Peter Crouch Happy To Be A Header Record-Holder At Stoke
Stoke City striker Peter Crouch admitted after equalling the record for headed Premier League goals that he has enjoyed proving wrong those who doubted his aerial ability.
The 34-year-old reached the landmark on Saturday, moving level with Alan Shearer on 46 headers with the 71st-minute winner in the Potters' 1-0 home victory over Hull.
Crouch said: “There were a lot of people in the early days who said I was better on the ground than at heading, so it's pleasing to rub it in a little bit.”
“A lot of people said, for my size, I wasn't as good at heading as I should have been when I was younger.”
“Becoming the record-holder for headed goals in the Premier League is something I didn't think would happen when I was 15 or 16.”
“But I worked on it, I continue to work on it, I'm very pleased to have equalled the record and hopefully I can go beyond it.”
“I enjoy heading and I think that's part and parcel of my game. Being 6ft 7ins helps, but you have to have the technique as well.”
“I'm very proud – Alan Shearer's a hero of mine. He's one of the best, if not the best, striker the Premier League's ever seen, and to equal any record of his, I'm very pleased with that.”
“I've signed for a couple of years more – so hopefully I can manage one more during that time!”
Contract extension
Crouch – whose effort on Saturday, coming a minute after his introduction as a substitute, was his fourth goal in four appearances in all competitions and ninth of the season – put pen to paper on a contract extension with Stoke in January that will take him through to the summer of 2017.
“I feel the same as I did when I was 28 or 29,” Crouch said.
“I enjoy my football and with the way I play, I don't think how old you are affects it too much. If anything you get better because with more experience comes more knowledge.”
“I've never been electric pace-wise, so I can't lose that. I'll just carry on doing what I've always done. Hopefully I have a good few years left in me yet.”
“The club have been very good to me with giving me a couple of years more, and I feel very pleased to have signed – and I'd like to stay beyond that.”
“I wasn't ready for the Premier League until I was about 23 or 24 – that's probably why I'm reaping the rewards of a longer career because I wasn't ready at a young age.”
“Hopefully I can continue well into my 30s.”
SKYSPORTS