"Now all of a sudden it has become my job. When I was about 16 I entered a freestyle competition and got to the semi-finals out of about 30,000 contestants.
"An agent then approached me and asked if I would like to do it professionally and things have gone on from there."
Wingrove, who played semi-professional football for Ware Town, believes that finely honed freestyle skills can be a major benefit to aspiring footballers.
He added: "Football freestyling is all about performing tricks and skills with a football.
"There are no rules, you can use any part of your body - even your hands - it's about ball control and expressing yourself.
"As a footballer, if you practice freestyling, you will end up with excellent ball control. It also helps with co-ordination and balance.
"Maradona stands out as the professional player who had the best tricks.
"Robbie Keane here at Tottenham is very good, too, as is Thierry Henry, but overall Maradona has got to have been the best of all time.
"He used to practice with an orange when he was young. I also remember seeing him do keepyups with a plastic bottle and it was amazing."
The only drawback of learning so many tricks is that they can make you a target for envious, less skilful opponents.
Wingrove added: "I was once playing when I was younger and I
trapped the ball on my neck before carrying on playing.
"Everyone was going crazy, even the other team were applauding.
"But you also get some people who don't like it. They call you 'flash' and there are people who are jealous.
"I've picked up some bumps and bruises because of it.
"If you try pure freestyling in a game, you won't last long but there are some tricks on the floor which are brilliant to use all the time and those you can learn from freestyling."
For further details about Wingrove's freestyle coaching sessions for youngsters aged six to 16, check the Spurs website or call 0870 420 5000.
