Long-serving players
Years ago it was commonplace for a player to spend his entire career with one specific club. Not any more!
Things have changed dramatically over the course of time, certainly since the Premiership came into being, and nowadays it’s rare to see one, even two players spend a decade with a top flight club.
The player who has been with a PL club the longest right now is midfielder Mark
Noble, who has served West Ham for some 16 years. Next in line we have two players who’ve been with their clubs for 13 years – Leighton Baines (Everton) and Danny Rose (Spurs, now on loan at Newcastle).
The only player with 11 years’ service is Lewis Dunk (Brighton) while Emiliano Martinez (Arsenal), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Chris Smalling (Manchester United – currently with Roma), Troy Deeney (Watford), David Silva (Manchester City), Paul Dummett (Newcastle) and Matt Doherty (Wolves) all have ten years association with the club mentioned.
Those with a nine-years link with the same club are Andy King (Leicester), Kevin Long (Burnley), Jamal Blackman* (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) and James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) and after that come Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) Alex Tettey (Norwich) and Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) each with eight years registration and Chris Basham (Sheffield United) with six.
■ Blackman has not played a single first-team game for Chelsea, having been loaned out to various clubs since 2011.
Players who had record spells with one club + FL appearances:
■ Charlie Aitken – Aston Villa, 15 years, 1961-76 (561 apps).
■ Derek Fazackerly – Blackburn, 16 years, 1970-86 (596 apps).
■ Jimmy Armfield - Blackpool, 19 years, 1952-71 (568 apps).
■ Ron Harris – Chelsea, 18 years, 1962-80 (655 apps).
■ Neville Southall – Everton, 17 years, 1981-98 (578 apps).
■ Ian Callaghan – Liverpool, 18 years, 1960-78 (640 apps).
■ Alan Oakes - Manchester City, 17 years, 1959-76 (564 apps).
■ Ryan Giggs – Manchester United, 23 years, 1991-2004 (672 apps)
■ Bob McKinlay - Nottingham Forest, 19 years, 1951-70 (614 apps)
■ Jimmy Dickinson – Portsmouth, 19 years, 1946-65 (764)
■ Joe Shaw – Sheffield United, 18 years, 1948-66 (652 apps).
■ Terry Paine – Southampton, 18 years, 1956-74, (713 apps).
■ John Trollope – Swindon Town, 20 years, 1960-80 (770 apps).
■ Steve Perryman – Tottenham, 17 years, 1969-86), 655 (apps).
■ Tony Brown – WBA, 18 years, 1963-81 (574 apps).
■ Billy Bonds – West Ham, 21 years, 1967-88 (655 apps).
■ Derek Parkin – Wolves, 15 years, 1967-82 (501 apps).