Sir Mo Farah: ‘I would have loved to play for Arsenal’

‘If I run along the Thames, usually someone will go “That’s Mo!” and come and race alongside me’: Mo Farah. Photograph: Hamish Brown/Contour by Getty Images

I don’t have many memories of growing up in Somalia – I was so young. I remember coming to the UK, age eight, going to school – even though I couldn’t speak any English – and suddenly having all these friends to play with.

I owe a lot to my PE teacher, Mr Watkinson. He saw me running around the playground, he watched me run in a figure of eight around the gym. Then he thought: “That kid is good at running.” He encouraged me to join a local running club. We’re still in touch.