The Diary of a CEOPeter Crouch Opens Up About His Dark Times & Crying Himself To Sleep | E196
EVERY SPOKEN WORD
150 min read · 30,211 words- 0:00 – 2:01
Intro
- PCPeter Crouch
I've seen things that I'd never seen before. You know, the proudest moment of my life has been taken away because of that.
- NANarrator
Peter Crouch is netting again! Oh, that's sensational! Brilliant finish by Crouch! Crouch tries one ... oh!
- PCPeter Crouch
I think people that know me would say I'm a nice guy, but on the pitch, I had to be a different person if I wanted to succeed. The top-level players that I've played with, Lampard, John Terry, Steven Gerrard, I think look like they don't enjoy it. They are constantly battling for the next thing.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Were they intense?
- PCPeter Crouch
So intense, yeah. And, you know, a big reason why I'm the person I am. I played for England in an era where it felt like there was a huge pressure. You know, we had an opportunity to win World Cups, and because we didn't, it was heaped on players. I've got my mom, my dad, and friends in the crowd, and then you come on and get booed by 70,000. It's, it's hard to come back from that. My mom was crying. My dad had to have a fight. I was thinking about giving up football. I think I wasn't seen as what an England striker should look like. I was so scared. I would ... just wanted to hide away.
- SBSteven Bartlett
In that phase, you were turning to drink more than you should have been.
- PCPeter Crouch
Well, I needed to at that time. You're not seen as people. It's like, you're well paid, so you have to endure this abuse. You know, you put yourself in a position to be shot at. But like, what I've seen with certainly Harry Maguire, the criticism goes beyond criticism. It's gone too far.
- NANarrator
The reaction says it all.
- PCPeter Crouch
I'm so proud to represent my country, but ...
- SBSteven Bartlett
Before this episode starts, I have a small favor to ask from you. Two months ago, 74% of people that watch this channel didn't subscribe. We're now down to 69%. My goal is 50%, so if you've ever liked any of the videos we've posted, if you like this channel, can you do me a quick favor and hit the subscribe button? It helps this channel more than you know, and the bigger the channel gets, as you've seen, the bigger the guests get. Thank you, and enjoy this episode.
- 2:01 – 3:28
Early years
- SBSteven Bartlett
Peter, where do I need to start in your story to really understand you? What's the most pertinent, relevant things that someone listening to this needs to know about you to understand you?
- PCPeter Crouch
Um, well, right at the start, I suppose. I think it's, everything comes from, um, your childhood, right? Um, I am who I am, and shaped by my, by my parents and my friends. Uh, and I suppose people see me now obviously, like I had a determination to be a footballer, a huge determination to be a footballer. Uh, and then people see me now, um, as a footballer who has a laugh, I suppose. And that is my persona, um, and ... but that stems from, from my childhood really, and being a little bit different, looking a little bit different, and having a, maybe a defense mechanism. Um, and that humor or ... probably that you see, uh, which is me now, um, yeah, was a little bit of a defense mechanism. When someone came at me, I'd always be funnier than they would be. And then that stops whoever's saying it in their tracks, you know? And then that, being so tall at such a young age was, was difficult at times. But that kind of defense mechanism was, I'll laugh at myself before you can laugh at me, and that w- that stood me in good stead. And, and even now, that's, you know, that's the way I get through
- 3:28 – 14:13
Learning that you were different
- PCPeter Crouch
things.
- SBSteven Bartlett
When was the, when was the first time that you, that you realized that you were different? 'Cause like, I, I remember coming to the UK from Botswana, in Africa, and I was the only Black kid in an all-white school. And there's like, there's some day, I think I remember specifically, a comment that a kid made to me in the playground, which really put into, like, perspective that I was actually different to them.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
There was something about my hair. Um, I had like a little, little like kind of Jackson 5 afro going on that I combed out.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
And from that day onwards there was, I kind of noticed that I was different. Can you recall a time where you, you realized that you being taller was, made you different?
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah, well, I think it's only the, it's only people with, with experience, like older people that, that notice anything like that, isn't it, really? I think like, as kids, we just grow up, everyone's the same, aren't they? And then, um, it's older kids ... So like when I was, you know, I was always the tallest in my class, but my mom and dad never, never made a big deal of it, uh, to me. Um, I was always taller than everyone else, and then when we started to play football, and then when I started to be good at football, you would hear things on the sideline, like, "Yeah, but he's a couple years older," or, "Yeah, he, he's good, but he's, he's too old." And, um, 'cause you're only judged by your height at that, at that age.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Yeah.
- PCPeter Crouch
So I would hear things from the parents, and then, um, you know, I'd hear like little remarks, like people laughing, little japes and jibing. And, um, yeah, 'cause like people would just say, you know, "You're skinny," or, "You're lanky," is, is seen as, um, it's sort of like you're allowed to say it in some ways. You, d- do you know what I mean? Like, it's a, it's a describing word. (laughs) But like, that's how it was for me. Um, but I, I love it. It's, it feels to me like it's part of me. It's me now. I've always been taller than everyone else. It wasn't as if I just shot up, um, and was different. I was just always ahead above everyone else. And that is a part of me now which I love.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Richard Os- Richard Osmond, who came on the podcast, um, was the first person who kind of stunned me into silence, 'cause I have to be completely honest, I didn't realize that heightism ...
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Abusing people for being tall was such a sort of consequential, um, thing for those people. I was one of the people who, who didn't, didn't realize that someone who's lived their height, being very, very tall-
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
... will be told about it everywhere they go every second, and how that can impact someone, and how they feel. It honestly, when I remember doing that podcast, I remember sitting here and going, "Fucking hell, of course."
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
"Of course." It'd be like anything else with me. If I had like a third arm, and everyone said it everywhere I'd go, it would make me self-conscious about it.
- PCPeter Crouch
Exactly right, yeah. Um, and ...... you know, it's because there's bigger problems everywhere, you know. There's bigger problems. But my prob- my problem or, you know, it was, my thing that was different was my height, you know. Like, uh, I, I, I recently, you know, added, did a joke of like all the questions that I was permanently asked, I had a, a series of cards in my inside pocket to answer every single question that everyone, the people I knew were gonna ask me. So it was, uh, "What's the weather like up there?" Um, "Do you play basketball? Uh, how tall are you? Um, do you sleep in a grow bag? Is the weather different up there?" Like five questions, but I had all the answers in my inside pocket.
- SBSteven Bartlett
(laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
So before they even opened their mouth, I could give them a card. Um, and it was just something funny-
- SBSteven Bartlett
Mm-hmm.
- PCPeter Crouch
... you know, that, that, that changed the subject. But it's amazing how many times... I think it's less so now because people know who I am and, know what I'm about, but before, um, people, I became well-known, um, those questions were just constant.
- SBSteven Bartlett
What impact does that ha- we joke about it as, you know-
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
... now. But what impact does that have on a young man?
- PCPeter Crouch
Well, it, it, on an impressionable young teenager, it had a, it had a big impact. Um, me now, uh, you know, it's water off a duck's back, you know. It doesn't, it doesn't matter to me. Um, but yeah, as a young lad, it was, it was a little bit different. I remember my dad getting, you know, really angry about it. Um, because as a teenager you're going through things that are a little bit, um, you know, you're always, you're not comfortable within your own skin, are you, as a young, as a young lad. Um, so I was the same as everyone else, but I f- I found it difficult at times, really difficult, and especially football terraces. Like as I got older, um, and I was playing professionally, um, and then I started playing in the first team, and all of a sudden it was like, you know, dealing with... There's one thing dealing with the odd person in the, in the street saying, "Oh, aren't you tall?" And another thing dealing with, sort of, 30, 30,000 people screaming like obscenities at you, you know, taking the piss out of the way you look, laughing at you. That, that was difficult.
- SBSteven Bartlett
When you say difficult, what do you mean?
- PCPeter Crouch
Um-
- SBSteven Bartlett
In a practical se- 'Cause I read that at like 14 and 15 years old you're crying yourself to sleep sometimes because of this and having conversations with your dad about it.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm. Yeah, yeah. I think there was times where I, I thought to myself, is it, is it worth it? Is it worth, uh, going through this? Um, why am I putting myself through this? It's all I've ever loved, it's all I've ever wanted to do, but if people are gonna laugh at me and take the piss out of me, um, what is the point, you know? Um, do I want it that much? I was lucky I had a good support network around me and I had good people around me. My dad was, was great with me and he'd always... And he was harsh with me at times as well, but he was also really, really good and, and, at pulling me back up and sort of giving myself more confidence. And, um, listen, I don't look like your average footballer, uh, and I've known that since I was 10, 11 years old. You know, when I watch football on the TV, I don't see anyone that represented me (laughs) , um, really. Like the odd, like Thore Andre Flo was, was potentially one, had good technique. Um, there was a couple of players that... but, but not many. So I thought to myself, "Maybe I'm just not, I'm not right. Maybe I don't look right. I don't... I shouldn't be a player," you know. I had all these things going on in your mind. But ultimately if, you know, I had the determination and I had the ability to... and I suppose the thick skin which you have to have to, to go past it.
- SBSteven Bartlett
You said there that there was thoughts in your head of, "Maybe I should, maybe I should quit. Maybe I should go do something else."
- 14:13 – 19:31
Your parents
- PCPeter Crouch
- SBSteven Bartlett
Your dad.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Heard he was, um, quite tough at times from what I read.
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, like really tough, yeah. Um-
- SBSteven Bartlett
What does that mean-
- PCPeter Crouch
Well-
- SBSteven Bartlett
... in real terms?
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah, I mean, I think t- at times he probably went a little bit too, too far. But at ti- like I wouldn't, I wouldn't be sat here having played for England or having played j- ch- do- achieving the things that I've done, achieving my dreams without him being hard on me. Like I, I wouldn't... Would I go maybe to the, to the lengths at times that he, he did? Maybe not, but-
- SBSteven Bartlett
What lengths?
- PCPeter Crouch
Uh... (laughs) Well, he, um... Just certain things. Like, I think the, uh, har- the harshest one was when he, um... He obviously left me at, uh... I was at the ball court in, um, at Tottenham and, um, I, I jumped out of a tackle and his thing was, look, I came from a nice background and a lot of the kids were playing football to survive, you know. So I had to toughen up. And, uh, and that's the truth. Like, was I gonna go into a tackle like my life depended on it like the kids from, from the estate round Edmonton or East London and... Um, probably not at that time. So, you know, when I got up to, um... after the, after training, you know, my dad had li- he'd gone, so... (laughs)
- SBSteven Bartlett
(laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So he left me and, uh, I had to get home and bearing in mind I grew up in Ea- in Ealing. Uh, getting home from White Hart Lane was an overground. Seven Sisters to Oxford Circus, Oxford Circus to Ealing Broadway and then walk home from there. Um, oh, I was probably about f- I was probably 13 or 14. But I hadn't been on a tube before. I had but not on my own. So, it was a tough lesson.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Did he tell you he was going?
- PCPeter Crouch
No, I went up there and he was gone.
- SBSteven Bartlett
And did you not think, "Oh, I'll give him a call as soon as he..." (laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
Well, I didn't have a mobile.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Oh, of course.
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. It was, it was different, different time.
- SBSteven Bartlett
And when did you find out it was because of... you weren't tackling people? (laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
Well, I thought, I thought it might have been.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Oh, you... (laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
(laughs)
- SBSteven Bartlett
(laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
It wasn't that I didn't tackle. I think... I remember jumping out of one particular tackle and I thought my dad's gonna kill me for that. Uh, do you know what, though? I never jumped out of a tackle again and, you know, like I say, it is a harsh lesson but I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna sit here and say it wasn't the right lesson. I think it might have been a tad harsh. Would I do, would I do that to my son? I'm not sure. I don't... Probably not. But I think potentially I'm too, I'm too easy on my kids a bit. Um, it's, it's a tough lesson to learn but I think if you wanna be a top elite footballer, you need to want it as much as the next person and I did want it. But I, I, I hadn't had to fight as much as these kids, you know. And, um, and l- don't get me wrong, these kids, these kids are... You know, I'm... They're my friends now, you know. Like, I have some good, some good lads that came from tough upbringings that went on to be really good players. Um, you know, Ledley King I remember. Like, Ledley King, Steve Mills, James Carter, these boys that I met in the ball court, you know. And, uh, Nicky Hunt. They were, they were tough lads, you know, from, you know, Bow in, in East London, you know, an estate where like Ashley Cole grew up, Ledley King grew up and, and I ended up playing in the ball court, um, where they grew up, you know. And that's a different kind of environment to where I was playing, you know. But I think when you can hold your own in there and, you know, you can go, you can rough it up, you can fly into tackles... I, I basically changed my whole personality to be... when I played football. You know, like I can sit here now and I, I'd like to say that I'm a ni- I'd like to think that I'm a nice guy. I think people that know me would say I'm a nice guy. But on the pitch I had to be a different person if I wanted to succeed and, um, that was just one lesson.
- SBSteven Bartlett
When you got home from-... that, that little football game where you didn't p- put the tackle in-
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
... or jumped out of a tackle. Did your f- dad have a conversation with you about it, about why he left?
- PCPeter Crouch
Y- yeah.
- SBSteven Bartlett
So he told you why at the end? He said-
- 19:31 – 22:38
Why did certain people make and it and others didn’t
- PCPeter Crouch
person I am.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Those players from the estate that you, you played amongst, uh, one of the things I, I read about, um, in your book was how you could see how attitude played such an important role in who would make it.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
'Cause getting from, like, the estate to, you know, sorta semi-pro level and then getting to the Premier League is a long fucking journey.
- PCPeter Crouch
Hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
And there's only a few seats at that top table. So when you think about like why, including yourself, why in terms of mindset and attitude some of, of your colleagues and some of your peers made it and didn't make it-
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
... what's your answer to that?
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah. It's, it's funny, like everyone, every footballer I've let's play for England or played... I've played with in the Premier League, um, they've all got a story. All of them. I've got... Every single one will tell you a story about the player that was better than them that no one knows. Um, there's so many of them out there and it's sad. Um, but for whatever reason, injury, you know, there's lots of, uh, temptation as a young footballer, especially when you're that good, um, you know, if you're earning money, you don't know how to handle that money, friends, um, parties, you know, distractions of, of all different kinds, um, you know, attitude, will, you know, d- d- determination, dedication. There's, there's so many factors alongside ability. Um, luck. There's, there's, there's so many factors. Um, but I, I sometimes think we don't... You know, a lot of the time we look at the negative side of football, um, but I think sometimes when you see the kids that have come from absolute... and I'm talking absolutely nothing some of these kids, uh, who are now playing for England or, you know... And they make mistakes. They make mistakes in the public eye. They make mistakes, high profile mistakes. And everyone goes, "Ah, it's footballers." You know, that's wh- That, you know, that's what they're li- b- like if you'd have seen what they've come from, to playing in a Champions League final, look, I think that's a s- uh, success story, you know? I think sometimes we should celebrate that fact. Not g- not, not caning them for making those mistakes that they've made. Um, and yeah, of course, it depends what kind of m- if it's, you know, too, too big a mistake, obviously you can't condone some things. But some of these players who have come basically with no mum and dad-
- SBSteven Bartlett
Mm-hmm.
- PCPeter Crouch
... you know, they're... someone's picked them up with... one particular player, you know, not had any boots. Have been thrown on a football pitch and has ended up playing in a Champions League final. But yeah, he's made the mistakes along the way. But I think sometimes we should, we should consider that a success.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Mm-hmm. So, yeah, we don't really have a lot of empathy, do we? When it comes to-
- PCPeter Crouch
No. Because it's... 'cause it's... 'cause it's a highly paid profession, um, you know, and sometimes, um, you know, there's a stigma on, uh, you know, why are these, why are these players getting paid so well. Um, and I get, I get that, you know, there's, uh, there's a lot of money in football and, um, you know, s- there's... you know, could it be spent elsewhere on people in the NHS or, you know, people, uh, who've- f- f- you know, are doing probably much more harder jobs than a footballer. But, um, it is what it is. You can't change it. But I do think, um... Yeah, there is, there is that stigma associated to,
- 22:38 – 25:04
The pressure of being a high level football player
- PCPeter Crouch
to footballers.
- SBSteven Bartlett
I sat with Tim Grover, who was the guy that trained Michael Jordan and Kobe.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
And he also trains some Premier League football players now, gives them like coaching advice. And one of the things he told me was how he's seen the pressure of being a high level Premier League football player completely destroy some players. And it's something that it was the first time I'd kind of heard that, because as a fan, as I've always been, you know, all, you know, we're, we're all tweeting, we're all having our say, we're all commenting, we're all at the game shouting in our little mob mentality, whatever. But then we don't really think that the... all of that pressure, especially on like as you say, a kid that's come from the estate-
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
... who's 18 and isn't like... doesn't have the tools to deal with that pressure, how they can be going home, how it can severely impact their performance and how it can kinda like just cause them to collapse a little bit.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Um, I've gotta be honest, I've s- I've seen a, a similar thing in my view with like the, the mob attacking like someone like Harry Maguire. Rashford had it a lot last year as well. But, um, what's your take on all of that? And have you seen that yourself-
- PCPeter Crouch
(sighs)
- SBSteven Bartlett
... in the dressing room?
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah. No, I've, I've seen it. No, I played, I played in, um... I played for England in an era where, um, it was... it felt like there was a huge pressure. There was a... It was the golden generation, you know. Players were the best we've ever had since '66. Um, you know, we had an opportunity to win World Cups and, you know, because we didn't, it was, you know, it felt like it was heaped on certain players, um, and that kind of pressure. But when you're talking about Rashford and, and Maguire like, I think we're all entitled to criticize players. Like we put ourselves in that, in that position. But like what I've seen with certainly Harry Maguire, I feel like i- it goes... it's gone f- really too far. I think, you know, it's...... it's harsh, it's, you know, I'm just thinking of his family, you know, because I've been in that position. I've been booed for England. I, I, I remember playing at Old Trafford in a game and coming on, and it's the proudest moment you'll ever have in your life, and your home fans are booing you. You know, I've been in that situation. And it feels like Harry Maguire's going through, you know, w- what seems to be a prolonged period of this. And yet, regardless of form, I think some of th- you know, the social media stuff that I see, you know, the ridiculing, um, I think he's having a difficult time to, as a player, but I think some of the criticism goes beyond criticism. It becomes, um, too harsh in my opinion.
- 25:04 – 32:12
Dealing with fan booing you
- PCPeter Crouch
- SBSteven Bartlett
Having been in a situation where you've been booed by the fans of the club you're playing for, what does that do to you? What did it do to you when you came home? Was it for England you came home?
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah, well, that's devastating. Yeah, I, I, I'm, um, I'm playing for England, and listen, you know, there might be an element of the fact that I was a Liverpool player, um, at Old Trafford, um, you know, obviously a lot of Man United fans, um, but it was during the course of when I, I wasn't scoring for Liverpool, and I was having a real tough time anyway. I had 18 games where I, where I didn't score for Liverpool. And, um, the fact that it goes back to... I, I felt like with England I had to be superhuman. It goes back to the thing where 'cause I looked different a bit, uh, I wasn't seen as what an England striker should look like. Um, and I, I think that was genuinely a thing. But, um, I, I then, you know, I'm so proud to represent my country, but I've got my sister, my mom, and my dad, uh, all friends in the crowd, and everyone's excited. You know, they're all, they're all talking to me before the game about, you know, me c- potentially coming on and making an appearance, get the cap, and then you come on and get booed by 70,000.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Of your own fans.
- PCPeter Crouch
Of your... Yeah. So, so what I'm saying is, um, don't ever feel sorry for footballers. Don't. But, you know, don't, don't have to, we, we, we expect that. But my family, like my mom was in bits. Um, you know, the proudest moment of my life is sort of been taken away a bit because of that. Um, but, you know, we put ourselves in, in the position. There's no, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna sit here and, and cry about it. Just, it's just disappointing for my family more than anything.
- SBSteven Bartlett
What happens when the whistle blows, the game ends on days like that? You're going back to see your family, is there a bit of an awkwardness to it?
- PCPeter Crouch
Bit of embarrassment. You know, 'cause I, you wanna be the one who comes down with a, with a champagne in your hand, you know, and everyone claps you in and your family give you a big hu- hug, you know. A- and most of the lads did that. You know, they've got a shirt, they've got a cap. Like I'm ca- I come down to the player's lounge after and I'm a bit sheepish, I'm like, "Sorry about that, Mom." (laughs) You know, it's like you're apologizing for doing the thing that you've worked so hard to do your whole life. Um, so that is, that's difficult dealing with the, the family side of it because I, I know what I've done. I've put myself in a position to be shot at. I'm sure you feel the same, you know, doing this podcast, whatever you do that's, you know, you put yourself in a position to be shot at. But your mom hasn't, you know.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Yeah.
- PCPeter Crouch
She doesn't, she doesn't need to hear that and it kills, it killed her a bit.
- SBSteven Bartlett
It's funny isn't it when you, when you put yourself in a position to be shot at, which I really like that phrase-
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
... um, and then, you know, you get shot at, your family try and stand in the way of the bullets-
- PCPeter Crouch
Exactly.
- SBSteven Bartlett
... to some degree.
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah, yeah.
- SBSteven Bartlett
And it's like, "No, no, no, please don't send me the articles. Please don't-"
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
"... tell me your thoughts on it in WhatsApp. I don't need to, uh, like persuade you out of the situation and, and like sort of counsel you on why these people are saying this about me."
- PCPeter Crouch
But how do you deal with that? How do you deal with like, um, you know, do you just part the guard and pretend it's not happening?
- SBSteven Bartlett
It depends on the issue, but I mean, I probably get canceled once, once every quarter for something I've said on this podcast or whatever. Um, Dragon's Den or... sometimes because of the way it's edited, it can make it seem like I said something I didn't say or whatever-
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
... but, um, so my friends know not to send me articles.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Just assume I've seen it. (laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- SBSteven Bartlett
I don't need my best mate going, "Have you seen this?"
- PCPeter Crouch
This is the, the... This is something that happened like early on in my career and I was like, "No, sh- don't... Stop all that."
- SBSteven Bartlett
Yeah.
- PCPeter Crouch
Like I'm not bo- I'm not r- reading the n- I don't watch Match of the Day if I haven't scored.
- SBSteven Bartlett
(laughs) Yeah, yeah.
- 32:12 – 33:18
Turning to drink
- PCPeter Crouch
- SBSteven Bartlett
I was reading, um, in that phase you, you were turning to drink more than you should have been a little bit after games and stuff.
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah, because my dad, you know, to be fair to him, would, would say to me... and I'd be like, "No, I'm not going out," and he'd be like, "You're going out." Like he'd make me go out after games. And I'd be like, "G- I don't want to. T- people are laughing at me." But he dragged me out and we'd have a few beers. Like it wasn't as if I was drinking at home on my own. It wasn't like a dark kind of thing. It was, he was making, he was dragging me out and he was making me have a few drinks. And then I realized actually no one... 'cause it's, I'd built it up, it's, I've everyone's laughing at me. It's m- it, it's my world that's, you know, no, actually no one really cares, you know. They might have a laugh at you on a Saturday, but they're going back to their own lives-
- SBSteven Bartlett
Mm-hmm.
- PCPeter Crouch
... you know. I've, i- I feel like it's everyone's laughing a- at me a- all times, you know. You build these things up in your head and they're never as bad as you think they are. So his way of dealing with it, f- you know, with me was to take me out for a beer. And yeah, I probably did drink a little bit more than I should do as a, as a Premier League player, but I needed to at that time.
- 33:18 – 43:18
6 clubs before the age of 25
- PCPeter Crouch
- SBSteven Bartlett
Mm-hmm. And you, you t- you bounced between, what, six clubs before the age of 25?
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Six?
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah.
- SBSteven Bartlett
That's a lot of moving.
- PCPeter Crouch
It's a lot of moving around. Yeah. But I, I class that as a... like if I'm, if I'm at Liverpool or, you know, you're at... starting for Manchester United or, or Chelse- you know, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, you don't have to move anywhere if you're playing, do you? You know, you don't have to.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Mm-hmm.
- PCPeter Crouch
The course of my career was very different to e- anyone else's course of, of, of my career. Um, those moves that I had were... QPR was... I had a chance to showcase my talent, you know. I did very well. The club went into administration, I went to Portsmouth.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Mm-hmm.
- PCPeter Crouch
And they bought me for like a record fee. I then, um, did really, really well in a championship and got a move to Aston Villa in the Premier League. You know, I felt like my dream had arrived. And then it didn't quite work out. I wasn't ready for the Premier League. Um, I always remember my debut was against Newcastle and Alan Shearer was at the other end of the pitch and I was at this end of the pitch, obviously the, the opposite striker. And I thought, "If that's what I need to be a Premier League player, I'm not one." (laughs) "I'm not one." Because he was so good and I, and I, I just thought, ah, "Maybe I, maybe I'm a championship player." Um, so I ended up having to move again, uh, to Southampton to get games.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Mm-hmm.
- PCPeter Crouch
And then things took off. So like all my moves were like for, for, for a reason for the, from a club point of view, or for a financial p- thing for the club, or for me having to go out and get football or for me to progress as a player. So I would have loved nothing more than to stay at one club for my whole life, uh, but that wasn't, that wasn't my journey.
- SBSteven Bartlett
You moved from, um, Liverpool to Spurs.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Um, h- how would you sort of summarize your time at Spurs?
- PCPeter Crouch
Um, I, I absolutely loved it because I started at Spurs as a youngster and I played in that ball court at White Hart Lane and I tried to play in the youth team, uh, and I was in the reserves. And me and Ledley King came through together. Ledley, when s- he obviously was there and I went throughout all this whole journey of Liverpool, England, QPR, Portsmouth, Southampton and Norwich on loan, Dulwich Hamlet on loan. And I came back to Tottenham and Ledley was in the same place I left him in fact (laughs) -
- SBSteven Bartlett
(laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
... which was amazing. You know it was like we... I never got to play in the first team for Tottenham. I'd come through there in the youth team.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Mm-hmm.
- PCPeter Crouch
I had so many players a- a- ahead of me, I wasn't ready.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Mm-hmm.
- PCPeter Crouch
So for when I, when I come back for 10 million pounds and I'd, I'd, I'd already played in the Champions League final, I'd played in the World Cup, I'd achieved things that nobody in that Tottenham sort of dressing room at the time would, would say I would achieve. I wasn't even good enough for t- you know, to play in their first team, which is correct at the time. So to come back, it felt like unfinished business, if you like. So, so then when I scored some important goals for Spurs and we got into the Champions League for the first time and we had good success, um, that felt like, it, it was a, almost like a coming home, if you like.
- SBSteven Bartlett
And that ended little bit too abruptly for your liking?
- PCPeter Crouch
A bit, yeah. Yeah, it did. Um, I, I liked it at Spurs. It was, it was funny because I, uh...It was deadline day and, um, they- Harry Redknapp was talking about bringing Emmanuel Adebayor in. And it's funny how it works for a footballer, but I, I went to work, call it work for now, (laughs) and I left Abby and, and the kids and I said, um, "I'll see, I'll see you this afternoon." And then, this af- this afternoon never came. I never came home. And I just gave her a call and said we live in Stoke now. (laughs)
- SBSteven Bartlett
(laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
It's the life of a footballer. I was happy, I had a two-year contract left at, at Tottenham, but I was de- you know, s- a bid came in of, of £10 million for a 30-year-old. And I could understand from a club's perspective that they wanted to accept the offer, they wanted to bring Adebayor in. And I spoke to Harry and he said, "Obviously, yeah, we do wanna bring Adebayor in, but Daniel Levy wants to accept this bid." Um, obviously I wasn't happy about it. You know, I was happy where I was, I was at a great club and I, and I wanted to stay. But, um, certain bits and pieces happened and, uh, I said to Ab, "We're, uh, we're on the move." (laughs)
- SBSteven Bartlett
How does Daniel... He's a, a figure that's talked about a lot as being quite a tough-
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah.
- SBSteven Bartlett
... tough guy.
- 43:18 – 49:27
Players not enjoying themselves
- PCPeter Crouch
- SBSteven Bartlett
You mentioned Gerrard there. And I've, I've seen you, um, talk about Lampard and Beckham and Gerrard and Carragher. What was it that made those individuals great in your view? What did you see?
- PCPeter Crouch
I saw something in, like in those players that, uh, that was slightly different to me, like, I'm not gonna... I enjoyed what I was doing. Like, I looked at the t- the top, top level players that I played with, and they never looked like they enjoyed it, ever. Like, yeah, Gerrard, Carragher, I'd class in that, John Terry, Lampard, like they... It, it was always the next game, you know? And I think that's the top level mentality you need to have. Like, for me, at times I'd go, "We've, oh, we've won this, lads. Let's enjoy this one a little bit." Because we had a massive game on Tuesday, they would already be thinking about, yeah, that was good, but it's about the next one. It's always about the next one. And I admire that in people. Um, and I, I had a, I had a steely mentality, but I also thought, "What are we doing it for?" You know, what... Yeah, of course, it's about winning trophies. But also, it's about this moment. We've just won, like, a huge game, like, in the last minute, let's celebrate this moment and deal with tomorrow, tomorrow. Whereas sometimes the top level players-
- SBSteven Bartlett
Like who?
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah, like Steven Gerrard. Prime example of that. Um, just the constant... There w- it looked like there was, there was no enjoyment. Obviously, there was enjoyment at times, but it felt like it was just the next game was, was more important than enjoying this one. And yeah, of course, it was, but I was always a little bit like, "Can we not just enjoy this one a little bit?" Um, which is, you know, I think separates the... I'd, I'd class myself as an elite sportsman, I played at the top level, but I'm talking top, top. Um, and that's why they're who they are.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Were they intense?
- PCPeter Crouch
So intense, yeah. Yeah, yeah, that's what... But I think that's what separates people, isn't it? I think, you know, you've got to want to, um, sacrifice everything and, you know, I did when I was, when I was younger and I did throughout my career. But what I'm saying is that it's that 0.5%, that 1% difference of, um, of just already thinking about the next game of... You know, managers do it, um, and as players sometimes we, of course, enjoy that win and, and think about the next game when it, when it comes. But the top level players that I've played with, like you say, Lampard, John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher are put in that, you know, the, the, the Man United boys, like the, the consistent winners are the ones that I think look like they don't enjoy it and, um, because they are constantly battling for the next, the next thing.
- SBSteven Bartlett
What we c- I r- I read that you said, um, some players couldn't s- deal with the intensity of a Steven Gerrard and a Carragher.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
And that you also were much more orientated to try and please them-
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
... than the manager, which I think was Rafa at the time. Was that Rafa Benitez?
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah, that's right, yeah.
- SBSteven Bartlett
You were trying to please... More concerned with pleasing Carragher and Gerrard who were the, you know, like club captain, captain whatever of the team, than the manager.
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah, that's true.
- SBSteven Bartlett
I'm tryna, I'm tryna put myself into the changing room and s- and, and understand why that is. What were they doing?
- PCPeter Crouch
Um, they're local boys, right? They're, they're legends at the club. Um, when I think of Liverpool, I think of Steven Gerrard and, and Jamie Carragher. Um, like Rafa Benitez, I suppose, was a top manager and he signed me and I, you know, I, I got only good words to say about him. But Steven Gerrard and Jamie, like, they're absolute legends of the club and, um, quite ruthless in their... and, and quite harsh in their appraisal of some players. Uh, so I found myself in, constantly seeking their approval and my training was... You know, I always remember the first training session when Steve wrapped a ball into my f- into my feet and I, I mis-controlled one. And it's like, it's like a wrong look would be, "You know, you don't do that here. You're at Liverpool now." It's one, one bad touch isn't tolerated here (laughs) , you know. It's that... It's only a look, but it was enough to, to make me not do that again, you know. That, that kind of standards are different, um, and I think you get that from, from certain players like, like Steven and, and Jamie.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Would they go at individuals in the changing room?
- PCPeter Crouch
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Really?
- PCPeter Crouch
I mean, it's their club, you know, and I think some people didn't understand that, um, the level of passion that they had for, for the club. Uh, and like there's players that aren't... You know, everyone's different, like, you, you'll know only so well, like, in a, in a place of work ev- there's no two character the same, you know? So you need to know what, what makes people tick. And, um, some people couldn't understand the level of, uh, of passion that they had for the club, of, uh, standards that they had. Um, they might have come from a more relaxed club, but-... unfortunately, if you want to play for Liverpool, you have to have a certain, um, way about you and a certain standard. And if you fall below that, below that standard, then players like Steven and Jamie would, would tell you very quickly.
- SBSteven Bartlett
In front of everyone?
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I've seen, I've seen players be signed and been written off in one training session. (laughs) You know?
- SBSteven Bartlett
Really?
- PCPeter Crouch
15 million pound players coming in and like, "He's shit." (laughs)
- SBSteven Bartlett
Really? What, and never like...
- PCPeter Crouch
No. I mean, that was, you, you wouldn't get many chances. Um, but that, then I've also seen players be written off and then come back, which, um, which obviously in their eyes would, would, would make them a good, good fit for, for
- 49:27 – 52:16
What do you think of Liverpool now?
- PCPeter Crouch
Liverpool.
- SBSteven Bartlett
What do you think of Liverpool right now?
- PCPeter Crouch
Uh-
- SBSteven Bartlett
Got the new Nunez guy coming.
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah. I, I, I, I like Nunez. I think, you know, he's a bit, yeah, I think it's gonna take him time to settle in. I don't think we've seen the best of him yet. But, um, as a club, what Jürgen Klopp's done there, you got to think. I look at young kids now who just expect Liverpool to win champ- the Champions League or win the li- the leagues.
- SBSteven Bartlett
(laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
Um, you know, it's been 30 odd years before that, i- it was a long time. And Jürgen Klopp's just changed the DNA back into, you know, where they were in the '80s. I mean, it's that, it's that good. And yeah, they're, they're struggling a little bit now. Um, but what he's done for our football club is, has been nothing short of incredible. And, you know, we had some great players at my time at the club, but, um, you know, what they've done as a group has surpassed anything that, um, you know, that, that spell I had has, had done.
- SBSteven Bartlett
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- 52:16 – 53:22
What made a really good manager
- SBSteven Bartlett
Jürgen, Rafa, um, how many managers did you work, work under in your time?
- PCPeter Crouch
Um, god, there's loads over the years.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Almost 10?
- PCPeter Crouch
God, that's probably more than that.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Ten?
- PCPeter Crouch
Probably more than that.
- SBSteven Bartlett
For you, from working with more than ten footballing managers at var- varying different levels, and also at the very, very top of international and Premier League football, what made a really good manager?
- PCPeter Crouch
Um, I, I think there's lots of ways to manage and, you know, I did my coaching badges just before I, I retired, and you try and use a little bit of the good stuff out of, out of everyone. But you know obviously like Rafa very tactically. Um, Harry, Harry Redknapp was a great people person, you know. Like he understood people and what they wanted, and, uh, he made it a nice sort of environment, you know. Sven was the same, was so relaxed. You know, in a pressured environment when you were going into a World Cup, you just, the, Sven had that aura of calmness around you which you, you needed. Um, so like, yeah, great managers that I've had along the way. Um, but very, very different qualities in, in all of them.
- SBSteven Bartlett
What
- 53:22 – 54:28
What made a bad manager
- SBSteven Bartlett
about the, the opposite? What was the instances where you thought, "That's not good management"?
- PCPeter Crouch
Um, well, there were certain things like, uh, you know, with Raf or Rafa, there was a tendency to be too intricate, to be too, um, methodical, too, um, precise at times. Um, if you could mix a little bit of Rafa and a bit of Harry together, I feel like you'd have the perfect manager. Because with, with Rafa it was like we're playing Wolves at home and we've got Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, uh, Fernando Torres, we've got the best back four in the league at the moment, um, and one of the best goalkeepers. Just go out and beat them. You know, like, I don't, I don't think it's that difficult. I don't think you have to play with a couple of holding midfield players and you have to have all, you know, this, what we do if we don't have ... Just go and beat them. We're at Anfield, let's go and express ourselves. Um, and that was my only criticism, you know, like that, that I could have. I think there was too many times where we were thinking about the opposition instead of then, "We're Liverpool, let's go and, let's go out and, and batter them." (laughs)
- SBSteven Bartlett
Who was the best manager
- 54:28 – 1:02:49
The best manager you played for
- SBSteven Bartlett
you played for?
- PCPeter Crouch
Um, what is, you know, there's so many reasons for, for each one. Gerry Francis gave me my debut. Graham Rix was a big influence on my, on my career. Um, you know, there was good qualities of, of Sven. I thought Rafa was, at times, was-... incredible in some of the work they did, some of the sessions and some of the s- things tactically were, were really eye-opening. Um, but Harry Redknapp was ... I, I don't think I'd be sitting here without him, um, just because he un- he understood football, he understood a player and he understood how to get the best out of you. And I think he got the best out of me, uh, certainly at, at Portsmouth, you know, at Southampton. At Southampton, I was struggling. I thought, "I've just had a, a, a horrible time at Aston Villa. This isn't my time in the Premier League and it's not going well. I'm not playing." The manager leaves, Harry comes in and he goes, you know, "This is my last chance," Saloon. And I'm thinking, "Right, well maybe I'm just a Championship player." Harry comes in, it just changes like that. He says, "You and Kevin Phillips will be in my front two, uh, for the rest of the season. You'll score us enough goals for us to stay up." And, uh, just that confidence, that belief and w- like ... I suppose I, uh, I felt my height for, you know, for the first time that season.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Mm-hmm.
- PCPeter Crouch
And I went out and scored 16 goals, I think, after Christmas. I was on absolute fire, got in the England squad and moved to Liverpool at the end of the year. Um, so that, that little spell of six months was crucial, um, to my development as a, as a player and as a person. And would I be sitting here without that? You know, there's lots of things you look at, you know, would I be, would I be here without that, without that? And there's lots of really key important moments and that was definitely one of them, Harry coming in.
- SBSteven Bartlett
It's crazy how much just, like, someone believing in you at some point, when maybe you don't believe in yourself, can have such a huge impact on how you behave and then-
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
... ultimately what results you get.
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah, if you're get- if you're getting told that you're, you know, you're this and you're that, you're no good, you're ... it's not ... I don't, I don't think ... You have to be a real strong character to, to be able to, to cope with that. Um, and when someone comes in and goes, "Actually no, you're, you're doing great stuff, you know, keep ..." Like, th- yeah, it, it lifts you. It does, it makes you feel, it makes you feel better and, um, you know, that's the way I would manage and that's the way I think you have to manage these days. I think players are, are different to, to, to, to how it was when I was coming through. It was very much quite a harsh industry and I think now players are a bit more ... You have to be a bit more of an arm around the shoulder guy-
- SBSteven Bartlett
Mm-hmm.
- PCPeter Crouch
... than a, you know, um, crack-the-whip kind of manager.
- SBSteven Bartlett
When I've sat here with, like, Patrice and-
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, Roy Ferdinand, they all say the same thing about Sir Alex. Th- the first comment they'll make when you ask why he was so good, they all say man management.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
And they tell this story of how he was kind of this bespoke, almost like a unique shaped jigsaw piece for each person. So for Nanny, he was one Sir Alex Ferguson and for, like, for Gary Neville he was a different shape, because he understood everybody and understood which buttons to press, how hard he could press to get the best out of them. And we tend to think of, like, management as one, being one thing, like, being one, uh, one person to everybody. But f- even from what you've said there and what they've told me, it seems that great management as being like a bit of a shape shifter, depending on who you're dealing with.
- PCPeter Crouch
I think that is exactly right. I think you've hit the nail on the head there. Uh, and the boys that, you know, y- you talk about there of, uh ... It's spot on because you can't treat everyone the s- sort of same way. You can't even train the same way. If you go in ... You know, you're telling all, all the players to go in the gym and, you know, do this, do a certain weight or, you know, be a certain speed, you can't ... It's ... Everyone is different, everyone's a different character, everyone's a different mold as a player. Um, you know, certain players you can ... Like Cantona for instance, you talk about Sir Alex Ferguson, you know, not many players could, could handle Cantona. Alex Ferguson got the best out of Cantona because he treated him different to how he would treat Gary Neville. And it's not, you know, it's not rocket science but it's, it's something, it's a quality that not many people have. They're not able to adapt just like, "This is my management style, everyone has to fall in line with it." I, I, I don't think as a manager that is the best way to go about things. It's about adapting to, to people that you might need to speak to on a regular basis, certain people you might need to tell, you know, sh- some home truths, certain people that you might need to, um, you know, constantly get into the office or, you know, let someone else deal with him potentially. You know, you might spot a problem that he might have off the field that needs addressing. You know, there's so many factors to being a manager, um, and I think Alex Ferguson was, well, he's proven to be the best at that.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Reminds me of watching that, uh, Netflix documentary about Michael Jordan called The Last Dance.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm. Brilliant.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Bri- brilliant, fucking, that changed my life that.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
I think I, like, I've got like a Michael Jordan thing upstairs 'cause of that.
- PCPeter Crouch
Oh yeah, yeah. I always ... You know, when people ask me if I was a basketball player I actually wanted to be then (laughs) .
- SBSteven Bartlett
(laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
It was, uh, no, a phenomenal documentary, yeah.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Changed, really, really changed ... I'd, should I be honest, and people will be surprised to hear this, I understood that Michael Jordan made shoes but I didn't really know who he was before then.
- PCPeter Crouch
Really?
- SBSteven Bartlett
And when I watched that it was one of those ones where you put it on and you watch the whole thing in one sitting. I was ... It changed my life, genuinely.
- PCPeter Crouch
Well, yeah, you're, you're younger than me.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Yeah, yeah (laughs) .
- PCPeter Crouch
I remember him clear as day, you know-
- 1:02:49 – 1:04:22
Your thoughts on Ronaldo
- SBSteven Bartlett
me think about Ronaldo and what happened the other week with him storming down the tunnel, et cetera, et cetera.
- PCPeter Crouch
Hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Now me and my friends in our group chat, we all have kind of different points of view on it. You know, people are saying, "Oh, Sir Alex would've let him do that, this..." Whatever, whatever, whatever. For a... As someone that's been inside the changing room and probably seen mo- seen moments where a certain player was being disruptive, what was your read on that situation and the impact of it?
- PCPeter Crouch
Well, uh, it's... In all honesty, it's nothing new. I think it's because it's Ronaldo it's a huge story. But I've seen it over the course of my career that players who aren't playing, we call it throwing the toys out the pram. Um, you know, being, uh, disruptive, uh, letting their feelings be known that they're not happy with the situation. Um, as players, it's constantly happening so you, you don't worry. Because it's Ronaldo it's, it's blown out of proportion. Um, I've seen it many times. I've seen it with a particular player. We were playing in p- a preseason match. He just walked off the pitch while we're playing. (laughs) And I'm like, you know, "This is absolutely ridiculous." He's literally walked in, we're down to 10 men. No one even noticed he'd gone for the first-
- SBSteven Bartlett
(laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
... couple of minutes. And, um, just, yeah, like just, just, just fuming. Um, but my take on the situation is, I, I think it's disrespectful to the players that are playing still. They've just won. Um, or just they were winning at the time. Uh, I think it was something that he probably regrets, um, and I think it's something that the manager dealt with and I, and I think dealt with well.
- 1:04:22 – 1:12:49
Keeping respect as a manager
- SBSteven Bartlett
Yeah. That's what I was gonna say, because I remember you saying that good managers that you've worked with could keep the respect.
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
And that being a keyword, respect. Now if he doesn't deal with that properly-
- PCPeter Crouch
Without a doubt. Yeah, I mean, listen, players are on every little moment. Like, if you don't know the answer to a particular question, lie, and lie well, because players will, if they, if they sense an element of you being unsure about a situation, they'll pounce on it. Um, you know-
- SBSteven Bartlett
You're talking about a manager? Is it-
- PCPeter Crouch
I'm talking about management, managers. You know, players... If, if you're, if you're a manager and you don't have control of the dressing room at all times, it's, it's hard to come back from that. Like, you need to command respect and, um, it's a harsh industry. Like, lots of players with egos, uh, and trying to manage players that aren't playing with those egos is a tough thing to do. And when you've got someone of the stature of Ronaldo, like, managing him not playing in the dressing room is a difficult thing to do. You know, put yourself in Ten Hag's shoes. It's a, it's a situation where the club have, I think, I believe, told him he, he has to stay because they wanna play him. Now he's not playing and the window is shut. How do you deal with that problem? It's, it's gonna be a huge issue. But I felt he dealt with it well. I think the club potentially didn't deal with it very, very well. If he wasn't gonna play, they should've, they should've sold him. But they're now in that situation where, yeah, he's done that. He's been fined, I assume. And he's been dropped from the next squad. But it looks like he's potentially g- getting back in, um, and that is what is, is the best situation for the club because you, you don't want Ronaldo training with the kids away from the, um, away from the first team. You want him in and around it because he'll be an asset potentially at the end of games or, or, or to start some games.
- SBSteven Bartlett
I'm really compelled by that point you made about, like, as a manager, if you don't know the answer-
- PCPeter Crouch
Hmm.
- SBSteven Bartlett
... to maybe a strategic thing, you're better off just lying than, like, losing the control of the room.
- PCPeter Crouch
Well, like, say if, if you... In your industry, right?
- SBSteven Bartlett
Yeah.
- PCPeter Crouch
If an employee of yours asks you-
- SBSteven Bartlett
Yeah.
- PCPeter Crouch
... "What should we do here?" I, I don't know if it's as cutthroat as football. But I, I, I think it's better to have an answer-
- SBSteven Bartlett
Yeah.
- PCPeter Crouch
... than to say you don't know.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Yeah, yeah.
- PCPeter Crouch
Right? So...
- SBSteven Bartlett
Even if you don't know because it's giving them confidence.
- PCPeter Crouch
E- even if you don't know, you say, "We're looking into that. We've worked on that." You know, "That's something that we're..." You know, just make... The moment you say you don't know, I think there's an element of, um-
- SBSteven Bartlett
(laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
... "He hasn't got a clue."
- SBSteven Bartlett
"We've forgot." Yeah. (laughs)
- PCPeter Crouch
(laughs) You know what I mean?
- SBSteven Bartlett
There's no sat-nav here.
- PCPeter Crouch
Yeah. Basically, yeah, I think. And I think it was Guardiola who said it.... um, you know, these wise words didn't come from me personally.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Yeah.
- PCPeter Crouch
They were, they were Guardiola's words, and I think it was something to do with, um, if someone asks you a question, you have an answer for them. Um, r- even if you don't know it, you'll, you'll go do your homework and come back to, to that question because you, you need to be seen as a level above, um, the players. Uh, you need to have, you know, more... You need to be more clued up. You need to have more, um, intricate details on the opposition. You need to know about football more than the players do, um, so they have that respect for you.
- SBSteven Bartlett
Was there other times... You know, you talked about losing the dressing room?
- PCPeter Crouch
Mm-hmm.
- 1:12:49 – 1:20:41
The end of your football career
- PCPeter Crouch
Episode duration: 1:50:02
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