Most non league players never make it beyond those lower divisions and whilst they undoubtedly have a good career and one which can support them financially, they won’t make it to the big time. Every now and again however, there are players who have slipped through the fingers of the big teams, who end up playing non league, yet who make a resurgence and find their way to the very top. Today we have a list of some of those players, who began small and made it all the way to the big time.
Michail Antonio
West Ham look set to be the surprise package of this year’s Premier League season and if you follow this link you will see just how short the odds are of them finishing in the top 4. At the heart of David Moyes’ team is Michail Antonio, who has taken very well to the striker role. What many don’t realize however is that he was playing for 7 years for Tooting and Mitcham United. After successful stints at Nottingham Forest and Reading, he joined West Ham, and the rest is history.
Chris Smalling
Smalling played a crucial part of the Manchester United defence as they picked up 3 league titles, before moving abroad to Roma where he has been delivering well, not to mention his time in the England setup. Before his halcyon days however, Smalling was playing non-league football for Maidstone United, having failed numerous big club trials.
Danny Ings
Danny Ings is an outstanding goal scorer who is widely considered as one of the most effective and instinctive in the league. Ings however has always had a poor injury record which has held him back from many opportunities. Back in 2010 Ings was in fact playing non league football for Dorchester Town, before he found success with Southampton and later Liverpool and Aston Villa. As you can see, Ings has come a long way from Conference South.
Jamie Vardy
And of course, the most famous player to have come from non league football and reached the big time, Jamie Vardy. Having played for FC Halifax Town, Vardy was picked up by Fleetwood Town where he stayed for just a year, before a £1million bid came in for him from Leicester City. Not only did this secure a dream move for the striker, but the money actually made sure that the club would be financially safe for a number of years, a real win-win. Vardy went on to move up the divisions with Leicester before they eventually reached the Premier League. A couple of tough seasons saw the club almost relegated, before pulling off a miracle and winning the PL title, with Vardy as top goalscorer. This is truly a rags to riches story which we cannot get enough of, and it is exactly why all non league players should maintain hope that their dreams will come true one day.
Are there any non league success stories you think we may have missed?
