Changing room chat: Terry is no pet shop boy in suburbia

JOHN Terry was forced to take the unusual step of apologising to hundreds of fans yesterday – after they believed he was due to open a pet shop.

The Chelsea and England captain had been expected to cut the ribbon at the opening of Reptile Kingdom on Ewell Road. Owner Terrence Clark said he had organised the England captain’s appearance through a mutual friend, but Terry insists that was not the case.

Terry, who categorically denied making a racist slur against Anton Ferdinand during Chelsea’s defeat at QPR on Sunday, released a statement to the Press Association which read: “There appears to be some confusion regarding my attendance at an opening of a pet shop today in Surbiton.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I had not agreed to attend the opening of this or any other shop.

“I had been asked if I would consider the opportunity and declined on two separate occasions. That is as far as the matter went.”

Shop owner Clark said: “He was supposed to be there but he didn’t show. It looks bad on him and not us. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed, but we still had a good time.”