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Who are the best footballers to come out of Essex?

23rd April 2021
Posted by loveradio

Who are the best footballers to come out of Essex?

When you consider that England is the home of football it’s a travesty that Essex isn’t better represented towards the top of the professional pyramid in respect of clubs.

That doesn’t mean the county hasn’t produced some top talents over the years. It has. Here we look at the best footballers to come out of Essex.

Number 5. Sir Alf Ramsey

Ramsey might be known for his exploits as England boss; it’s impossible not to talk about it given he’s the only man to lead the nation to international glory but he was a damn good player too. The right back was born in Dagenham but actually took his first steps as a professional footballer in Hampshire with Southampton. 

After a few years, he’d come back closer to home with Tottenham where he’d go on to make well over 200 appearances. He had already been capped by England but went on to win the majority of his 32 caps whilst with Spurs and it became abundantly clear he was destined for the dugout such was his footballing intelligence. It turned out to be a good call.

Not only is he one of the best footballers to come out of Essex but he’s also England’s biggest success story.

Number 4. John Terry

He’s a player than can divide opinion on a personal level but nobody can deny that John Terry is one of the best defensive players of all time. Before we press on with a quick word on the player, it’s worth noting why he features on this list given he’s not Essex born and bred. How does he make the cut then? He played for Loughton School – and it was there where he was spotted. The rest is history.

Terry went on to become a Chelsea legend collecting 15 major honours along the way including five league titles and a Champions League. Nobody has achieved such success as Chelsea’s skipper. 78 England caps aren’t easily earned either.

Number 3. Martin Peters

There aren’t many people who can claim to have scored in a World Cup final for England. In fact, there is only two players with such a brag. It just so happens that Plaistow born Martin Peters is one of them; he scored the goal that put England 2-1 up against the Germans.

The winger is best known for his spells with London clubs West Ham and Tottenham where he accumulated over 500 appearances although a 207 game period at Norwich City is also noteworthy. 

In addition to his World Cup win, Peters also formed part of the Spurs side that won two League Cups in a three year spell in the early Seventies. He won a Cup Winners Cup with West Ham too.

Number 2. Frank Lampard

Lampard Jr might have been sacked as Chelsea manager earlier this year but he’s still held in the highest regard at the club where he scored 210 goals and provided 151 assists in 648 appearances. Where though did the 106 cap England star’s journey start? The answer is at a private school in Brentwood.

From there he joined West Ham where Frank Sr was part of the coaching set up. After overcoming fans doubts, he’d made such an impression that Chelsea came calling.

He’d win 11 trophies at Stamford Bridge before eventually leaving the club as the leading goal scorer in their history for a spell in the MLS before returning to England for a farewell with Manchester City.

He didn’t last as long as the oldest players in NBA history, retiring at 38. Still an impressive feat, considering most football players retire at 35/36.

Number 1. Bobby Moore

You can’t talk about the best footballers to come out of Essex and not have the captain of England’s World Cup winning team sat at number one. The legendary centre back was born in Barking in 1941; back then it was still classified as Essex hence he makes our list.

For most people, Moore is obviously best known for 1966 but also spent a 16 year spell with West Ham where he lifted the FA and Cup Winners Cup. After that, he moved on to Fulham and then, finally, across the pond. 

In respect of the sort of player Moore was, you’re talking about a take no prisoners defender that could play out from the back. He was a player that could handle the physicality of ‘old fashioned’ football but had the skill and ability that would have endeared him to the elite coaches of today’s ‘modern game’ – and he was a leader too.

There you have it, the best footballers to come out of Essex.

Photo by Emilio Garcia on Unsplash