THE 'FRIDGE HAS NO REGRETS : PERRY NOW PLAYS FOR LONDON TEAM.

Byline: Doug Krikorian Long Beach Press-Telegram 

He was once a celebrated cult figure in another cold, windy city, but here as a member of the London Monarchs he's nothing more than a curiosity because of his still-imposing weight, which he insists is a mere 340 pounds.

``I'm recognized on occasion,'' says William Perry, popularly known as The Refrigerator. ``My wife and I were at a market the other day and a guy comes up to me and says, `You the 'Fridge?' And I say, `Yeah.' And he says, `Thought so. Used to see you on TV once in a while.' ''

It is all so different now for 33-year-old William Perry, who as a rookie in 1985 with the formidable Chicago Bears gained widespread notoriety for being employed by his coach, Mike Dikta, as a running back in goal-line situations despite his massive girth.

``I think I scored a total of five touchdowns,'' says Perry, who also was a defensive nose tackle of astounding strength and agility in those merry days. ``I even got one in the Super Bowl against New England. Isn't that something? The 'Fridge has a Super Bowl touchdown to his credit and Walter Payton doesn't. How do you figure?''

Because of his size, personality, skill and nickname, Perry became an overnight commercial superstar with the Bears.

``I endorsed everything but pantyhose,'' laughs Perry, whose most high-profile gig was chomping hamburgers for McDonald's.

``What fun I had.''

It is a classic London day as the skies are gray and threatening of rain and the chill in this forbidding spring weather is heightened by the swirling, angry winds that forever blow in from the North Sea.

Perry is seated on a bench next to his team's practice field at Crystal Palace, and the scene is a metaphor of Perry's diminished athletic station because the last time this reporter interviewed him was in January of 1986 in New Orleans before Super Bowl XX and he was surrounded by dozens of reporters.

Now Perry works in obscurity as a part-time defensive tackle, part-time public relations man for the Monarchs, who are in the World League of American Football.

Now Perry finds himself far removed from the roots of his youth, Aiken, South Carolina, where he still resides, and from the glories of his adult years, Chicago, where for one memorable season he became almost a mythic figure on the American sporting orbit.

``I'm having my fun over here in London,'' says Perry, who's staying in Bromley with his wife Sherry and 3-year-old son, William Jr. (his two daughters, Latavia, 13, and Norie, 10, are staying with relatives in Aiken). ``Obviously, the pressures aren't as great. This is not the NFL I'm in, and the fans here are much more into soccer.

``The only reason I'm playing is to give my son an opportunity to play football. He was too young to understand what I was doing when I was in the NFL, and when the Monarchs called and asked me if I were interested in playing again I said yes because of my son.

``I gave it up with the Philadelphia Eagles before the start of last season, and really had been enjoying retirement life, going fishing a lot and just taking it easy. But it's fun playing football again.''

Perry's duties with the Monarchs include not only terrorizing quarterbacks and running backs, but also spreading the gospel of the fledging pro league that has franchises throughout Europe.

``I'm going to Amsterdam tomorrow, a couple of days before the team does to meet with the press,'' says Perry.

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2 Photos

Photo: (1) William ``The Refrigerator'' Perry spikes the ball after scoring a surprising touchdown during Super Bowl XX against New England in 1986.

(2) ``I have no regrets about my career,'' Perry says. This Super Bowl touchdown was one of the highlights.

Daily News File Photo