Move over Peter Shell-ton – our tortoise is a football genius

11:21am Monday 11th June 2007

Comments (6)   Have your say »

Neighbours are being woken up - by a soccer mad tortoise.

Percy the hot shot likes nothing better than to head a football round his garden, but he's not Mr Popular with everyone.

Amanda Cole-Hargie, 26-year-old photographer, said: "I was taking a nap when I was woken by this continual banging noise.

"I traced it to next door's garden and there was Percy, nutting the ball against the fence over and over again."

Percy's owners, Dave Miles, a paramedic, and his wife Jo, social work resource officer, said the tortoise had been playing football ever since their three children started kicking balls around in the garden at their Brighton home.

Jo said: "He just followed the kids around, wanting to join in the game. He's very good at it - he withdraws his head into his shell and propels it forward to head the ball, then goes after it and does it again and again."

Percy's antics have kept him fit over the years. He's been handed down from Jo's grandmother to mother before Jo took over ownership.

"We sent his measurements to the Tortoise Society and they reckon he's about 120 years old."

The couple reckon Percy's pastime may be a sign that he's looking for a mate.

Jo said: "We introduced him to two females but he pushed one into a pond and drowned her and was so amorous with the other that she ran away.

"Maybe he thinks the football is a potential mate - we just don't know - but his football crazy play is keeping him healthy.

"Mind you, we could do with a decent goalkeeper in the garden - perhaps Peter Shell-ton would volunteer."

Does your pet have an unusual talent? Email the details and a video - if you have one - to videos@theargus.co.uk or post your story below.