Former non-league players who reached for the stars

When it comes to professional football, it is only the player’s skill that takes them to victory. Skills remain the most vital asset regardless of how well-off you are or which club you represent. While many people watch Premier League stars that get the prime spot on ESPN, many non-league players made it big later in their careers.

Here is a list of the top former non-league players who reached the stars, proving that it doesn’t matter where you start until you keep honing your skills.

Solly March

During his formative years, March trained in the Crystal Palace academy. Despite that, his skills quickly made him switch to Eastbourne Borough, eventually landing him with Lewes. His first shot at the big games was in front of the Isthmian League Premier Division in 2011, who was genuinely impressed by his performance.

The Eagles’ M23 derby rivals Brighton offered Solly a scholarship, after which he made over 200 appearances for the club. He was also one of the critical reasons why the club got promoted in 2017 and holds a bright future in the coming years.

Max Kilman

Although most people know Max Kilman from his performance at Maidenhead XI in 2018, he started making waves in his non-league days. Even in 2014, he represented the English futsal team for multiple games and racked up an impressive 25 caps.

A year later, he made his way into Welling United before eventually switching to Maidenhead United in 2015. His stellar plays at Maidenhead XI got him an 8-year contract with Wolverhampton, the club he plays for today.

Jarrod Bowen

Few people dare to carry on in the face of multiple rejections from premiere English football clubs, mainly when they include the likes of Aston Villa and Cardiff City. Still, Jarrod persevered with non-league games, away from the limelight and fanfare that bring in the big bucks.

With Edgar Street, he made eight appearances as a 16-year-old and caught the eye of Hull City. Seven more appearances, and he rose to fame, finally signing a multi-million-pound contract with West Ham United in 2020.

Andre Gray

Andre’s legacy highlights his impressive partnership with Troy Deeney during his Watford days. His Premier League career stands at 22 goals and eight assists from 114 appearances.

Many fail to understand that he rose to fame from non-league games during 2009-2014. His reputation as one of the most feared strikers was well deserved since he scored 82 goals during his five-year spell in Conference North and Conference Premier.

Danny Ings

Danny recently had an excellent streak with Aston Villa, whom he has joined as a Center-Forward since 2021. However, his past injuries have overshadowed his performance during his formative years.

In 2010, Danny Ings was a non-league player who scored four goals in nine Conference South games. During this time, he was on loan to Dorchester Town, which didn’t meet his expectations as he joined Burnley the following year.

Callum Wilson

If you think you can’t smile your way to scoring goals with an injury, Callum Wilson is a strong testament against your case. He has managed an impressive career with Coventry, Bournemouth, and Newcastle, even with multiple injuries to his hamstrings, calf, and knee. In his 170 Premier League appearances, he has recorded 61 goals and 21 assists. However, injuries did make him rest in 2017, and his absence was supported by the entire AFC Bournemouth.

Nevertheless, his start wasn’t awe-inspiring. He played non-league games for three years before finally getting a shot at some influential eyes when on loan to Kettering Town and Tamworth. He only scored two goals over 20 games but received the respect he deserved.

Glenn Murray

He may be retired from professional football, but Glenn Murray never let his age hinder his performance in the Premier League. Throughout his 148 appearances, he has scored 37 goals and six assists.

However, it is less known than his early games were non-league. His first high-profile appearance was for Barrow in the Conference North during the 2004/05 season. He scored six goals in 6 league games during that, earning him his first adamant contract with Rochdale in 2006.

Chris Smalling

Chris Smalling has been a force of nature for the defense in Manchester United. His performance has recently caught the eye of AS Roma, who finally allowed him to move out from the Red Devils permanently.

But it can be hard to imagine someone whom the likes of Wayne Rooney trusted with defense had his roots in non-league football. In fact, it took two years at Craven Cottage, after which a club like Maidstone United finally approached him with a contract to commence his career.

Michail Antonio

Best known for being the only one to pull off four goals in a single league game since 1981, it is hard to imagine someone like Michail Antonio has his roots in non-league games. This star of West Ham got his first high-profile match with Reading at 17 years of age. Before that, he played for more than three years without the opportunity to get noticed by the big clubs.

Catch them in action

The list proves that just because someone is a non-league player doesn’t mean they are any less than the next Ronaldo or Messi. Many non-league players have shown enough skills and determination to make it big. Thus, you can witness their talent the next time they play. However, it might not be easy to catch your favorite matches if you travel abroad. Therefore, a VPN for Windows could let you access content from other countries via your computer. It changes your IP address, meaning you can access your usual streaming services or TV channels.