Peter Crouch Interview - Puma PowerCat 1.10
England internationals? Check. UEFA Champions League? Check. Domestic competitions on three fronts? Check. There s plenty going on for Peter Crouch this season, so it s essential the Spurs striker wears boots that can keep him at the top of his game.…
Crouchy chats exclusively to SoccerBible about his Puma Power Cat 1.10, the joys of custom fitting, and his memories of keeping David Ginola looking sharp at White Hart Lane...
SoccerBible: You re wearing the Puma Power Cat 1.10s this season. How are you finding them?
Peter Crouch: I m really happy in the Power Cat at the moment. They are the most comfortable boots around. There are a lot of lightweight models out at the maoment, but comfort is important and luckily my boots offer that. They ve got a wide surface area too which I feel helps to get a clean strike. It helps you to bring the ball under control with your first touch - which is important for my game.
SB: Talk us through a boot fitting - how long does it take and what s it like?
PC: I have my boots custom-fitted in Cardiff. Everyone s feet are different, so to get measured up is a great bonus. You stand in a cast and they make moulds of your feet. It takes a couple of hours and then they have my exact size and precise measurements for the boot. That s makes them extra comfortable for me. I ve got quite narrow feet and they are size 12. I would sometimes get blisters when I was younger but fortunately I don t have much trouble with my feet nowadays.
SB: How many pairs do you get through in a season?
PC: I don t get through many pairs. Luckily enough they are very hard wearing. I ll get through four or five pairs this season. And l ll wear the new models as soon as they re out.
SB: Do you have any boot superstitions?
PC: I always stick with the same pair if I am on a scoring streak. I wouldn t change them until I go a game without scoring. On a matchday, I like tie-up my right boot on the pitch before kick-off. I ll tie my laces in the changing room, walk out and then untie my right boot and tie it up again. It s one of those things - I ve always done it! I do it before every match.
SB: Do you have any personalisation on your boots?
PC: I normally go for a standard Crouchy .
SB: Do you train in the same boots you play in?
PC: I usually wear moulded boots for training, but I mainly wear studs in matches unless it s really dry.
SB: Can you remember your first ever boots?
PC: The first pair of boots I remember owning were Puma Spiders - I still have them in a cupboard at home! They were fantastic boots. I was nine-years-old and I scored about 70 goals with them in a season.
SB: Who got you your first pair?
PC: My dad got me my first pair of boots. It was a big occasion for us to go to the shopping centre. It was an exciting time to make sure you got the right ones.
SB: Do you clean your boots? Have you cleaned any other player s boots?
PC: I ve got a boot boy from the Youth team. His name s Kudos - he s a good lad and has been looking after me for a few years. I was here at Spurs as a kid, too, and I cleaned David Ginola and David Howells boots. I got a nice tip of £60 from each of them at Christmas. Howells was quick to give me this but I had to ask Les Ferdinand to explain to Ginola about our boot etiquette and the tradition of tipping at Christmas. Everyone wanted to clean Les Ferdinand s boots because he was the best tipper. He gave out £100 one year.
For more info on Peter Crouch's Puma PowerCat football boots, click here for our full SoccerBible review.
