Perry puts his boot into latest designs

BY LIZ O'REILLY

Former Arsenal star Perry Groves came to town this week to give his expert opinion on modern football boots.

The former League and League Cup winner, was called upon by Bedford-based Footy-Boots.com to road test state-of-the-art football boots.

Perry was filmed testing a series of boots in different scenarios including shooting, passing, juggling and running.

Dubbed the Top Gear of football boots, Footy- Boots.com is the world's most popular site for information on footwear for the beautiful game with more than 600,000 visitors per month.

And Perry's opinion on the boots, along with the film shot by Mid Beds web television station Local News TV at Bedford Sports and Hockey Centre in Queens Park, will be on the site in the near future to help consumers make the right decision when parting with their money.

"Football boots are expensive and can have a major impact on your game," said Alan Spurgeon chief executive of Footy-Boots.com.

"That's why we commissioned this film, to give footballers a chance to get expert opinion from a professional."

Groves had a trial with Wolves as a schoolboy before signing as an apprentice for Colchester United in 1981. He turned professional a year later and over the next four seasons he played 142 league games for the U's, scoring 26 goals.

In September 1986 he signed for Arsenal for £50,000, becoming the first signing by new manager George Graham.

In his first season at the club he helped set up Charlie Nicholas for the winner in the 1987 League Cup final, dribbling past three Liverpool players before laying the ball off.

He also scored the semifinal goal which took the Gunners to the following year's final, where they were beaten by Luton Town.

He moved to Southampton in 1992 for £750,000 but only played 15 times in two years before retiring from professional football at the age of 28, following two serious achilles tendon injuries.

Groves became a cult player among Arsenal fans, who commemorate him with the chant 'We all live in a Perry Groves World', and still has a large following with a fanclub and website devoted to him.

In October 2006 Perry Groves published his autobiography, entitled We All Live In A Perry Groves World and Arsenal fans launched a web campaign to help the book outsell Ashley Cole's effort, My Defence, which was out at the same time.

He has since outsold the autobiographies of Cole and other notables including Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand.