Incredible map shows every England star’s first club including iconic Sunday League team that produced Prem legends

FROM Senrab to Serbia – or in other words, from the odd name of your first club to outstanding fame at Euro 2024.

That’s the fairytale chapter just one star is dreaming of in an amazing map showing the first club of every player in England’s 26-man Euro 24 squad.

The fascinating information was shared by the England Football account on Twitter.

Ezri Konsa is the latest star to emerge from Senrab – a Sunday League club in East London with a jaw-dropping Premier League production line.

Players trained at Marion Richardson School in Senrab Street, Stepney – close to Barnes Street.

Too much detail? Possibly yes – except that Barnes spelt backwards is Senrab, and that dozens of their players have since gone forwards to have spectacular careers.

Crystal Palace defender Konsa, is preparing for his first international tournament at the age of 26.

And if he wants advice from ex-Senrab kids, he has plenty of top class experience to turn to.

John Terry, Jermain Defoe, Sol Campbell, Ledley King and Ray Wilkins are just a few of their major successes in the men’s game. 

Fittingly, however, the team where Three Lions’ skipper Harry Kane initially played also has a staggering “hit” list.

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Chingford-based Ridgeway Rovers – just 11 miles from Senrab – not only developed Kane but also another ex-England captain in David Beckham.

Manchester United legend Becks was coached there by dad Ted.

And Rovers still proudly say on their website that Beckham Junior has “always championed” the club.

Ridgeway can even boast of Goldenballs: “In his biography he states that he was at his happiest when playing with his mates at Ridgeway Rovers.”

Fellow ex-Three Lions wideman Andros Townsend, 32, who is now with Luton, also started his football life with the Londoners.

Meanwhile, Tyne and Wear local Jordan Pickford began his playing days with the team furthest north on the England map.

In fact, it turned out to be a red letter day when Pickford joined home-town team Washington Envelopes.

That’s because in those days the now-Three Lions No 1 wasn’t normally a goalkeeper.

However, he soon stamped his mark between the posts after joining the Envelopes.

The Everton hero told the EnglandFootball website: “I remember going to see my brother play and there was an U7s team on the same pitch and they didn’t have a keeper.

“I was younger than them, but used to go in goal when I was knocking on the street so I joined in and ever since then I’ve been in goal. 

“That team was Washington Envelopes, my first club.

“I didn’t really think much about playing with the older lads, but I just liked being brave and getting in front of the football.”

And if “Washington Envelopes” sounds fun, listen to some of the names of the other teams who launched football for Gareth Southgate’s players, whose group action begins against Serbia on Sunday.

So far Declan Rice’s career has only gone up, rather than a rollercoaster ride let alone a slide – his first club was Dickerage Lane Adventure Island.

The £105million Arsenal midfielder even opened a new pitch at the London venue as recently last month.

Rice told ITV at the special occasion:  “I’m so proud. I’ve obviously spent a massive part of my life here.

“I’ve been coming here since I was two year old and now I’m 25.”

Rice’s ex-West Ham team-mate Jarrod Bowen began with home-towners Leominster Minors in Herefordshire.

Elsewhere, Sheffield’s Penistone Church FC have seen their clubhouse and marquee pack out to watch old boy John Stones for the Three Lions.

And Red Devils’ hot prospect Kobbie Mainoo was initially with Stockport side Cheadle and Gatley Juniors FC.

Map-wise, Ollie Watkins is the sole representative for the South West, starting out at Devon’s Newton Town & Buckland Athletic – on the way to Exeter City and now his free-scoring Prem pomp with Aston Villa.

Predictably, the largest bunch of England’s squad originated in or around London.

That includes Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka at Greenford Celtic, Liverpool’s Joe Gomez with Ten-Em-Bee and Man Utd’s Luke Shaw for Molesey Juniors, plus Palace duo Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze at Kent’s Cray Wanderers and Bruin JFC respectively, as well as Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher via Epsom Eagles.

Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk flies the flag for the south coast as local side Oakwood were his first team.

Pride of place for less modestly-named clubs goes to Soccer Stars FC in Northampton. 

Brentford forward Ivan Toney is their man of the moment.

And when Toney picked up the first of four caps last October, Stars’ chairman James Witkiss told the BBC: “We have been following his progress for a long time.

“You could always see he had the ability. For him to actually make it is absolutely phenomenal.”

Arsenal back-up stopper Aaron Ramsdale began with Marsh Town in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold was in the Walton & Kirkdale League with Country Park, who also supplied the Reds with Jon Flanagan and Adam Lewis.

New Palace hero Adam Wharton was at Lancashire’s Moorlands International Football Academy – where he was so bright that teachers believe he could have come a rocket scientist.

Phil Foden first took flight with Stockport’s Reddish Vulcans – but is now totally blue as arguably the star man for Prem champs Manchester City.

Former City team-mater Cole Palmer began with Manchester team NJ Wythenshawe Juniors.

And another ex-Red Devil in Dean Henderson, who has dug deep to revive his career at Palace, played as a kid for Whitehaven Miners.

Rather boringly, Kyle Walker began with Sheffield United Academy – a rare example of a club name in this list being so straightforward that it speaks for itself.

The first main club of Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon was Sunday League side Whiston Juniors in Merseyside – leading to a short spell with Liverpool and then six years at Everton.

Gordon’s club-mate Kieran Tripper was with Woodhey, near his birthplace in Bury.

That just leaves Jude Bellingham – and a story of going from home-town Stourbridge Juniors to Birmingham City aged seven and then to Real Madrid last year.

The £115m midfielder retains strong roots in the midlands and thrilled kids at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Stourbridge last September… when he turned up for a football session!

After so many exciting ventures for so many England players over so much of the country, that’s the perfect example of keeping it Real.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk