Gerry Francis has recalled how he set Tottenham striker Peter Crouch on his way to a professional career.

Francis, the former QPR and Tottenham manager and a one-time England captain, told the Sunday Express: "We had him as a kid at QPR and I signed him as a schoolboy before I went to Tottenham. Then when I went to White Hart Lane we took him with us, where he signed professional forms."

By that stage Francis had returned to his spiritual home as QPR boss again, but he never forgot about Crouch, who did not make the Spurs senior side.

Francis, now Stoke's first-team coach, said: "I'd gone back to QPR and I remember talking to David Pleat, who said Crouch wouldn't be good enough for Tottenham.

"So we brought him back for something ridiculous, like £60,000. Peter went straight into the team and got 12 goals, doing very well in a difficult season."