KEV CONQUERS EUROPE

Among the European Golden Shoe winners during the noughties were Henrik Larsson, Mario Jardel... and Kevin Phillips. The 5ft 7in striker won the award in 2000 thanks to 30 goals in his maiden Premier League season – at least 29 of them via Niall Quinn knockdowns.

“To me, Rushden have great potential,” Brian Clough told in 2003. “If you tell me they are minnows, what about Wimbledon, Barnsley, Ipswich and Watford? They have all played in the Premier League – so I see no reason why Rushden won’t do in time, too.” For once, Cloughie wasn’t right. The club had risen to the Football League by 2001, aided by Dr. Martens chief Max Griggs; then the third tier when Clough had his say. But Griggs sold up in 2005 after they were relegated back to League Two. Rushden duly hurtled out of the Football League, and went into liquidation in 2011.