Nicole Scherzinger asked me where the trophies were – I said ‘don’t worry about that’

Boro fan James Arthur has relived the moment he brought the Pussycat Dolls star to the Riverside.

X-Factor winner James Arthur has never hidden his Middlebrough roots. After winning the 2012 competition, the Boro-born singer-songwriter has gone on to have a successful career that has seen him collaborate with some of the music industry’s biggest names. One highlight was a hometown show at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium, which featured a cameo appearance by Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger. She may be accustomed to the bright lights of Las Vegas, but Arthur made certain she knew she was at a ‘real’ football club.

In an interview with FourFourTwo, the Boro supporter stated: “I was trying to convince her that this is a legitimate football team. But she inquired, ‘Where are all the trophies?’ I said, ‘Don’t worry about it! …’ I believe she is more familiar with American football, but she had a fantastic time!

“It could not have meant more. Growing up, the Riverside was my happy place. As a child, I felt like I was a minor part of a much bigger image. Then to realize that people were passing through the turnstiles to see me was inconceivable.” Arthur was a fan since he was a kid, and he remembers seeing idols like Fabrizio Ravanelli and Juninho wear the iconic red shirt. The Brazilian, in particular, remains a popular hero. “Juninho was just magic to watch,” he said. “One of my first recollections is of Ravanelli’s league debut, a 3-3 draw against Liverpool in which he scored a hat-trick.

We filmed Match of the Day, and I watched it in the morning before going out and mimicking Juninho and Ravanelli’s link-up play on the street. I fell in love with the Middlesbrough era. “I’ve never met Juninho, but I’ve been fortunate to meet a few footballers. The first was Frank Lampard, who was present when I entered Radio 2. I was more taken with him than with some of the other talents who appeared on The X Factor. “He was such a nice guy. I also met Rio Ferdinand while on X Factor, and he was great. “He sent me a load of hats.”