The best player from your UK town or city
Bobby Moore: London’s finest
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Ever wondered who the finest footballer born in your town or city is? We’ve got you.
Dele Alli at MK Dons in 2013
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Milton Keynes: Dele Alli
One of England’s designated new towns, Milton Keynes didn’t even exist until the late 60s – so it hasn’t had that much time to produce standout footballers.
Ivan Toney at Northampton Town in 2013
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Northampton: Ivan Toney
Born in Northampton in 1996, Ivan Toney spent three years with local side Northampton Town before his big switch to Newcastle in 2015.
Cliff Bastin at Arsenal in 1932
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Exeter: Cliff Bastin
Signed from Exeter City at the age of 17, Devonian Cliff Bastin gained legendary status at Arsenal – where he spent the rest of his glittering career.
Michael Owen at Liverpool in 2002
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Chester: Michael Owen
Undoubtedly among Liverpool’s best-ever players, Michael Owen was born around 15 miles south in the picturesque city of Chester.
Paul Scholes at Manchester United in 2004
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Salford: Paul Scholes
Unquestionably one of Manchester United’s finest homegrown players, Paul Scholes was born in Salford – part of Greater Manchester but a city in its own right.
Len Shackleton at Newcastle in 1946
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Bradford: Len Shackleton
One of the English game’s great entertainers, ‘Clown Prince of Football’ Len Shackleton started his career in the 1940s in his birthplace – with Bradford Park Avenue, then of the Football League.
Nat Lofthouse in 1958
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Bolton: Nat Lofthouse
Bolton Wanderers’ greatest-ever player and one of England’s finest, Nat Lofthouse was born in Bolton in 1925, spent his whole career with his local club, and died in the Lancashire town in 2011.
Don Revie at Manchester City in 1954
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Middlesbrough: Don Revie
While he’s probably best-known for his trophy-laden spell in charge of Leeds United and controversial stint as England manager, Don Revie was also a great player in his day.
Reg Matthews in action for Chelsea in 1959
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Coventry: Reg Matthews
Reg Matthews became the most expensive goalkeeper of all time when he completed a £22,000 move from hometown club Coventry City to Chelsea in 1956.
Martin Keown at Arsenal in 1996
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Oxford: Martin Keown
Hailing from the university city of Oxford, Martin Keown spent the best years of his career at Arsenal – where he won three Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the club’s 1995/96 Player of the Season.
Peter Harris at Portsmouth in 1953
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Portsmouth: Peter Harris
Portsmouth legend Peter Harris was a one-club man at Pompey, netting more than 200 goals.
Jordan Henderson at Sunderland in 2009
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Sunderland: Jordan Henderson
Captain of Liverpool’s first Premier League title-winning team in 2019/20 and a key midfield cog in the England sides which reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and Euro 2020 final, Jordan Henderson is a Sunderland lad.
Tom Finney with England in 1951
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Preston: Tom Finney
A true gentleman of the game, Tom Finney was up there with the very best of them during mid-20th century.
Gary Lineker at Leicester City in 1984
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Leicester: Gary Lineker
Ah, Leicester: the birthplace of Walkers crisps and the long-time face of them, Gary Lineker.
Trevor Francis celebrates with his medal after Nottingham Forest’s victory in the 1979 European Cup final against Malmo
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Plymouth: Trevor Francis
Britain’s first £1m footballer when he left Birmingham City for Nottingham Forest in 1979, Trevor Francis was among the standout English players of the 70s and 80s.
Darren Anderton at Tottenham in 1995
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Southampton: Darren Anderton
Darren Anderton grew up supporting Southampton – but he never played for the Saints, actually making his professional debut for their arch-rivals, Portsmouth.
Denis Law at Manchester United in 1967
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Aberdeen: Denis Law
A prolific goalscorer for Manchester United, Scotland and more, 1964 Ballon d’Or winner Denis Law was born in Aberdeen in 1940.
John Charles at Leeds in 1954
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Swansea: John Charles
Undoubtedly one of the finest British footballers of all time, John Charles was as immense at centre-half as he was up front.
Stanley Matthews at Stoke City in 1963, aged 47
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Stoke-on-Trent: Stanley Matthews
There will never be another player like Stanley Matthews, ‘The Wizard of Dribble’ who played top-flight football aged 50.
Erling Haaland at Manchester City in 2024
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Leeds: Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland never wanted to play international football for England (fair enough – he grew up in Norway), but the beastly blond goal machine was born in Leeds while dad Alfie plied his trade for Leeds United.
Alan Shearer after signing for Newcastle in 1996
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Newcastle upon Tyne: Alan Shearer
Newcastle’s greatest-ever player began his career almost 300 miles away at Southampton, but Alan Shearer was born on Tyneside and it was a momentous occasion when he returned home in 1996 – signing for a world-record £15m from Blackburn Rovers.
Andy Cole at Manchester United in 1998
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Nottingham: Andy Cole
While he played for Nottingham Forest at the very end of his career, Nottingham native Andy Cole actually started out at Arsenal.
Gordon Banks at Leicester in 1961
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Sheffield: Gordon Banks
England’s number one number one and one of the finest ever to don the gloves (not that he did at first, beginning his career in the 50s), Gordon Banks was born in Sheffield in 1937.
Eddie Hapgood at Arsenal in 1935
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Bristol: Eddie Hapgood
Arsenal and England captain during the 1930s, Eddie Hapgood was born in Bristol and began by playing amateur football there while working as a milkman.
Wayne Rooney at Euro 2012
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Liverpool: Wayne Rooney
Born in Croxteth, Liverpool in 1985, Wayne Rooney unquestionably goes down as one of the very best players of the Premier League era – and as a legend in the histories of both boyhood club Everton and Manchester United.
Nobby Stiles at Manchester United in 1965
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Manchester: Nobby Stiles
Another of England’s heroes of ’66, Nobby Stiles was born in the Collyhurst area of Manchester in 1942 – during a German air raid.
Jack Grealish at Aston Villa in 2020
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Birmingham: Jack Grealish
Born in Birmingham and raised in the nearby town of Solihull, Jack Grealish is of Irish descent and played Gaelic football as a kid.
Graeme Souness at the 1978 World Cup
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Edinburgh: Graeme Souness
A fine midfielder who captained his nation in half of his 54 caps and also wore the armband for Liverpool, Graeme Souness was born in the Scottish capital in 1953.
George Best in 1976
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Belfast: George Best
Another Manchester United icon and arguably the greatest British footballer who ever lived, George Best hailed from the capital of Northern Ireland.
Gareth Bale at Euro 2020
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Cardiff: Gareth Bale
The greatest Welsh footballer of all time, Gareth Bale was born in the country’s capital in 1989 and went on to set caps (111) and goals (41) records for the national team – who he captained.
Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool in 1979
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Glasgow: Kenny Dalglish
Widely considered to be Liverpool and Scotland’s best-ever player, the great Kenny Dalglish hails from the largest city north of the border: Glasgow.
Bobby Moore relaxes with a cup of tea the day before the 1966 World Cup final
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London: Bobby Moore
In 1966, England lifted the World Cup in London – and it was fitting that the first player to get their hands on the Jules Rimet trophy was a Londoner: skipper Bobby Moore.
Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open…
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