Saturday, February 17, 2007

100 Person Who Shock The Kop - NO 73: Peter Crouch



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At number 73 in our '100 Players Who Shook The Kop' countdown is the current spearhead of Liverpool's attack, Peter Crouch.
Four years after our ground-breaking '100 Days That Shook The Kop', we are delighted to invite you to enjoy our new '100 Players Who Shook The Kop' series – the definitive countdown of the 100 players who have made the biggest impact at Liverpool.

Over 110,000 supporters have all nominated their own personal Top 10 players in order of impact made and now the definitive top 100 countdown is underway.

Every player who has made the top 100 – and there are some surprises in there - will be honoured on this website via the e-Season ticket console with a specially produced video clip, including archive footage and exclusive interviews.

Since 1892 hundreds of players have represented this club but everyone has their own particular favourites so don't expect this list to be based solely on talent. The greatness of a player can be measured in many ways – obviously, his ability on the pitch is the most important, but 100 PWSTK is much more than that. It's about the impact the individuals chosen have had on this club, be it for a variety of reasons. Maybe it was because of their unique rapport with the crowd, a specific incident that has never been forgotten or anything else that has left a lasting impression.


Name: Peter Crouch

Years at Liverpool: 2005 to present

Date-of-birth: 30/1/1981
Birthplace: Macclesfield

Signed from: Southampton (July 2005)

Games: 49
Goals: 13

Honours: FA Cup (2006)

It's fair to say that more than a few eyebrows were raised when Rafa Benitez earmarked Peter Crouch as one of his main transfer targets during the close-season of 2005. The gangling six foot seven inch tall striker, who'd previously experienced spells at Tottenham, QPR, Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Norwich, had enjoyed a fine season at Southampton and gave Jamie Carragher a torrid time in a game at St Mary's in January 2005. He'd also broken into the full England set-up but serious doubts were expressed among some supporters about whether or not he was a 'Liverpool' type of player. However, almost one year on, and Crouch has firmly established as an Anfield favourite after enjoying an excellent debut season in red. For such a big man he surprisingly possesses a deft touch, while his ability to hold the ball up and bring others into play has been an equally valuable asset. It took him until December to net his first Liverpool goal but the fans stood loyally by him throughout this much-publicised goal drought and he has since more than repaid them, most notably with famous strikes against Everton in the Premiership and Manchester United in the FA Cup. The latter certainly shaking Kop as it secured our first FA Cup win over United in 85 years and ensured the Reds remained on course for Cardiff. Crouchy went on to end the season as the proud owner of a FA Cup winner's medal, was part of the England squad that travelled to Germany for the World Cup and is potential Liverpool legend of the future.

Claim to fame: His FA Cup winner v Manchester United

Did you know? He was once a ball-boy at Stamford Bridge

Chris Bascombe on Peter Crouch: "Peter Crouch is very much a player brought for a specific purpose. Bill Shankly did it when he brought John Toshack and Crouch is very much in that kind of mould for the little men to feed off. He holds the ball, to relieve the pressure and to offer a different option and he's done that extremely well."

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