Crouchy

On a walk to a pub in Ealing for my Nan's birthday, as you do, and who should I pass on a footpath but Crouchy. I had to do a couple of double takes to check it was him, but it definitely was. He obviously still has roots in the area, growing up in North West London, but he was still the last person I expected to see.

I played it very cool - he was with his family, on a walk, and I didn't want to bother him - but was still quite exciting to see a former Tottenham player in the flesh. Did a decent job in his seasons with us. Was a key part of the side that got us 4th in 2009/10, scoring that all-important goal at the Etihad. He then played a key role in our epic run to the Champions League quarter-finals, scoring some vital goals along the way (against Young Boys, Inter, AC Milan and Werder Bremen). Formed a great partnership with VDV, the perfect little and large combo. Never let us down, always gave his all, and scored some very useful goals.

Of course, could be a very frustrating player too. A powderpuff shot, the attempts to bring the ball down on his chest and juggle with it mid-flight, not being as good in the air as someone of his size should be, a lack of pace and strength. But, overall, his good attributes outdid his bad ones. Great touch for a big man, excellent positional awareness, a habit of being in the right place at the right time, excellent aerial ability in both boxes, excellent work-rate, good link-up play and 100% commitment to the cause.

When Crouchy was in the team, though, we had a tendency to go long, to hit the target man, which could sometimes be a bit detrimental.

One of my favourite Crouchy moments, along with the goals against City, Inter and AC, was a game against Villa in 2009-10, when he played as an auxiliary centre-half for the last 20 minutes when we were down to 10 men and fighting off wave after wave of attacks. Lowest moment was his reckless and stupid sending off against Real Madrid.

A more than decent career, overall. Started off at Tottenham, made his name at QPR and Pompey, regressed a bit at Villa, got his career back on track at Southampton under Arry, earned a big move to Liverpool and, after a difficult start, performed admirably. Back to Pompey, where he built up a good combo with Defoe, before returning to us for a second spell. Since leaving us he's been a useful player for Stoke, although (at 35) he is starting to be used less and less. A career as a pundit or a manager awaits.

Hard not to like Crouchy. His goalscoring record for club and country is pretty decent. I know most of those international goals came against minnows, but you've still got to score them. Less said about the robot celebration, the better.

Other than a brief encounter with Crouchy, seeing Teddy, Teddy, Teddy Sheringham at a non-league game supporting his son and being on the same plane as John Barnes and Chris Morgan (on separate occasions), I haven't bumped into too many ex-footballers or current footballers.

I'm not one for selfies, autographs or signed photographs, but if I bumped into Ledley King, Michael Dawson, Keano, VDV or Robbo I might have to change my principles.

Anyone else had any encounters with current or ex Tottenham players? Always makes for a good anecdote or a slight claim to fame.

Anyone meet BAE on the tube, David Bentley at the races or Razor Ruddock down the pub?

Weird, wonderful and obscure stories welcome. I'm sure someone will beat "walking past Peter Crouch on a footpath", won't they?