Oasis played in front of over 100,000 people in their hay-day during the mid-1990s while the Verve have just made a hugely successful comeback to the music scene with their latest single 'Love is Noise' making a great impression on the charts.

Noel Gallagher is often described as the 'coolest guy in music' and it isn't just down to his voice and the way he dresses - guitarists tend to be the ones that stand out and are often the ones the groupies make a beeline for first.

The lads in Oasis may have settled down a bit now but they are still an inspiration to others when it comes to their music and their influences have persuaded one Peterborough United star to learn how to play the guitar and he is making good progress.

Defender Russell Martin was given an acoustic guitar as a birthday present from his girlfriend Jasmine 18 months ago and he was soon trying to emulate his musical heroes in the living room.

'It was January 2007 that Jasmine bought the guitar for me and I am playing a bit in my spare time. Ian Stonebridge was a team-mate of mine at Wycombe Wanderers and he started teaching me because he is an exceptional guitar player.

'He then moved and I stopped playing for a little while, but now I have moved to Peterborough I am looking to take it up again and start having a few lessons. I am not naturally musical, I was just looking for a hobby really because we do get a bit of spare time as footballers.

'I can play one or two songs at the moment, but I still need plenty of practice. I think a few people can play Wonderwall by Oasis, but I am learning a few of their other songs as well as a bit of the Verve. They are my musical inspiration I suppose.

'I am a bit of a keen singer as well, so I sing along to the tracks and Sergio Torres, who lives with me at the minute, has already made a few requests, mainly 'La Bamba'. I think he reckons it will remind him of Argentina, but I doubt I would be that good,' Martin said.

When a new player signs at the football club they are forced to sing a song for the rest of the squad and Martin admits they have been quite a few disasters, although all of the lads seem keen to test out their voices, even though Simon Cowell would cringe if they ever walked through the X Factor doors.

'Alfie Potter sang Wonderwall and that wasn't the best! A few of the lads have sung Oasis songs actually. Kieran Charnock was quite good apparently and I sang 'Lady in Red' by Chris De Burgh. I was lucky though because of a couple of the young lads also had to sing their songs too. Billy Crook did a bit of rap and was so good he was asked to do it again.

'Chris Westwood was saying that Claude Gnakpa sang quite a good French song with a decent beat to it, so maybe I missed out on a stunning performance. Sergio sang 'La Bamba' rather predictably!

'The players really give it their best shot and I went for it in a massive way. It happens at an away game, you stand on a chair at the front of the room and it is quite daunting, but I think you have to go for it. You have to be confident, if you are scared then the rest of the lads will just leave you singing. Liam Hatch was booed off which was quite funny, I think he was put out of his misery.

'Micah Hyde brought this in and it is great way of getting the new lads involved. We didn't do it at Wycombe so it was nice to come to Peterborough and have a go at singing! It is really enjoyable and everyone looks forward to the performances of the new lads,' Martin said.

Off the pitch, the squad are a close-knit unit and on the pitch, performances have been impressive, but Martin knows that the results need to match the displays if the club are to be successful in their aim of securing back to back promotions.

'We have dominated most games this season and it is very frustrating not to have won more matches. I am sure it will come good and we will start taking our chances and put a string of matches together when we will collect maximum points.

'We have no worries over our performances and once we stop conceding goals then we will win a lot of football matches. At Northampton Town last weekend we defended well, especially when you consider that Gabriel Zakuani only joined the club two days before the fixture.

'Northampton had two shots on goal, one that hit the bar and then the goal they scored which stemmed from some individual skill. Gabby did very well and if we can get a consistent back four then we will win games because we are a good side.

'I have been happy with my performances and I have really settled in very quickly. I am enjoying it, the lads are quality and I like the way we play the football. I would have liked to have got forward a bit more last weekend, but I think I have slotted in well.

'The manager wants the full-backs to play as wing-backs and that suits my style of play. I like to keep it simple and it is the way we want to play as a defensive unit. I am looking forward to every game and it would be good to get the three points this afternoon,' Martin added.

Martin currently lives with his partner and team-mate Sergio Torres. The pair played together at former club Wycombe Wanderers and Martin admits he has nothing bad to say about the midfielder. 'Sergio hammered me in his interview, but he is a great lad. He is a bit disappointed to miss out due to injury, but he gets on well with the family and when he moves out we will miss each other. To be fair though, all he brought to the house is his sofa so when he does move out I may have a little cry over the furniture,' Martin concluded.

SONGS THAT PLAYERS SUNG ON THEIR ARRIVAL
Kieran Charnock and Alfie Potter	Wonderwall
Dean Keates	Wheels On The Bus
Chris Westwood	Max & Paddy Theme Tune
Russell Martin	Lady In Red
Sergio Torres	La Bamba
Tom Williams	Hello (Lionel Ritchie)
Billy Crook	Rat In My Kitchen
Charlie Lee	Angels
Liam Hatch	10 Green Bottles