On FA Cup Weekend We Remember When 5 Non League Players Got Their Big Break

On FA Cup Weekend We Remember When 5 Non League Players Got Their Big Break
11:02, 02 Dec 2017

Earlier this week English goalkeeper Conor O’Keefe got to experience a match day at the Bernabeu as he was in the squad for third-tier Fuenlabrada during their Copa Del Rey clash with Real Madrid.

Just a year ago the 22-year-old was plying his trade for Macclesfield Town but an overwhelming amount of determination and tens of gold envelopes later he was given a chance in Spain.

We looked at five occasions where a non-league player has been given a big break:

Graham Roberts – joined Tottenham Hotspur from Weymouth in 1980

Tottenham were so keen to sign defender Graham Roberts that they were willing to a record £100,000 fee for the Weymouth man, which made him the most expensive non-league player at the time.

Roberts, who was born in Southampton, soon saw his profile rise exponentially, playing a key role for Spurs as they won successive FA Cups in 1981 and 1982 and the UEFA Cup in 1984.

Not content with major success at one of England’s biggest clubs he moved north of the border to one of Scotland’s most iconic teams, Rangers, winning a Scottish Premier League and League Cup during his two years at Ibrox.

Ian Wright – joined Crystal Palace from Greenwich Borough in 1985

Whenever you think of England’s finest goal scorers Ian Wright is a player which can always be regarded as one of the best.

Up until the age of 22 he was earning £30 a week with semi-professional side Greenwich Borough before Crystal Palace took an interest and acquired the Woolwich-born forward.

He later moved on to Arsenal and became a club hero, scoring 185 goals in 288 games and winning a host of silverware, including the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998.

Jimmy Bloomfield – joined Brentford from Hayes in 1952

Brentford were the club to give Jimmy Bloomfield his break as they acquired the forward from non-league Hayes. Although the Bees were relegated in 1954 from the Second Division Arsenal soon stepped in, bringing him to the club for £8,000.

The move to the Gunners saw him transform into one of the brightest English players, becoming an indispensable figure, amassing 210 appearances during the 1950s and early 1960s.

He eventually moved onto Birmingham City following the arrival of George Eastham, scoring a goal against bitter rivals Aston Villa to help the Blues lift the 1963 League Cup.

Michail Antonio – joined Reading from Tooting and Mitcham in 2008

Michail Antonio might now be an established figure in the Premier League with West Ham but nine years ago the winger was lining up for Tooting and Mitcham in the seventh tier of English football.

Racking up an excellent tally of 33 goals in 45 games convinced Reading to part with £25,000 to bring Antonio to the Madejski Stadium.

After spells at numerous clubs including Cheltenham Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest the Hammers came in with a £7million offer. Since moving to West Ham he has become a major attacking force, even earning a call up to the England squad.

Stan Collymore went from Stafford Rangers to Crystal Palace in 1991

Starting out at Stafford Rangers Stan Collymore was given his break at the age of 19 as Crystal Palace came in for the forward in 1991.

Quickly developing into a deadly striker alongside the likes of Ian Wright and Mark Bright, he soon moved onto Nottingham Forest and then Southend before eventually securing a record £8.5million move to Liverpool.

There he formed a deadly partnership with Robbie Fowler, scoring at a ratio of a goal every 2.5 games, and earning an international call-up in the process.

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