A FORMER Potteries football star has told of his nights spent drinking and gambling with heart-throb Robbie Williams.

But ex-Port Vale player Peter Swan also described how the singer loved children and always wanted to have his own.

The two became pals in the early 1990s when Peter was a defender with the Valiants, and Vale fan Robbie was just making it big with Take That.

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Robbie Williams: 1991-1995 (The Take That Years)

The footballer talks of their friendship in his new autobiography, Swanny, which also covers how the centre-half appeared with Vale at Wembley twice in nine days in 1993 as part of the legendary team built by manager John Rudge.

Besides relating the high jinks of that time, he mentions the singer's more touching side and how, years later when Robbie was packing out Manchester Arena, he spotted Peter in the audience and shouted out his name from the stage.

His friend of the time, Geri Halliwell, even waved at him from behind the technical gear.

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Take That - Interview, 1994

The footballer was with a group of Manchester United players and he writes: "They couldn't understand why a little-known ex-Port Vale player, now with Burnley, had been singled out for preferential treatment by Robbie and a Spice Girl."

The book contains a whole chapter called Just Williams devoted to the star and including escapades such as Robbie driving Peter's car through Stone despite never having been behind the wheel before; tripping head first into a bowl of jelly and custard at a child's birthday party Peter had been invited to; and arranging for soap star Patsy Kensit to caddy at a golf game he had arranged for the pair in Stoke-on-Trent.

He also mentions how he saw Robbie's split from Nicole Appleton and one night falling flat on his face during a drunken game of darts at Stone cricket club.

His musical talent also shines through in a tale of how on the same night he asked his friends to name a string of objects and countries and then wove them all into a song he had just thought up.

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Des O'Connor interviews Take That

Peter writes: "These days Robbie is instantly recognisable from Stoke to Sydney, but back then Take That had just had their first top-10 hit.

"The following year they rocketed to stardom with three number ones but Rob could still sit in the stand at Vale Park without too many problems from the punters.

"He was just an ordinary kid, and when he was out with our regular Saturday crowd he just wanted to be one of the gang.

"He enjoyed being with me because there was never any hassle."

They met when Peter was enjoying a drink in the bar after a pre-season friendly at Newcastle Town.

He explained: "One of the two big blokes he was with came over and said he was with an up-an-coming band and would I mind if he came over for a chat.

"I had never heard of him but we started to talk and became friends."

Now living back in his native West Yorkshire, Peter said yesterday: "I offered to run the chapter I had done past Rob's mum Jan before publishing but she said he trusted me which was great, so I hope I've done him justice.

"He was a really nice bloke who enjoyed coming out with us because he felt safe.

"I think at heart he wanted to be one of us because of the gang mentality, instead of being more on his own as a pop star.

"I am no longer in touch with him and I am not the type to go chasing after people, but it would be nice to meet up again sometime.

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Take That: TV-am Interview, 1992

"We had a real friendship and I am sad to see some of the things that have happened to him since. It's as if every extra million he earns makes him more isolated."

Mum Jan Williams said: "Peter was chummy with Robert at the time. He was a really nice family man and I think it was good for Robert to have known him."

Swanny – Confessions Of A Lower-League Legend is published by John Blake and costs £17.99.