Gareth Southgate’s World Cup heroes come from all over England — from London to Tyne & Wear
As Southgate praises a truly national team, we present each Lion's origins
THE Three Lions are the pride of England – and the team’s diverse heroes hail from all over the land.
Manager Gareth Southgate said: “These players come from different parts of the country and there will be youngsters back home who will be inspired by them.”
As the nation awaits Wednesday’s semi-final with Croatia, OLIVER HARVEY looks at where each of Southgate’s squad is from while GIULIA CROUCH and NICK PRITCHARD speak to footie-mad kids fired up by their local legends.
1. Jordan Pickford
Quarter-final man-of-the-match Jordan, 24, hails from Washington, Tyne & Wear.
He joined Sunderland’s academy at the age of eight, before moving to Everton last year.
Gary Lineker tweeted during the Sweden game: “Jordan Pickford has been immense. Good lad.”
2. Ashley Young
The Man United defender is the squad’s oldest player at 32. Young comes from the Hertfordshire commuter town of Stevenage, which is 28 miles north of central London.
Fellow footballer Jack Wilshere and four-time F1 champ Lewis Hamilton are also from the town.
3. Kieran Trippier
Flying Spurs wing-back Kieran’s dad Chris cried when his son made his international debut.
Bury-born Kieran, 27, who was in Manchester City’s youth set up from the age of nine, said: “I’ll never forget when I made my debut against France, he was crying his eyes out.”
4. Harry Maguire
Born in Sheffield, the 25-year-old Leicester City centre-half has emerged as the tough tackler at the heart of the nation’s defence.
Harry, a graduate of Sheffield United’s Steelphalt Academy, is nicknamed “Slabhead” and was once described by a former team-mate as “a giant of a boy”.
5. Kyle Walker
Hailing from Sheffield, the council estate-born tyke almost quit the game at 15 but kept going on the advice of his mum.
Kyle, 28, a Premier League winner with Man City, said before the tournament: “I’ve come a long way from the area where I grew up.”
6. John Stones
The 6ft 2in Barnsley-born Lion roared when he scored twice against Panama, but had to play with kids younger than him when he was 14 because: “I was small at the time.”
But John, 24, has gone from his hometown club to Premier League champion with Manchester City.
7. Jordan Henderson
Jordan was born in Sunderland, started aged eight at his local club and is now first-choice in the centre of England’s midfield.
The Liverpool skipper, 28, is hoping to overcome losing in last season’s Champions League final by achieving glory with his country.
8. Jesse Lingard
Warrington-born midfielder Jesse, 25, posted the message “just a little boy chasing a big dream” on Twitter alongside this photo of him as a tot.
Many thought he was too small to make it at Manchester United but he has been hugely influential and scored a cracker against Panama.
9. Dele Alli
Spurs star Dele was born and raised in new town Milton Keynes, Bucks, famous for its concrete cows and 45 miles north west of London.
The 22-year-old joined his hometown club MK Dons aged 11 and broke into the first-team five years later before signing for Spurs in 2015.
10. Harry Kane
The 24-year-old skipper was born in Walthamstow, North-East London and joined local club Ridgeway Rovers – where David Beckham also started.
The ace striker, briefly played for North London rivals Arsenal as a kid but was released after one season and went on to join Spurs.
11. Raheem Sterling
Raheem moved from Jamaica at the age of five to a tough estate in Wembley, North London.
The Man City winger, 23, started at QPR as a ten-year-old. But when big clubs took an interest his mum, worried about the influence of gang culture, decided he should leave London and join Liverpool.
12. Jamie Vardy
Leicester City striker Jamie, 31, grew up in the Hillsborough area of Sheffield.
Aged 16, he was rejected by boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday, but Jamie worked in factories and played non-league football before climbing back to the very pinnacle of the game.
13. Marcus Rashford
Born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, 20-year-old Marcus played for Fletcher Moss Rangers when he was five.
Fletcher Moss coach Dave Horrocks, who later drove him to training at United’s academy, said: “You couldn’t get two words out of Marcus. He just wanted to get out of the car and play football.”
14. Fabian Delph
Fabian, 28, was on the books of Bradford City as a youngster before moving to Leeds United aged 11.
He flew back from Russia for the birth of his third daughter and now says he is considering Samara – the location of England’s 2-0 victory over Sweden in the quarter-finals – for her middle name.
HEROES ARE SO INSPIRING
MANCHESTER: Oscar McCormack, five, from Sale, said: “I want to be like Harry Kane when I’m older. But I think Jesse Lingard is really good too, I like that he is from Manchester.”
His brother Dylan, 13, left with Oscar, studies at Ashton-on- Mersey school, which counts Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard among its ex-pupils. He said: “It’s nice to see people from the local area can achieve that.”
LEEDS: Local Jack Watson, eight, declared: “Harry Kane is my favourite. It’s also good to see so many players from Yorkshire.”
SOHAM, CAMBS: Seb Gordon, nine, is proud to be from the same place as Nick Pope. He said: “Since he grew up in Soham, I think everyone else here can have just as much chance as he had.”
LONDON: Ryan Fofana, six, right, from Streatham, South London, said: “My favourite player is Harry Kane. I want to be a striker like he is. I love scoring goals like him.”
Xavier Slater, eight, who is also from Streatham, said: “My favourite is Kieran Trippier, I like to play like he does. I like running down the wing and crossing the ball.”
BRISTOL: Kody Wynne, six, announced: “I feel confident that we will go on and win the whole thing now. Harry Kane is my favourite player, but I like Jack Butland too as he is a local.”
SHEFFIELD: Quinn Carlisle, 13, said: “Ashley Young is my favourite player because I like to take free kicks and corners. I’m good at crossing.”
SUNDERLAND: Abigail McKinnie, 11, left, said: “Jordan Pickford is my favourite player – I am a goalkeeper as well so I take after him.
“It has made me think I could do it too. He is someone who I look up to.”
WASHINGTON TYNE & WEAR: Lola Robson, 11, said: “It is exciting, somebody like Pickford, who used to play around the corner, is on a world stage.”
She added: “I like watching the matches with my family and if we get to the final we will have a street party.”
Jack Butland
The Stoke City keeper, 25, was born in Bristol. Colston Ridge, the chairman of Clevedon United who discovered Jack, says: “The pubs are busy. Local interest is huge.”
Eric Dier
When he was seven, Eric and his family moved from Cheltenham, Gloucs, to Portugal. He said of his time at Sporting Lisbon’s academy: “They give you all you need to learn to play football.”
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Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Born in Lewisham, South London, Ruben, 22, honed his skills in a “cage” pitch at Swanley, Kent. He said: “In that tight space, you have to have quick feet.”
Nick Pope
The 26-year-old Burnley keeper only made his Premier League debut nine months ago. He watched the last World Cup in the Maid’s Head pub near his home town of Soham, Cambs.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
The 19-year-old got a lucky break when he was at school. His local club Liverpool had places on a summer camp. Trent said: “Luckily my name was picked out.”
Phil Jones
Phil, 26, was born in Preston, Lancs. Danny Hindley, from the Man United defender’s former under-10s team Ribble Wanderers Juniors, said: “We are incredibly proud.”
Danny Rose
The Spurs left back was at Leeds United’s youth academy. Doncaster-born Danny, 28, said: “It sounds cliched but going to a World Cup is childhood dream stuff.”
Danny Welbeck
The Arsenal forward grew up on a council estate in Longsight, Manchester. Danny, 27, was spotted by Man United scouts when he was just six years old.
Gary Cahill
The Chelsea defender grew up in Dronfield, Derbys and supported Sheffield Wednesday. Gary, 32, said: “I always wanted to be a footballer. If I hadn’t made it, I’d be struggling.”