IF there was a contest for the nicest man in football then Swansea City's Kevin Austin would be among the contenders.
Softly-spoken and always personable, the muscular defender's off-the-field manner is starkly at odds with his no-nonsense approach on it.
Making friends comes easy to the 34-year-old Londoner, who has made Bristol his home after two pre-Swansea years with Rovers.
But even Austin admits he was "overwhelmed" by the response from well-wishers after a February heart scare produced some shocking newspaper headlines.
In fact, such is Austin's popularity that followers of Bristol City and Bristol Rovers - never the warmest of bedfellows on the banks of the Avon - called a truce when they heard about the defender's plight.
"It was quite overwhelming at times," admitted Austin, speaking about his situation in such detail for the first time after ending his six-week absence in the 3-0 defeat of Port Vale on Easter Monday.
"I even had Bristol City and Bristol Rovers fans coming up to me and giving me their support!
"I got loads of phone calls after what happened, friends and family all over the world got in touch."
Austin's problems began when he was forced off in the first 20 minutes of the 1-0 defeat at Yeovil on February 24 complaining of breathlessness.
Within a week or so it was being suggested that he had suffered a heart attack. His career appeared to be hanging in the balance.
But tests later showed that Austin, in fact, had an irregular heartbeat. His worst fears had subsided.
"I'm just glad it wasn't what they thought it was," said Austin. "It was one of those things that happened and the story just escalated, it was like Chinese whispers in the end.
"I've got an irregular heartbeat and it looked like I've had a heart attack.
"It went round like wildfire that I'd had one, but it wasn't the case. That's just the way my heart beats.
"It was a little bit of a worry at the start, but then I had the tests and it showed that everything was fine.
"Luckily my team-mates knew the situation because the club's physio was in touch with the hospital."
Footballers being what they are, though, means Austin hasn't been spared the ribbing prominent in dressing rooms up and down the land.
Having made his 400th league appearance against Port Vale, Austin already wears the "veteran" tag via spells at Leyton Orient, Lincoln, Bristol Rovers and Swansea well.
But he revealed that the banter has increased since his irregular heartbeat was discovered.
"Players have been saying 'watch what you're doing' or 'you shouldn't be doing that with your heart'," he smiled. "But you expect that.
"I've put all that stuff to the back of my mind. I'm glad to put it to rest and get to back playing.
"Now it's just a case of going out there, trying to perform and help the team get the three points on offer."
As ever, for Austin and Swansea, there's plenty to play for at this stage of the season.
Four points off the final play-off position with as many games remaining, Austin has the small matter of trying to win a new contract and extend his Swansea stay into a fourth season.
It is familiar territory for the once-capped Trinidad and Tobago defender, who seemed to be on his way out of the Liberty last season before activating a clause in his contract by playing enough games to win a new deal.
"It's the same," said Austin, when asked about his contract situation. "I do what I do every year. I just wait and see and take it from there, there's nothing more you can do. It doesn't really bother me.
"Obviously, Swansea's a great club and I'll do all I can get to get a new deal.
"If they offer me a contract, then I'd like to stay. But no talks have begun, so I'll just have to wait and see what happens."
In the shorter term, Austin - who has now made more than 100 Swansea appearances - must wait to see if he has done enough to retain his place for the crunch trip to Bournemouth on Saturday.
Izzy Iriekpen's ankle injury ruled him out of the Port Vale win and the Swans will check on the defender's fitness today.
"I'll just see what the manager does, the main thing is I'm fit and able to try and knock on the door for a first-team place," said Austin.
"The aim is to be in the first team, but I'll take it one step at a time. The boys have been playing well so I can't knock it if I don't play.
"I came off on Monday at the end because I had a little bit of cramp. But everything's all right. It just goes to show that when you're out of it takes that little while to get back into the swing of things
"The good thing was that the lads did so well it made my job slightly easier. But it was nice to be back."
Football fans all over the country will echo that sentiment.