Peter Crouch
Peter Crouch (Image: YouTube)
Peter Crouch would have loved to have played for Newcastle United because there is 'something special' about being the club's number nine.
Crouch had spells at a host of sides up and down the country, including Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Spurs and Stoke City, but the North East was one of the few regions the former England international did not pitch up in - despite coming close to joining Sunderland in 2009.
Crouch had agreed terms with Sunderland and even flew up to have a tour of the training ground, look at houses and meet Steve Bruce, who was in charge of the Black Cats at the time. However, on his way home, Crouch got a call from Harry Redknapp, who wanted to take the striker to Spurs following their previous spells together at Portsmouth and Southampton.
The rest was history, but when asked about the one club he wished he represented, Crouch gave an unequivocal response.
"I reckon there's something special about being Newcastle's number nine," Crouch said. "Whenever I go up there, I feel like it's a football city and when I think of the old centre forwards that have played well for Newcastle, you're like the hero, aren't you? If I had scored goals for Newcastle...
"Even the music before the game they play up at Newcastle. I've always enjoyed playing as an away player there. They understand football. They live and breathe it.
"If I had gone in just after that Alan Shearer phase, I would have been at a good age then but these things don't work out. It's all hypothetical, but if I had to pick one club to play for, it would have been Newcastle."