South London has become the new hotbed of English football, with current internationals Joe Gomez, Jadon Sancho, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi all growing up south of the Thames.
But how can one area produce so many brilliant footballers? That is the question talkSPORT explored in brand new documentary ‘The South London Talent Factory’, which aired at 9pm on Tuesday. You can listen to the show again below…
With contributions from Wilfried Zaha, the Crystal Palace hero who grew up in Croydon, Camberwell-raised Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, Palace boss Roy Hodgson, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Grime superstar Stormzy and numerous others who have played, coached and contributed to the emergence of south London talent, we analysed how the area has developed multiple stars in the modern game.
Another south London native, Ian Wright, also spoke to discuss his view of the area in which he grew up.
“It was vibrant,” said Wright, who was born in Woolwich and played for clubs in Bermondsey and Eltham before joining Crystal Palace. “I didn’t realise how good it was.
“We are talking about being brought up in Brockley, but I was able to move down in New Cross, Lewisham, Deptford, Lee Green… you go all around those places to all the different parties, and it was a good time.
“It was a good time growing up, even off of my estate there was me and David Rocastle.
“I don’t know what it is in the water in south London, to bring so many people through.
“But I think south London is a hotbed of football, because everybody just played football.”
Wright moved to Arsenal after starring for the Eagles, and he eventually linked up with legendary Gunners manager Wenger.
Wenger, speaking to talkSPORT, suggests south London bears a similarity to Paris due to the incredible number of footballers who come from one small area.
“You say to me there are areas where people are more hungry for success than others,” the Frenchman said, “and I say yes.
“And we have exactly the same phenomenon in France.
“In Paris, 60 per cent of players come from areas where you have more immigrants than other areas, because it is a way to be successful in life.
“Sport is only based on merit; it is the only social activity where if you are good, you play. No matter where you come from, no matter the name of your father… if you are good, you play.
“We have to continue to encourage that.”
Gavin Rose, the Dulwich Hamlet manager, echoes Wenger’s thoughts that the dream of a better life plays a key role in making it out of south London and into football.
“The passion for a boy from a poverty background can’t be matched,” he said, “it’s a ticket to get out of here.
“The FA are opening the doors now, because they are saying if we don’t take these sorts of boys, we’re not going to have any talent.
“Boys from south London don’t just want to run through brick walls, they want to express themselves.”
Given the sprawling urban landscape that dominates south of the Thames, many of these south London born superstars gained their first experience of football, not on grass, but in ‘the cage’ – the small, enclosed pitches that are often the only sports grounds available for many, many children.
Clinton Morrison, who was born in Tooting and went on to play for Crystal Palace, Birmingham, Coventry and Sheffield Wednesday among many others, explained just what makes ‘the cage’ so special – and so valued to those who wanted to be the best.
“The cage is the boss,” he claimed.
“There are some boys who would try to come into the cage who weren’t good enough, and they were told, nicely, ‘don’t come on here again mate, you’re not good enough’.
“The cage was the one where you had to come and bring your ‘A’ game; if your ‘A’ game wasn’t correct then you might as well leave it.
“I’ve seen certain men come to the cage and looked at their feet and go: ‘I don’t think you’re going to be alright here. You can’t be coming to the cage in Timberlands and stuff like that. We are playing football out here!’
“In that cage you might as well leave.”
Former England manager Hodgson, who was born in Croydon, agrees that ‘the cage’ plays a key role in the development of young football in south London.
The current Crystal Palace boss said: “There are conurbations in the country where there’s a lot of kids growing up dreaming of being footballers, being introduced to street football or playing in those cages, where its not structured in any way.
“It’s just a question of enjoying the game, getting a feel of the ball, and honing the basic skills. A more important factor is the strength of south London clubs and the quality and strength of their academies and their scouting systems.
“If you have any talent in an area around where we are the chances are you are going to be given a chance.”
Daily Mirror football writer Darren Lewis opines that south London being a hotbed of football is NOT a modern phenomenon – it is simply the fact the players are now benefiting from modern coaching and a more tolerant society.
He claims: “In the past there was a wealth of players, the problem back then was they were seen through one dimension but they weren’t seen as leaders.
“There was a ludicrous misconception that the players could not play in the cold.
“The players back then had to deal with horrendous racism and it broke some players. It took a special kind of courage and character, and not all of the talented players back then survived the game.
“A lot walked away and became agents or became coaches or left the game altogether. Now players owe a huge debt of gratitude to those players back then.
“Until not long ago you had to go high up the pyramid for players to come into contact with black coaches. With some coaches there is a willingness to write off players – but empathising goes a hell of a long way.
“A connection has been made between players and coaches to enable them to fulfil their potential.”
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