Greenwich don produce plenty World Cup players for England, including current star Eberechi Eze. As England prepare to face Argentina for World Cup quarter-final, we dey look at footballers from south-east London wey don represent Three Lions for football biggest stage. Current England star Eze, wey be 28 years old, born for Greenwich and grow for Maze Hill.
Peter Brabrook na first Greenwich born England World Cup player. He born for 1937 and attend Windsor & Napier School. He develop im game for East Ham Schools, Essex Schools and London Schools before join Chelsea ground staff as teenager. Brabrook start im football journey with amateur side Ford United before break into Chelsea first team, where he win First Division title for 1955 at age 17. He later enjoy successful spells with West Ham United and Orient, become one of country most respected wingers. Im England breakthrough come for 1958 World Cup for Sweden, where he make im senior debut for Three Lions. He go on to win three England caps and become first player from Greenwich to represent England for World Cup.
Paul Walsh born for Plumstead for 1962 and raise for Abbey Wood. He become one of Royal Borough of Greenwich most successful football exports for 1980s. He spotted playing local football and join Charlton Athletic directly from school, quickly establish imself as one of south-east London brightest young talents. Walsh make im name for Charlton before move to Luton Town, where im performances earn England recognition. He later play for Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth and Manchester City, make more than 500 league appearances and score 127 goals during 17-year professional career. The striker win five England caps between 1983 and 1984 and part of England wider set-up during build-up to 1986 World Cup under Sir Bobby Robson.
Danny Wallace born for Greenwich for 1964 and raise for nearby Deptford. He attend Childeric Primary School for Greenwich, where PE teacher Keith Hodder spot im talent and write to Southampton requesting trial for the youngster. As boy, Wallace regularly practise football with im older brother Clive for streets of south-east London and soon attract interest from both Arsenal and Millwall scouts. Southampton move quickly and sign am as associate schoolboy at age 13. Im performances for south coast turn am into one of England most exciting young forwards. Wallace score on im only England appearance, a 4-0 win over Egypt for January 1986, and part of Bobby Robson plans around 1986 World Cup campaign for Mexico. He later enjoy successful spell with Manchester United before im playing career cut short by diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Despite that setback, Wallace remain respected sporting figure with strong links to Greenwich and Deptford.
Eberechi Eze na currently one of England most prominent players as attacking midfielder and left winger. He born for Greenwich for 1998. Eze grow up on council estate for Maze Hill, where he spend much of im childhood playing football outdoors, and attend The John Roan School for Greenwich. He even pay tribute to im Greenwich roots for 2023, when he wear custom boots featuring constellations inspired by Royal Observatory Greenwich, reflecting area connection to im upbringing. Eze make im England debut for 2023 after impressing with Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace and England youth set-up. He selected by current England manager Thomas Tuchel for World Cup squad and one of team key attacking players as dem prepare to take on Argentina this week.
Shaun Wright-Phillips born for Greenwich for 1981, grow up for Brockley and become one of borough best-known footballers of modern era. He attend Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College and play youth football for Ten-em-Bee FC, following path similar to im adoptive father Ian Wright. Im Greenwich connection run particularly deep. Ian Wright born for Woolwich and begin im senior football career with Greenwich Borough FC before go on to become Arsenal and England legend. Wright-Phillips adopted by Ian at age three and grow up surrounded by area football culture. After progressing through Nottingham Forest academy, Wright-Phillips join Manchester City and develop into one of Premier League most exciting wingers. He later win Premier League with Chelsea and earn 36 England caps. Im World Cup appearance come for South Africa for 2010, where he feature for England against United States, Algeria and Germany. More than 50 years after Brabrook become Greenwich first World Cup player, Wright-Phillips continue borough proud footballing tradition on global stage.
