YORKSHIRE MORE
No wonder our defence is hard to beat.. the core come from steely White Rose county
SHEFFIELD steel and an injection of Yorkshire grit has helped put England on track for World Cup glory.
The Three Lions’ central defence against Croatia tonight will consist entirely of Yorkshiremen.
Ex-Sheffield United kids Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire were born locally in the Steel City. And fellow stopper John Stones, who plays in the middle of the three-man defence, is from nearby Barnsley.
Altogether Gareth Southgate’s England squad boasts six players from Sheffield and its surrounding towns. And the manager himself lives near Harrogate in North Yorkshire. Y k hi
Striker Jamie Vardy was also born in Sheffield, Danny Rose is from Doncaster, and fellow defender Gary Cahill, who was born a few miles south of Sheffield in Dronfield, had a successful loan at the Blades earlier in his career.
Then there’s ex-Leeds youngster Fabian Delph, who hails from Bradford and has taken his beloved Yorkshire Teabags all the way to Russia.
Sheffield United academy director Travis Binnion knows Walker and Maguire well from their time at the club.
He believes the pair and their fellow Yorkshiremen have been at the root of England’s glory l march. h The Th 31-year-old 31 said: “Yorkshire is renowned for being to the point. There are no airs and graces, you just get on with it. If that has had an effect on the rest of the squad then great.
“They have taken everyone along with them. To do that, people have to see you are normal, approachable and down to earth.
“Kyle has just won the Premier League title with Manchester City and played in the Champions League.
“I think there is a real confidence about the group and Harry has never been fazed at any level. He was always one of the best players in his age group and technically very good.
“He was good on the ball and at times he played in midfield but he has developed the rest of his game.
“He has taken longer to get the recognition Kyle has enjoyed because people maybe had reservations about his pace but he sees danger and reads the game very well.”
The England pair have never forgotten their roots – Maguire even posed with a Sheffield United flag after the last-16 win over Colombia.
Now perhaps they can enjoy a well-earned cup of Delph’s Yorkshire Tea if they beat Croatia tonight.