Peter Crouch

If you're different in any way at school,then you're going to get a bit of abuse. You learn to deal with it in a way where people don't come back at you again.

I know my strengths and weaknesses, and I play to them.

I've always been surrounded by good people who rein me back in.

I've never been renowned for electric pace. It doesn't seem to have held me back.

People tend to assume I was terribly self-conscious about my height. In fact, I've always been perfectly comfortable with the way I am. And if anyone gave me any stick, they soon found I was quite capable of giving it back.

Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to score volleys.

I did a paper round as a kid, but the early mornings were too much. My dad took it over, so I was getting paid 15 quid a week, but he was doing it!

When some kids get a sniff of the first team at a big club, you see them change. They can become big-time, especially so if they happen to be captain of the youth team.

I've always felt comfortable on the ball, and I don't know why people are so surprised when you can control it well. It's not a disability. It's just that I'm a bit taller than everyone else.

I'd hate to be the sort of player who people just regard as being tall and only good for winning headers.

I enjoy being different.

The Championship is a ferocious league, physically demanding, and it simply does not allow players the luxury of cruising through.