Graeme Souness is stood pitchside at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium holding court.
He's telling tales from the early 1970s but recalling details as though it was yesterday.
Souness was born in Scotland and is profoundly associated with Liverpool, but Middlesbrough means so, so much. The club and the town.
"I have the most unbelievable memories of here," he says.
"This is where I grew up. You know, this is where it really started for me."
For Souness, Middlesbrough means Jack Charlton, who, he says, with a twinkle in his eye, was "robust" after pausing for thought to think of a word that was "acceptable".
For Souness, Middlesbrough means 53 Chipchase Road where he lived with his landlady Phoebe Haigh.
"She was like my mum, only better because she allowed me to get away with everything," he laughs.
"I moved in with this family and it was just an absolute delight.
"I'll tell you a story. I'd been here a few months and thought I’d buy a house, that’s what you do when you’re 19, 20 years old and you’ve got enough money.
"I bought a flat in Saltburn, I said to her 'I’m leaving', so I packed all my bags one day after training went to Saltburn, unpacked all my bags.
"I've got the telly on after training - this is what adults do, I'm thinking - but I'm also thinking, 'I could just do with a cup of tea and a bit of her homemade coffee cake or chocolate cake'.
"I thought 'sod this', I packed my bags again and I went back and just stayed the rest of the time there. She was just the best. Just the best."
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The best is how fans of a certain generation would describe Souness. The best to ever grace the Ayresome Park pitch in the Boro red? Very possibly.
He joined when he was 19 from Spurs, played more than 200 games for Boro, won promotion and when he left for Liverpool it was a record transfer fee of £352,000.
"I knew Liverpool wanted to buy me," he says.
"They were the European champions and an outstanding team in Europe at the time.
"They made an offer and Charlton turned it down. Then one day, maybe, I don't know, six weeks later, I got a call to say I was to go to the Queens Hotel in Leeds and they'd agreed a fee with someone.
"I knew that both Leeds and Manchester City were interested as well. And when I was going to Leeds, I was thinking if it’s not Liverpool, I’m going to stay where I am, that’s how much I enjoyed it here.
"I learned a hell of a lot here. I came under the influence of Jack, he was straightforward to say the least. And I responded to his style of management, and it’s what I needed because I think my head was up my backside for a bit when I came here, believing I was a big time Charlie and he sorted me out.
"When I was driving up here yesterday, I came off the A1M and you come on the A19 and it just all feels familiar again.
"Why did I enjoy it? Because of the people. You know, I come back and I get treated really well by everyone.
"From my experience, the people here are open books. Tell you how it is. If they’re not happy with you, they’ll let you know, but if you’re decent with them, they’ll be decent back to you.
"I lived here a long, long time ago. I don’t believe it’s changed, I can only go by how people are towards me. It hasn't changed."
Souness does have one slight Middlesbrough regret - he wishes he'd got chance to be the manager, and he recently told Steve Gibson as much.
“I did get the message to him, I was a bit disappointed - not that I’m looking for a job now," he laughs.
"A couple of times I was available when this job was available.
“Steve said he never thought I’d be interested. He said he went through this other person and the message back was that I wouldn’t be interested in coming up here. I would have, absolutely.”
That ship has now sailed but how impressed Souness has been with the man currently in the Riverside dugout, Kim Hellberg.
"Unbelievable," he said.
"He came from nowhere, and fair play to him.
"Normally you would need a settling-in period, but he’s hit the ground running and he’s got them going. And that’s why they’re in a great spot."
Souness was back on Teesside as part of SkyBet's Fan Spotlight campaign, which recognised the remarkable support of Boro superfan Nick Waites.
Nick has been to more than 1,400 consecutive Boro games home and away - a stretch that started back in 1996 - and to mark that incredible achievement he was joined by his favourite player Souness in the stands for Good Friday's visit of Millwall.
Souness said: “He’s a proper supporter and I had the pleasure of surprising him with hospitality tickets at the game. Though it wasn’t the result we hoped for, it was fantastic to spotlight, and reward, Nick’s efforts and unwavering loyalty to the club.”
Having played for Boro and managed Newcastle, Souness would love to see three North East clubs in the Premier League next season.
"Football is such an important thing for any community," he says.
"I managed Blackburn Rovers which was a small little town, but it had a profile simply because of the Premier League.
"I live down in Poole and people all over the world know where Bournemouth is simply because they've got a football team in the Premier League.
"That's what it does for the community. It would be great to see Middlesbrough back there."
Graeme Souness was speaking via Sky Bet as part of their Fan Spotlight campaign - celebrating football fans who go above and beyond when it comes to supporting their club.