Retirement not an option for Crouch as Stoke fun continues
The end is in sight in the esteemed career of Peter Crouch, but the Stoke City striker admits the fear of retirement is inspiring him to keep on playing.
The former Tottenham, Liverpool and Portsmouth target man will see his current contract end next summer, but he has indicated that this campaign will not be his final hurrah, with his love for the game still as high as ever.
A run of seven goals in 18 games at the back end of last term has shown that he still has the ability too, replicating the form that saw him accumulate 22 goals in his 42 England appearances.
More significantly for the 36-year-old comes an ever-increasing affection for football, with an 18th season as a professional coming up for a man who admits a semblance of trepidation of life after the game.
(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
“I appreciate it more now because I can see the end of the tunnel and I want it to continue,” said Crouch.
“I love coming in every day and being one of the lads. It’s great fun, every single day, and when you’re winning games there’s no better feeling.
“When I was a young player, I didn’t know what kind of career I would have.
“I had ability, but if you’d asked me as a kid if I would score a hundred Premier League goals and would I have played for 15 years, then I might not have believed you.
“But thankfully I have. I always felt I had the ability, but it was a case of getting to know the Premier League, getting stronger, getting more used to the league, as I have done.
“I still feel I can play at this level and, given a run of games, still continue to do well and prove I should be here.”
