The Vardy Boys

Five years ago this week, Jamie Vardy made his England debut. The then 28-year-old was called up to the Three Lions by Roy Hodgson despite having only scored four English Premier League goals.

England was struggling for strikers amid an injury crisis, so Vardy and Charlie Austin were called up for a friendly against Ireland and a Euro qualifier against Slovenia.

Cerdit to Vardy, he made every squad following that call-up until he essentially called time on his international career two years ago, straight after England had finished fourth at the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Southgate had told Vardy he "still had a lot to offer" when the striker told him he was planning to concentrate on club football and they "agreed not to shut the door completely."

Vardy did not rule out a return in an injury crisis but with Euro 2020 being moved to 2021, the 33-year-old is probably at peace with watching next summer. It is a shame as both Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford were touch-and-go when the league was called to a halt and Vardy's form indicated a strong finish to the season for Leicester City.

He can have few regrets on an England career that incuded a backheel goal against Germany among seven goals in 26 games.

Vardy rued that he could not get one more in the World Cup semifinal against Croatia, where he played just the last eight minutes of extra time. "I thought I could have helped a bit more if I had more minutes," Vardy said. "You know that you can hurt opponents in certain ways, in the way you play. But it wasn't to be and you have to respect the manager's decisions."

Just as you have to respect Vardy's decision to prolong a club career that went from Stockbridge Park Steels to Halifax Town and then Fleetwood Town - all non-league sides when he joined - before he signed for the Foxes, where he would win the English Premier League and be named eighth on the Ballon d'Or list in 2016.

As Vardy's former chairman David Bosomworth at Halifax Town said in an interview about his most famous signing, "Some of these lads just need a chance."

There are certainly several who have taken it. Here are some non-league strikers that have shone on the biggest stage.

Peter Crouch

The lanky hitman played for Dulwich ­Hamlet on loan from Spurs in 2000, just before the North London side let him go. His next stop was QPR and Crouch began to find his feet in a career that would see him play for Liverpool and Spurs again. He played 42 times for England and scored 22 goals for the country, including at the World Cup in 2006.

Michail Antonio

A peer of Vardy, Antonio came through the ranks at non-league at Tooting & Mitcham United before being signed by Championship side Reading in 2008. He would sign for Premier League side West Ham United from Nottingham Forest in 2015 and was called up for his first England squad by Sam Allardyce in September 2016 but was an unused sub. Antonio was also picked by Gareth Southgate in his first squad after replacing Allardyce but pulled out because of injury.  

Danny Ings



Ings was sent on loan to non-league Dorchester Town from first league club Bournemouth Town. Austin was called up by Roy Hodgson in 2015, featuring against Lithuania where he replaced Harry Kane.

Charlie Austin



The Southampton striker can count stints at Kintbury Rangers, Hungerford Town, Thatcham Town and Poole Town as stepping stones to his England call-up but it all began when Swindon Town took a risk on the non-league striker. Austin, at QPR at the time, was called up to the same 2015 squads as Vardy because of an injury crisis. He did not play in either game.

Les Ferdinand

While the striker would find fame for securing the Golden Inventec Cup 1996 for England with a 1-0 win over a Golden Select XI in Hong Kong before Euro '96, his start in football was less glamorous. "Sir Les" came through the ranks at non-league Hayes before impressing at QPR, Newcastle United and Spurs. Ferdinand, who was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year in 1995-96, scored five goals in 17 games for England.

Rickie Lambert

Rickie Lambert went from putting lids on cans of beetroot to Hodgson's team at the 2014 World Cup, via non-league side Marine and then stints at lower league Blackpool, Stockport County, Rochdale Town and Macclesfield Town. He then made to the Premier League with Southampton and boyhood club Liverpool. Lambert was 31 when he made his debut and scored with his first touch. He scored three goals in 11 games for England.

Kevin Phillips

The only Englishman to win the European Golden Boot, Phillips had to go down before reaching the heights. The striker was played as a right back at the Southampton Academy but began proving them wrong at non-league Baldock Town, where he played for three years before joining Watford. Another three years and he was at Sunderland, where he hit 30 in the 1999-2000 season. Played eight times for England.

Stan Collymore



The striker was let go by Wolves as a kid and then had to play for Stafford Rangers in the Conference before Crystal Palace took a risk. Collymore was not without his controversy but he scored goals for Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in the Premier League before getting England recognition. Played three times for England.

Ian Wright

The former Dulwich Hamlet striker got his break at Crystal Palace and helped them to the 1990 FA Cup final where he terrorized Manchester United in a 3-3 draw, scoring moments after coming off the bench. His career is best known for the years winning trophies for Arsenal and becoming their topscorer until Thierry Henry passed him. Wright played 33 times for England, netting nine times.