Sean Dyche bizarrely signed ex-Liverpool striker after conversation at Isle of Wight festival
Peter Crouch leading out a non-league side after finishing bottom of his fantasy football league is not the strangest way he’s joined a club.
Sean Dyche has revealed he managed to convince the former England striker to join him at Burnley at the Isle of Wight festival.
The 54-year-old was Crouch’s final club manager before the latter brought the curtain down on his illustrious career in 2019.
Dyche has now admitted the move to sign Crouch had actually been on the cards the summer before, after a chance festival encounter.
The pair are both huge Kasabian fans and were both in the crowd to watch the band perform at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2018.
Ex-Liverpool star Crouch had just been relegated with Stoke City, with his ‘agent’ wife Abbey Clancy urging Dyche to sign him.
The 44-year-old ultimately moved to Turf Moor the following January, but made just six appearances without scoring.
Despite that, Burnley legend Dyche hailed the overall impact made during his short stint under him.
Joining talkSPORT alongside Jonny Owen on Sunday, Dyche revealed: “What a guy. What a professional.
“Coming to Burnley, I famously asked him if he’d join us at the Isle of Wight festival. He said one day he’d consider it.
“And then he came out on loan, and I think he enjoyed it. Had a great relationship with him. Still do. Speak to him now and again and see him at the old gig and stuff like that.
“Big Kasabian fan, massive fan. Yeah, big friends with Serge [Pizzorno, Kasabian guitarist].”
Crouch was an ‘incredibly good footballer’
Crouch, who played for a host of English clubs including Tottenham and Liverpool, won 42 caps for the Three Lions during his career.
The retired striker, who is also well known for the ‘robot’ celebration he made popular in 2006, is now a successful pundit and podcaster.
“He’s become a character in his own right,” Dyche continued. “And he’s one of them whom I marvel at the fact that he’s taken ownership of what he is. You know, if you went back in the day, the robot and all, he wasn’t offended by it. He actually took ownership of it.
“Loved him for just being authentic. And he certainly is that. You know, whenever I see him, he’s always good fun.
“He’s got a real dry edge to him, Crouch; he’s a really tough fella. By the way, a very, very good footballer.
“Incredibly good footballer. Really technical. Brilliant in our camp as well.
“I think he enjoyed, well, he told me he really enjoyed it…We did finish him, though, we did finish him, he retired after that.
“You couldn’t have enjoyed it that much, big man,” Dyche joked.
Crouch undoubtedly enjoyed his time at Burnley more than his even briefer stint as the tallest mascot in non-league football.
Crouch turns mascot in FPL forfeit
He made headlines on Saturday for his role as a mascot for Southern League Premier Division South outfit Farnham Town, ahead of their 2-2 draw against Sholing, as punishment for finishing bottom of his fantasy league.
Reacting to clips of Crouch at the 2500 capacity Memorial Ground in Surrey wearing the home kit, Dyche said: “He’s good crack, ain’t he?”
“There’s a ginger there. Brother from another mother. And then Crouch is standing as he does about 16 feet taller than everyone.”
Crouch also got the coveted honour of being named as one of the most game stars in terms of forfeits that Dyche has managed.
He continued: “Crouchy’s brilliant for that. You know, we do the old singing initiation. I think he did Snow-Informer or something like that, I think he did that, yeah. I can’t remember where the steakhouse in Portugal is.
“But he’s something, yeah. Trips [Kieran Trippier] is great. You know, a lot are. I think players have got a little bit more serious.
“Back in the day, everyone would just immediately join in and just have a laugh about it. I think now it’s a bit trickier, if you’re like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to do that.’
“… Almost like, I don’t know what the word is. Don’t embarrass yourself. But I tried to explain to them, I said, ‘No, it’s to build unity.’
“It’s like we’re laughing with you. Yeah, there’s a difference. We both know that. Well, we all know that. All our listeners know that.
“It’s when you’re joining in with someone and when you’re getting on them. And we were trying to encourage them to relax and just be themselves and do daft things. Some of it’s simple stuff, like telling three jokes.
“But even that can be really nerve-wracking. Players like that are going to have you, whether it’s good or bad. Singing is always a tough one.
“At the end of a small-sided game, we used to have dance-offs. You know, you used to get in a circle, you had to clap, and someone on every run of the team had to go in and dance. And people hate that stuff. So, you know, some of it’s a bit of fun.
“Some of it’s a bit of fun. Stripping off the ego, I would suggest.”
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