FRIENDS of Jonathan Woodgate have described the footballer as a "down-to-earth" home-loving boy.

Until recently, Woodgate lived with his parents in High Gill Road, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

It is one of the more affluent areas of the town, although the Woodgates' house is nothing remarkable.

Woodgate, a former pupil at Nunthorpe School, eventually became a familiar face on the local pubs and clubs circuit, often drinking with childhood friends.

He would sometimes frequent high-profile nightspots, such as the Tall Trees nightclub in Yarm, but was equally at home at out-of-town pubs, such as the Brunton Arms and the Southern Cross, both in Middlesbrough's Marton area.

Nick Waddington, 30, from Middlesbrough, got to know the Leeds star through mixing in his company while playing local league football.

He said: "He is a typical down-to-earth Middlesbrough lad, with his feet on the ground.

"He enjoys his football, likes a drink, but is definitely a home boy. He likes living at home.

"I did once see him with his teammate, Michael Duberry, drinking champagne out of a bottle in one bar.

"But, other than that, he is very much one of the lads, like everyone else. I have never seen him get into a fight, or anything like that.

"He just keeps himself to himself."