Earlier this week 24,757 fans filled out St Andrews to watch Birmingham City beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 in the third tier of English football. In Bradford’s most recent home game against Wimbledon in the division below, 17,186 fans clicked through the turnstiles.
Why is any of this important? Because the fact that teams in the third and fourth tiers of English football can attract crowds of that size, highlights the strength of the football pyramid in this country.
What also highlights the strength of the English football pyramid is the level of talent that has played non-league football. There was a period when Jamie Vardy was among the favourites in the Premier League odds to get the golden boot. The professional wind-up merchant famously played in non-league as did Serie A and Champions League winner Edgar Davids.
Those two aren’t alone though, the National League has played host to a number of talented players with several current Premier League stars having plyed their trade in England’s fifth tier. Read on to find out about some of the best.
Ryan Yates
It seems a little rude of Nottingham Forest fans to sing, “If Yatesy scores, we’re in the Trent”, considering that the Lincoln born defensive midfielder has found the back of the net 18 times in 208 appearances for the club.
It’s even more absurd when you realise that Yates has scored not just in the Premier League and the Championship, but in League One, League Two and the National League.
His National League goal came in the colours of Barrow in the 2016-2017 when his performances helped to inspire the Cumbrian club to an unlikely 7th placed finish.
That spell up near the Scottish border obviously served Yates well as he was a key part of the Nottingham Forest side that won promotion to the Premier League in 2022 and has played over 60 games in the top flight since.
(If Forest fans were true to their word, they would have been in the Trent 18 times by now.)
Jordan Pickford
If it weren’t for poor penalties from Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka it’s safe to say there would be a statute of Jordan Pickford outside Wembley Stadium.
In the most recent summer tournament, Pickford was once again a star performer for his country but, unfortunately, ended up with a second successive runners up medal.
Playing for England in not one but two European Championship finals must have felt like a pipe dream for Pickford back in 2012 and 2013 when he was turning out for Darlington and Alfreton Town respectively in the National League.
Those spells in non-league helped to gain him loans higher up the pyramid at Burton, Carlisle, Bradford and Preston before he returned to the Stadium of Light to become Sunderland’s Number One ‘keeper.
Currently in his eight successive season at Everton, Pickford is clearly a glutton for punishment…
(Jordan Pickford flapping at something? No waaay!)
Ethan Pinnock
31-year-old centre-back Ethan Pinnock might not be the most glamorous player in the Premier League – apologies to Football Weekly’s Barry Glendenning for saying that – but he is still one of Thomas Frank’s most trusted lieutenants and an example of Brentford’s superb recruitment strategy.
Whilst playing for Dulwich Hamlet in the Isthmian League Premier Division, Pinnock graduated from the University of Greenwich with a 2:1 in physical education. A year later he was plying his trade with Forest Green Rovers in the National League before an 18-month spell at Oakwell that preceded his move to Brentford.
At the time of writing, Pinnock has only 6 more appearances to make before becoming a Premier League centurion.
Jarrod Bowen
Anyone feeling down on their luck and in need of a little motivation need look no further than the story of West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen. The 27-year-old began his career with local side Leominster Minors who he stayed fit for by partaking in gruelling running sessions at his Uncle’s potato field.
Failing to attract the attention of scouts largely due to being born in the opposite of a footballing hotspot, Bowen joined his nearest side Hereford United. After they were expelled from the Football League, he began the season for the Bulls in the National League, playing 8 times and scoring once.
(Jarrod Bowen’s first professional goal came against Telford in the National League.)
Those performances caught the attention of then Premier League side Hull City, who snapped up the winger on a free transfer. Seven appearances across his first three seasons with the club appeared to suggest that Bowen didn’t have what it took to play in the Premier League or the Championship.
That was until his breakout season in 2017-2018 in which he scored 14 times, following that up with 22 strikes the season after. Halfway through the 2019-2020 campaign, Premier League club West Ham bought Bowen in a £10 million deal.
Since then he has become a fan favourite, an England international and an East End legend following his winning goal for the Hammers against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.
