ENGLAND’S FOOTBALL LIFEBLOOD
18 players in this Euros squad have featured in the lower leagues... EFL’s hard-up clubs must not be left to rot
THE English football pyramid has never been under such extreme financial pressure.
But there is no doubting the priceless role it has played in helping to shape this England side.
As many as 18 members of England’s Euro 2020 squad have either come through a Football League academy or spent time on loan at a club outside the Premier League.
That means outposts such as Stalybridge, Yate Town, Alfreton and Chesterfield have just as much reason to celebrate any Euros triumph as those mega-rich clubs at English football’s top end.
If that does not serve as a reminder of how ALL clubs should be cherished, then nothing will.
“It’s an indication of just how important youth development in the EFL and non-league is,” said Mark Burton, the former Barnsley academy chief, who worked with John Stones when the England star was coming through the ranks at Oakwell.
“There’s a good reason why these players develop so quickly away at these academies, too – because everything is set up for them, the team is built around them and they’re given as many minutes as possible.
“Stonesy was given the opportunity to join Manchester City at the age of 16, where he would have just been another youngster trying to break through.
“If he had gone there then, would he even be playing for England now? I think it would be very interesting to know.”
England’s back-five against Croatia last Sunday, including keeper Jordan
Pickford, is perhaps the best illustration of the huge role played by clubs from low down the pyramid.
Pickford spent crucial loan spells at Alfreton and Darlington.
Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker and Stones all owe a debt of thanks to Sheffield United and Barnsley for the role played in their careers.
Tyrone Mings had spells in non-league with Yate Town and Chippenham, after being released from Southampton’s academy as a teenager.
Ben White, the Brighton centre-back, is another to bounce back after being released by the Saints.
And, as White waits for his opportunity at these Euros, his former manager during a loan spell with Newport County, Michael Flynn, is in no doubt of the importance that clubs outside the spotlight have played in helping England’s stars shine.
Flynn said: “It’s great when you see players like Ben come through.
“These are players who haven’t had everything handed to them on a plate.
“They’ve had to work to get their opportunity and they have used their time at clubs outside the top flight to really improve as footballers.
“They have gone out there to get the experience they needed. You can’t put a price on that.
“These England boys – not just Ben, but a lot of the others, too – are a real inspiration to young footballers everywhere.”
In an era dominated by big-money signings, it is refreshing to see that this England team contains so many players who are fully in touch with English football’s roots.
Even Harry Kane.
The England skipper enjoyed loan spells at both Leyton Orient and Millwall when coming through the ranks at Tottenham.
Chelsea’s Champions League heroes Reece James and Ben Chilwell had stints with Wigan and Huddersfield respectively.
And Jude Bellingham – maybe the most precocious talent of the lot – is a proud graduate of the Birmingham academy. This lot are unlikely to return to those clubs any time soon – but they know what life is like far away from the big money.
They are each a reminder of why lower league and non-league football is so precious – and must be kept alive.