July 14, 2024 - 10:00am
Playing Spain tonight in the Euro 2024 final, England’s current squad has proven the worth of one of the country’s greatest national sporting assets: the English footballing pyramid.
Many of England’s players were both born in smaller English towns and have plied their trade in the lower leagues. The finest example is Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, who fired England into the final with a clinical finish in the 90th minute against the Netherlands. Born in the seaside town of Torquay in Devon and growing up in nearby Newton Abbot, 28-year-old Watkins was sent out on loan by Exeter City to Weston-super-Mare for the 2014-15 season — mixing it with the likes of Farnborough, Staines Town, and Maidenhead United in the Conference South. After impressing for Brentford in the notoriously competitive second-tier Championship, he earned a move to Villa Park.
Along with Watkins, there are other players who have done the rounds in the lower leagues. Everton FC goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who has now racked up 67 international caps, was born in the Tyne and Wear town of Washington. Before moving to his current club from Sunderland, Pickford had loan spells at the likes of Darlington, Alfreton Town, and Burton Albion. Bury-born Kieran Trippier, who has toiled away in an unnatural left-back position over the course of the tournament, previously played for Burnley and once had a loan spell at Barnsley when on Manchester City’s books. Current Manchester City centre-back John Stones made 24 appearances for his hometown club Barnsley before moving to Everton in 2013.
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, who saved England from being knocked out by Slovakia at the Last 16 stage with a stunning overhead kick, spent a tough 2019-20 season in the Championship with Birmingham City as they finished just above the relegation zone. Born and raised in Stourbridge, the 21-year-old was socialised in traditional market-town Middle England. Considering Bellingham has just enjoyed a spectacular debut season at Real Madrid where he won both the Champions League and La Liga, he remains remarkably grounded.
Manager Gareth Southgate has come in for criticism over his cautious approach while having an embarrassment of attacking riches at his disposal. Some of the least exciting group-stage games at the tournament involved England — including a dire 0-0 draw against Slovenia. It wasn’t until the semi-final against the Netherlands where England’s players showed genuine glimpses of their attacking prowess.
But irrespective of our thoughts on the style of football played under Southgate, there is no questioning the dedicated work ethic of this England squad. The team members have formed a genuine brotherhood, a welcome change from the club tribalism which defined the so-called “Golden Generation” of the 2000s.
Much of this England squad possesses a certain discipline and reservedness: a measured, not-in-your-face confidence. Some hail from or have direct meaningful experience of unglamorous English towns which are quietly traditional but fiercely patriotic — especially over their national football team. Many were given their fair share of character-building “reality checks” in the lower leagues during their younger years.
Despite not truly clicking on the pitch, the England players have shown considerable resilience, determination, and grit to reach tonight’s final. Perhaps we should thank the English footballing pyramid for that.
Dr Rakib Ehsan is a researcher specialising in British ethnic minority socio-political attitudes, with a particular focus on the effects of social integration and intergroup relations.
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SubscribeThe team spirit Southgate has built is exceptional, and the core reason for the teams relative success in recent years. If that’s partly due to the time some of the players have spent in the lower leagues then fair enough, but I’m pretty sure previous generations of England players have spent time out on loan to smaller clubs as well.
Hi Dennis, thanks for engaging with the piece.
I would have a look at some of the key players in the so-called Golden Generation of the 2000s. Relatively little experience of playing in the lower leagues and spending significant periods of their life in England’s smaller towns.
Beckham was loaned to Preston.
The author makes some very good points, but he misses an open goal by omitting mention of captain Harry Kane, who was loaned out to Leyton Orient and Millwall before finally making his mark at Spurs.
Thanks Lancashire Lad. I am fully aware of Kane’s club history, but his background isn’t necessarily in line with the focus of the piece (as he is London-born [Walthamstow] and both Millwall and Leyton Orient are based in the city of his birth). On top of that, he had loan spells at Leicester and Norwich (both cities of course).
Kane came to mind because he came on as a sub for Orient (may have been his league debut?) at my home town club, deep within the Pennines on a cold, wet Tuesday night. That kind of experience plus Walthamstow being redolent of suburban middle England (despite it’s geographical location) puts him in the category you were looking to focus on.
90% of Europe was rooting against England. After the NL “penalty”, that’s probably hovering around the 99% mark.
Football’s coming home, through any means, fair or foul.
Well, now we know it isn’t coming home. Oh dear, never mind.
Tbh I was being somewhat flippant. In fact, I would have liked to see England do well, but not to win in that way.
Oh, never tell people from Washington that they are from “Tyne and Wear”, or even from Sunderland, staunchly red and white though they are. They are adamant that they are from County Durham.