Very few soccer supporters in Montreal may have heard the name of Troy Perkins while he was a member of the Portland Timbers, but he certainly has made a name for himself in Montreal since arriving in a deal that sent fellow goalkeeper to the Timbers.
Now in three games with the blue and white, Perkins has two shutouts and has allowed just one goal on a penalty kick, winning all three games he has played as the Montreal Impact’s new starting goalkeeper.
Now that he’s a little better known on the pitch, let’s get to know him a little better off of it.
Impact Media: Have you had the chance to discover Montreal yet?
Troy Perkins: Not really. I go to the same place every night for dinner; it’s a little restaurant near the hotel called Deville DinerBar. They have good food there. That is the extent of my knowledge so far (laughs).
IM: Do you have a pre-game ritual?
Perkins: I used to listen to music before games, but that was a ritual I stopped a long time ago. I try to stay as relaxed as possible. No phone calls, no computers, no electronics… I just shut out the world and try to enjoy the day. I'm a miserable person to be around. My wife hates it (laughs again).
IM: When you do listen to music, what do you listen to?
Perkins: I like all kinds of music, but I am a huge Kings of Leon fan. I have all their albums. I know most of their songs now by heart. When I have the time, it’s usually them I’m listening to.
IM: What do you do for fun?
Perkins: Anything that entertains really, it changes every three or four months. Right now, I liked working on my car, a 1985 Land Rover Defender, but it’s still out in Portland. Before that, I was working on my house a lot. I really like doing things with my hands.
IM: You have a few tattoos, what’s the story behind them?
Perkins: The birds (two swallows on his chest) are the ones that have the most meaning. I was out in Norway when I got them (played 51 games in Valarenga in Norwegian first division). My wife and I were going to have a kid. It’s an old English sailor tattoo. The mythology behind it is that if you ever die away from home, the birds carry your soul back home. Swallows are never alone; they are always with a partner, always loyal.
The trade came as a surprise to Perkins. He was a fan favourite out in Portland. However, despite having to travel to the other side of the continent, in a new country, he, like the infamous swallow, will never be alone as he now has La Garde standing by his side.
