4:14pm Tuesday 3rd February 2009
By John Payne
This latest transfer window is nearing an end on Monday with Manchester City involved in probably the two headline deals so far – the £14m signing of Craig Bellamy, which did go ahead, and the telephone directory deal for Kaka, which didn’t.
But the transfer that has gripped the Times office this week is the deal which, fingers crossed at the time of going to press, is going to take 20-year-old striker Ben Wright from Hampton & Richmond to the Premiership.
It was last Friday that news broke of Fulham’s swoop for Wright, who only arrived at the Beveree in the summer.
As we report on the back page, what appeared to be a done deal stalled this week, but when the deal finally goes through it will be interesting to see whether Wright, scorer of 13 goals in 14 games for Hampton, can transfer that goalscoring ability to the higher echelons of English football.
He certainly has the right surname – Ian Wright is one of the most lauded late developers in English football, having been spotted by a scout playing for Greenwich Borough, before signing for Crystal Palace just short of his 22nd birthday.
In these credit crunch times, it would be great if Ben could match the achievements of Ian and prove that there are non-league players worth taking a chance on.
And, if any Premier League managers out there need convincing, here are six of the best who were snapped up from non-league in their 20s... and went on to earn international honours.
1 Roger Hunt: A member of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team – yet he was 20 when Liverpool signed him from Stockton Heath of the Mid-Cheshire League.
2 Stuart Pearce: Bobby Gould was apparently impressed by his ‘combative’ attitude when he watched 21-year-old Pearce play for Wealdstone. He went on to captain England and now manages the U21s.
3 Ian Wright: Wright was Arsenal’s all-time record goalscorer and scored nine times in 33 games for England before becoming a TV presenter.
4 Garry Birtles: Was 20 when Brian Clough signed him for £4,000 from Long Eaton United, but helped Nottingham Forest win two European Cups.
5: Les Ferdinand: Signed by QPR for £15,000 as a 20-year-old from Hayes, Sir Les scored five England goals in a career that took him to Newcastle United and Spurs.
6 Kevin Phillips: Was playing for Baldock Town before signing for Watford aged 21. Topped 100 goals for Sunderland, won eight England caps, and currently firing Birmingham City towards the Premiership.
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