I hadn’t really played for a month, but I trained with the boys and I’d always be alright.

“We had a game Tuesday night after a big game on the Saturday and I remember going out with my pal who I brought in as a coach as well. 

“We’ve gone out in Billericay before the game and we’ve had fish and chips and we’ve sat there on a beautiful evening with a large cod and chips, curry sauce and a couple of Peronis.

“I’m sitting there and thinking ‘this is lovely big game tonight but I’ll just chill out’ I said to him ‘I definitely won’t be involved tonight, all the boys are fit’.”

With his heart and stomach full, O’Hara headed to work for the evening's game, only to be left stunned.

He continued: “I’ve walked into the office… and I’m heavy. I’m heavy as it is already, I’m touching 100 kilos at this point anyway.