Gambles on players from non-league that have paid off

[Colossal Squid]

With Andre Gray enjoying a great season with Brentford (although not today it got me wondering as to just how often plucking players from non-league actually pays off.

I can think of a fair few the Albion have tried to get up to speed, sadly without success (Doug Loft, Chris Holroyd, Nathan Elder) and the only real success story I can recall is the great OGH. But of course when Hart was a great player for us, we were a different club, and he was at his best when we were knocking about the bottom two divisions.

How many examples are there, Albion or otherwise, of players being plucked from relative obscurity in non-league football, and going on to enjoy a great career in the Premier League or Championship?

 

[Springal]

Charlie Austin, Chris Smalling the obvious recent ones

 

[Lethargic]

Peter Ward, end of thread.

 

[Surrey Seagull]

Paul Rogers did alright for himself.

 

[Colossal Squid]

Charlie Austin, Chris Smalling the obvious recent ones

Good shout on Austin, and I genuinely hadn't realised Smalling began at Maidstone. That's a fairly impressive rise all the way to international level, albeit in a team short of quality, and not convincing when he has played...

 

[mr sheen]

Robert Codnor? Nicky Bissett? Grant Horscroft?

 

[brighton_girl87]

Nooney has done alright

 

[Whitechapel]

Ashley Barnes.

Playing for Eastbourne to earning his team a point at Man City in 7 years. (8 years from non-league to Premiership if you want to only count clubs he was at peremntly.)

 

[Springal]

Ashley Barnes.

Playing for Eastbourne to earning his team a point at Man City in 7 years. (8 years from non-league to Premiership if you want to only count clubs he was at peremntly.)

Not sure that really counts, he's always been pro, just went on loan to Eastbourne as a youngster

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

Peter Ward is the one for me. Burton Albion to Brighton and England.

 

[Icy Gull]

Chris Waddle, Ian Wright

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Alex Revell is doing ok, and limited as he was, I loved him when he was here.

Chris Holroyd probably should have stayed where he was...

 

[hart's shirt]

Graham Pearce

1982 - played for Barnet against the Albion in the Cup
1983 - Cup Final with the Albion

 

[Whitechapel]

It also seems to be something that happens a lot to strikers, and not very often for 'keepers, defenders & midfielders.

Ian Wright, Kevin Phillips, Les Ferdinand, Jermain Beckford, Gary Hooper & James Vardy have all come up from non-league football with varying degrees of success.

 

[Whitechapel]

Not sure that really counts, he's always been pro, just went on loan to Eastbourne as a youngster

As somebody else has pointed out, he started in non-league before signing for Plymouth. Just mentioned Eastbourne due to them being local which I thought helped put his achievements in to perspective.

 

[saafend_seagull]

Jamie vardy

 

[lawros left foot]

Stuart Pearce

 

[honey boy zimba]

sir Les and the goalie who played for Hastings then Charlton, can't remember his name though?

 

[BensGrandad]

For us there is nobody to compare with Peter Ward but surprised nobody has mentioned the football genius Johnny Crumplin who Barry Lloyd brought from local football.

 

[Horsham Gull]

Solly's doing alright for someone we picked up from Lewes