In the latest of the Best XI series, Darlington-born former Quaker Neil Maddison takes us through the best players he played alongside during his career.

Maddo ended his playing days with his hometown club in 2006, having come through the ranks in the mid-1980s at Southampton and going on to join Middlesbrough in 1997 where he was part of the team that won promotion to the Premier League.

Goalkeeper-- Tim Flowers

Tim was a little bit older than me at Southampton, he came into the team before me. He was a very good goalkeeper, a good shot-stopper, and he won the league with Blackburn. Really dependable and brave as a lion.

Right back -- Jason Dodd

This is a tough one because I’m torn between two very good players, Jason Dodd and Jeff Kenna. I’ll go with Doddsy because he was so dependable, good on the ball, aggressive and played so many games for Southampton.

He could get forward too as well as being a good defender, a good passer on the ball and he was never one of these to shout and moan.

Centre back-- Gary Pallister

Even though he was in his later years when he came back to Middlesbrough, he was so strong, really good on the ball, a good passer. He was an organiser and did his job really well, a calming influence.

He was in his 30s when he came back to Middlesbrough, but I was fortunate to play in the same team as him. In that short period of time you could see his quality and why he was at Manchester United for so long, he was superb.

Centre back --Neil Ruddock

I was torn between two again, I could’ve gone for Kevin Moore, but I’ve gone for Razor and he gives us balance because he’s left-footed.

He was a tough guy, hard as nails, but he had a sweet left foot on him so could ping a ball. He’s another one that was strong, a leader, dependable and got into a few scraps now and again but in those days you needed a few of them players around you to help you out.

He was the life and soul in the dressing room, always having a joke, but on the pitch he was determined to win games and got himself a move to Liverpool.

Left back -- Christian Ziege

I’ve had two stuck in my mind. I could’ve gone for Derek Statham from Southampton, but gone for Christian Ziege because he was a good left back, a very good passer of the ball and a proper athlete.

His setpiece deliveries were absolutely superb and he was a German international. He was a big signing for us and everyone was talking about it when he came.

Right wing -- Rod Wallace

Me, Rod and his brother Ray were all born on the same day so we all came through together at Southampton and we used to go out together.

You ask any Southampton fan, he was absolutely superb, fantastic delivery and so quick and direct. Not only did he assist, he also scored goals. Rod’s older brother, Danny, was at the club still when I was an apprentice, but I think Rod was better, with his pace and direct approach.

He was shy in the dressing room, wouldn’t say anything, but on the pitch he was different and he got a move to Rangers when they were absolutely flying.

Centre midfield -- Jimmy Case

He was the older head down at Southampton and he was like a minder for me. I made my debut in a League Cup game against Tottenham, I came on as a sub, Gazza and Chris Waddle were playing, Spurs were unbelievably good, and Gazza was giving me loads of stick, Jimmy was there telling me to concentrate on my game, although he knew I was mentally tough. We won 3-1, and Gazza wouldn’t shake my hand.

I made my full debut at Wimbledon and I remember Vinnie Jones saying ‘The new boy, you’re going to get your legs broken today’, but Jimmy just looked after me.

To play alongside him was something special because he was dead calm but as tough as they come and had a big influence on the game.

Centre midfield -- Paul Gascoigne

Gazza was coming to the end of his career when I played with him, but when he was at Newcastle and Tottenham he was probably the best player I’ve ever played against by far.

He was in a different league altogether, he was unstoppable at times and I don’t think he realised just how good he was. He was possibly one of the best players in the world at that time. His passing, his awareness, the ability to run past you and stick it in the back of the net – he had it all. He hated getting beat too, even in five-a-side.

Bryan Robson and Paul Gascoigne were my idols, so when I was signed for Middlesbrough it was my dream, one was the manager and I played alongside the other one.

Left midfield -- Paul Merson

I wanted to fit Merson in because without doubt he was one of the best players I played alongside throughout all of my career. In that first season I came to Middlesbrough, if it was not for him we would not have got promoted – he was that good. When we needed him he would deliver. You be looking at him saying ‘Come on Merse, we need you’, and he would come up with the goods.

There were a lot of good players at the club at the time, but he was the best by far.

Striker -- Alan Shearer

We were 13 when we first met, we trained up at Gateshead as associated schoolboys with Southampton, we’d go down to Southampton on the train. When we came through together, we lived in the same house just a minute from the Dell and I was best man at his wedding, we were good friends.

I played at a good level, but his career went in another direction and deservedly so. He never had a left foot, but his right foot was ridiculously powerful. He’d let go from