COMEDIAN Russell Howard discussed his time playing football for Basingstoke on this evening's The One Show. 

Presenter Alex Jones invited this evening's guests, actor Jason Watkins and Russell Howard, to chat about their shared passion for football. 

Watkins, known for his roles in The Crown (2014) and The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies (2016),​ played "a couple of pre-season friendlies" for Wrexham when he was younger. 

He said: "Hounslow area boys played against Wrexham area boys. I got spotted there, and ended up playing against Mark Hughes!"

Presenter Gethin Jones then said: "Russ, you were a decent player weren't you, in your youth?" to which Howard responded: "I'm not as good as Jason, let's not mess around."

Speaking of his time at Basingstoke Town FC, comedian Russell Howard recalled playing against Wayne Bridge.

"It was like a Skoda trying to chase the Hogwarts' Express - it was brutal!" he said. 

It comes after The Gazette published an article last week about Howard's days playing for Basingstoke. 

Reminiscing about those days in an interview back in 2011, he said: "I played for Basingstoke Town when I was younger and got to play in the 1st round of the FA Youth Cup, although we did get destroyed 18-0. I'm getting old now so slowing down, it's depressing."

The Bristolian, who is now 40, is vocal about his love for football and said he is "deadly serious" about the sport.