▁career ▁in ▁the ▁mid - 1 9 9 0 s . ▁He ▁made ▁ 2 4 ▁appearances ▁for ▁the ▁club ▁between ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁and ▁spent ▁time ▁on ▁loan ▁to ▁I ps wich ▁Town ▁and ▁W igan ▁Athlet ic ▁before ▁making ▁a ▁permanent ▁move ▁to ▁Old ham ▁Athlet ic ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 . ▁He ▁made ▁ 5 2 ▁appearances ▁in ▁two ▁seasons ▁with ▁the ▁Lat ics ▁before ▁strugg les ▁with ▁his ▁mental ▁health ▁led ▁to ▁his ▁ret irement ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 2 6 . ▁ ▁Play ing ▁career ▁C leg g , ▁born ▁in ▁As ht on - under - L y ne , ▁began ▁his ▁football ▁career ▁as ▁a ▁tra ine e ▁with ▁Manchester ▁United ▁and ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁FA ▁Youth ▁Cup - win ning ▁side . ▁He ▁turned ▁professional ▁soon ▁afterwards , ▁and ▁made ▁his ▁first - team ▁debut ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁November ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁in ▁a ▁Premier ▁League ▁game ▁away ▁to ▁M idd les br ough ▁which ▁finished ▁as ▁a ▁ 2 – 2 ▁draw . ▁He ▁played ▁in ▁four ▁FA ▁Premier ▁League ▁games ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 6 – 9 7 ▁season , ▁and ▁although ▁United ▁were ▁champions ▁for ▁the ▁fourth ▁time ▁in ▁five ▁seasons ▁it ▁was ▁not ▁enough ▁for ▁a ▁title ▁winner ' s ▁medal . ▁He ▁managed ▁a ▁further ▁three ▁appearances ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 7 – 9 8