Tom Petty to play at 2008 Superbowl (and the thoughts of 4th Division football)

Rick Wakeman/Chrissie Hynde hybrid Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers are to play at next year's superbowl in Arizona. This year saw 140 million people tune in to see Prince perform a medley of hits on his symbol-shaped stage (for the record, the symbol was a hand doing the 'wanker' sign).

Petty, a lifelong sports fan, is thrilled at the prospect of playing in the Superbowl and said "It's a great honour to be given the chance to play in next year's Superbowl. I'm really into sports in general but haven't played for a while... so I'll have to get into training so I don't let the side down. I was a half decent wide-receiver in my youth, but I think I'll be playing quarter back next year... so I'll have to work on my yardage."

Of course, Petty famously ran out for Bolton Wanderers during the eighties, coming on as a late subsitute. Looking back, Petty said "Oh man! That was great! Afterwards, I went out drinking with Tony Kelly [in Bolton town centre] and ended up in a fistfight in a cab rank... that left me with a permanent limp, but I don't think it will effect my game next year. Thankfully, I've got the Heartbreakers to back me up!"