Perhaps young Gooners who are under 20 probably have never heard of Perry Groves. Can’t blame them, as he’s hardly a “star”. In fact, he’s not even a regular starter during his playing days for Arsenal. But Groves did play a symbolic role in the Arsenal history. He’s the first player George Graham signed for Arsenal, and helped starting the Arsenal revival under Graham.
An out-and-out winger he’s best remembered by his red hair, his aggressiveness on the pitch, and setting up a goal for Charlie Nicolas in the 1986 Littlewoods Cup final to win our first trophy under Graham. Talent wise, Groves probably couldn’t even make it into the current Arsenal reserve team. But he got something most of the current set of players lack of - a big HEART.
Recently he has published a book. “Who would be interested to buy it?” you may wonder. But guess what? It’s outselling the gold-digging Cashley’s “My Defence”! A book from an unsung role player of the 80s outsold the world’s best left back of today? I guess it shows that what are the elements in the game fans truly valued.
When being asked whether he’s pleased that his autobiography was outselling Cashley Cole’s? Perry made an interesting remark:
“I’m pleased and honoured. Mine’s just a normal book about an average player who didn’t take himself so seriously. Cashley’s is about someone who thinks he’s so important and has got so carried away with his success. It’s a good contrast to see a player who thought he was lucky to be where he was and another player who thinks the club were lucky to have him.”
Two thumbs up!
Talking about books, it seems that many England stars in their 20s just can’t wait to talk about themselves. Rio, Gerrard, Cashley, Lampard, Owen, Rooney all got a book of their own. Rooney in particular, what does him get to talk about in his book when he’s career has just started, and he has so far won nothing yet?
And for a few footballers who had an outstanding career with lot of glory to tell, yet you never get to read about their stories. Namely - Dennis Bergkamp.
11 Responses to “We All Live in a Perry Groves World!!”
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November 28th, 2006 at 9:52 am
I liked what Perry said about Cole thinking that the club was luck to have him !!!
True … Why Dennis Bergkamo is so under rated? Many fans or football “soccer” fans underestimate his role in soccer.
I already miss his touches !!!
November 28th, 2006 at 10:13 am
Q&A with Perry Groves
Perry Groves is a cult hero at Arsenal, having spent six years at Highbury between 1986 and 1992, winning two League titles and one League Cup.
He has just released a new book, Walking in a Perry Groves World, which, as Gunners fans have delighted in pointing out, is outselling Ashley Cole’s autobiography.
Groves, now a sales representative for a company which produces playgrounds for children, answered questions from users of the BBC Sport website - including what he thinks about Cole, his literary rival.
Tell us what you think of Arsenal’s ginger genius
PERRY ON ARSENAL
How did it feel, that wonderful night at Anfield in May 1989 when Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 to win the title? And did anything else compare to that?
Steveweiser
Nothing compared to that, no chance. If you’d written it, it’d have been like Roy of the Rovers. We needed to win 2-0 and even we didn’t think we could do that. We thought we could beat them, but not by two goals, we never dreamed it. It was brilliant doing it in the last minute because there was no nervous time for them to come back.
Perry, how many pints did you sink after that game?
1minute
People say don’t get carried away with the highs or upset by the lows, but that’s rubbish - I reckon I was smashed for the next six weeks after that game! We got back to London at four in the morning after the game and they’d kept a nightclub open for us. We had an open-top bus tour on the Sunday and then me, Paul Merson, Niall Quinn and Alan Smith said let’s go for it and we did - for about three or four days.
Was it an honour to have the song “We all live in a Perry Groves World” sang around Highbury?
KevHighbury
They didn’t sing it that much when I was there, it was more when I left! But it’s a massive honour because way better players than me haven’t had a song about them. It’s mickey-taking in an affectionate way, but I’m well chuffed. Apparently the fans did it in the Bernabeu while Arsenal were playing Real Madrid last season - fantastic.
Did you ever get the hair-dryer treatment from George Graham?
Dirlandas
Yeah, all the time. Every game, every half-time. George was probably the last of the old school, like a dictator manager. If you don’t do it, you don’t play. He wasn’t so much in your face, though it could be pretty vicious, but he never lost it completely. He could dish it out, but it’d always be in a calculating way.
Which player from your generation would still be able to make it into today’s Arsenal team?
Rssr1985
Any generation you’re born into, you’d make it, know what I mean? For instance, let’s take Anders Limpar. He’d be fantastic to see in this team at the moment. In 1990-91, when we only lost one game, he was outstanding, phenomenal. He was the difference between us being a good side and a great side - he made us a great one.
Who were the best players you played with and against while at Arsenal?
Ritchie
Anders was the best I played with. You couldn’t tell what foot he was best with, know what I mean? He was equally good with both, I was equally bad with both! Paul McGrath was the best I played against. You always thought you had him, that you were away, but from somewhere he’d get a tackle in and you’d think ‘where the hell did he come from?’ He was outstanding.
What was it like in the Arsenal dressing-roon with the likes of Paul Merson and Tony Adams? And do you see or hear from any of the old team?
Ritchie
Our big strength at that time was the team spirit, camaraderie and banter. There were no airs or graces, everybody got it. We were very tight-knit, it was us against the world. Now, we don’t see much of each other, just at Arsenal functions, things like that. We should do, but blokes are rubbish at keeping in touch with each other aren’t they?
Who out of Thierry Henry and Ian Wright would you have rather played with?
Boycielush
Henry. For the reason that every now and again you get a special player in an era and in this era that player is Henry. He’s about as close as you’ll get to watching an artist on the football pitch. Wrighty was a brilliant goalscorer, but all-round Henry’s probably the better player. When Thierry fancies it, he’s awesome.
Did you ever socialise with players from other clubs?
Theoddgoalh
No way! If we were out and bumped into players from other club you might have a drink with them, but not otherwise. It’s like a normal job, I guess. If you go out with your solicitors firm, it’s rare you’d socialise with another firm.
How did it feel when the St Johns Ambulance people dropped you off a stretcher at Highbury?
Atletico de Madrid
How did it feel? The only thing I felt was my face smashing into the dirt! It wasn’t a stretcher, it was a wheelchair and my arms were strapped in. As they wheeled me round the corner the chair got stuck in the pitch and as they were so old they didn’t have the strength to stop me falling, so they let me go, so my face hit the track. In the pouring rain, in front of Liverpool fans. I was annoyed at the time, but looking back it’s funny.
PERRY ON THE BOOK
Perry, I met you when you came to my school and did a skills class in Finchingfield 13 years ago. Anyway, what is the motivation for your book and how did it come about?
Lisa
I was asked to do it by Blake Publishing, who specialise in cult autobiographies. They saw a couple of websites that pay tribute to me - taking the rip, but in a nice way, and thought why are so many people interested in him? So they asked me to do a book and gave me freedom to do what I want. Even if it doesn’t sell, I’ve got a life story, haven’t I?
Are you pleased your autobiography is outselling Cashley Cole’s?
Gunnersteveo
I’m pleased and honoured. Mine’s just a normal book about an average player who didn’t take himself so seriously. Cashley’s is about someone who thinks he’s so important and has got so carried away with his success. It’s a good contrast to see a player who thought he was lucky to be where he was and another player who thinks the club were lucky to have him.
Can you believe the difference in attitude of players in your day and the arrogant ones nowadays?
Ron
I think these guys deserve the money they get as long as they’re humble and show some humility. They should remember they’re not getting more money cos they’re better than players of the 1970s, 80s or 90s, but because of when they were born. They are wealthy young men and should appreciate how lucky they are. It’s not a job - it’s a hobby, like Shane Warne said the other day.
What do you make of guys writing books when they are only 20-years-old?
Tim
Thing is, if you get this much money chucked at you, you’re not gonna say no are you? But if I was advising them, I’d tell them not to do one now, maybe do it when you’re 40 because you’ll have a different perspective on what’s happening. At the moment, they always think they’re right, you think you’re indestructible. I just don’t think they’re being advised very well.
PERRY ON HIS OTHER CLUBS
Having played for the world’s greatest team, Colchester, how does it feel to see them doing so well now and do you ever get down to watch them play?
Ritchie
It’s great to see, I always see Colchester and Arsenal as my two teams. If they can stay in the Championship and George Williams - I know it’s Geraint, but I call him George - keeps them up, he should be manager of the year. They’ve got no resources, no money, rubbish ground, but if they stay up it’d be a phenomenal achievement.
Hi Perry, I go to the football club you started at, Cornard Dynamoes. Do you still remember everything about the ground and other stuff about the club?
Jack_Airey
We started at Cornard Recreation ground, which was a walk from my house. Cornard was a little village but it’s got bigger now. The best thing about it was that we had four teams of the same age group and the rivalry was very strong. I think the name has changed now, but that was a great little club.
Perry, we went to school together. How’s it going mate? Do you remember a game we played for Dynamoes under boss Mick Brown when we were told not to take the ball into the opposition’s half for 10 minutes, but we scored after 10 seconds?
Trevor Stagg
Yep, 100%, spot on. Mick was fundamental in my career, he was the one who wrote off to clubs to get me trials. He was maverick in his thinking back then, he wanted us to keep the ball at all times and he even introduced yoga - we were only 11! Great to hear from you, Trev. How’s Kevin, your brother? Hope things are going well. I remember going to see Trev when he got a Saturday job in a clothes shop in Sudbury. We went round the back to see him and he was fast asleep in amongst the trousers!
November 28th, 2006 at 11:08 am
or alternatively, you can log on to BBC.com (Sports) for the full story.
November 28th, 2006 at 11:43 am
From what I remember back about Perry is amazing pace and lack of touch.
He was very fast, sort of Henry fast, but he did not have the skill. His touch was poor and crossing hit and miss.
He had heart and was a great super sub, he was a defenders nightmare in the last 20 mins of a game, a flying winger in the real sense of the word.
He did make loads of mistakes but the fans loved him once he left…
November 28th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
Any other Arsenal-related items you hope the holidays will bring? Other books or DVDs you recommend?
November 28th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
I watched Perry Groves many times, he was very speedy. I wouldn’t say he was missed by the fans when he left Arsenal, but he always gave 100% and could be a tricky opponent on his day.
By no means the worst player I ever saw, would have to reserve that for the likes of Grimandi, Cygan, McGoldrick, Caesar, Parlour, Hoyte etc. - he was better than them at what he did.
November 28th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
I am looking for a DVD that has every Dennis Bergkamp Goal. Could be all his career goals (Ajax, Inter, Holland And Arsenal) or just the 120 (or so) goals with Arsenal.
I would love to get my hand on one …
Thanks.
November 28th, 2006 at 8:37 pm
feverpitch, the best Arsenal book i ever read is - “12-0 to the Arsenal”(and a goal in injury time). By Graham Weaver. It recorded 12 magic moment of Arsenal football club, and 12 of the most significant victories in Arsenal’s history.
“Rebels for the Clause” is another good book. As for player autobiography, Paddy and Tony’s are the best!
November 28th, 2006 at 8:41 pm
Danny, i think Parlour and Grimandi are much better than David Hillier, Ian Selley, or the big bust John Jansen weren’t they?!
The worst players i ever saw gotta be that Lativan central back Igor something (never be able to spell his name). Also, Glenn Helder. I never like him.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:38 am
We all have our favourites. Jensen was better than Grimandi, Helder wasn’t so bad - he didn’t really get much of a chance to be honest. He arrived with Kiwomya and Hartson I think, all those players did ok for the club, but a quick succession of managers saw the end of them pretty swiftly.
November 30th, 2006 at 8:38 pm
Thanks for the recommendations! I'm a bit behind in my Arsenal reading.??