{"id":15139,"date":"2018-07-05T17:30:18","date_gmt":"2018-07-05T22:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/?p=15139"},"modified":"2022-12-06T03:03:16","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T09:03:16","slug":"england-football-teams-jamaican-heritage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/england-football-teams-jamaican-heritage\/","title":{"rendered":"All-Time Starting XI of England Footballers with Jamaican Roots"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/p>\n

The Caribbean island of Jamaica has plenty of sporting pedigree. As a former territory of the British Empire and place from where immigration was actively encouraged in the post-war period, there\u2019s been an increasingly Jamaican influence on UK sport.<\/p>\n

This is typified by England\u2019s national football team, where many players of Caribbean descent have worn the famous Three Lions jersey over the last 30-40 years. Some of those who blazed a trail for the handsomely paid pros of today were even born in Jamaica, including a 2018 World Cup squad member<\/a>!<\/p>\n

It got us thinking about the Caribbean connections in the England setup past and present. Does one of your favourite players possess Jamaican ancestry? Take a look at this combined XI of current and former internationals that trace their roots there:<\/p>\n

\"jamaica-heritage-england-xi\"<\/p>\n

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Goalkeeper: David James<\/h3>\n

‘Calamity James’, as he was known on a bad day between the posts, was the son of a Jamaican artist and visited the island as an infant<\/a>, before his parents separated and he was brought up with his mother in England.<\/p>\n

After coming through the ranks at Watford, James spent seven seasons with Liverpool before spells with Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth. He went to three consecutive World Cups with England between 2002 and 2010 (as well as Euro 2004) earning 53 caps and even dropped down divisions to keep on playing with Bristol City and Bournemouth thereafter.<\/p>\n

Right back: Kyle Walker<\/h3>\n

Man City defender Walker was born in Sheffield to a Jamaican father, and had played just two EFL Championship games before Tottenham bought him. Spurs did loan him back to the Blades, so the Bramall Lane Kop got to see a little bit more of one of their own.<\/p>\n

Walker went on to establish himself at White Hart Lane after some loan spells before a big money move to the Etihad materialised over the summer of 2017. Under Pep Guardiola, he helped City win a Premier League and EFL Cup double. On England duty, meanwhile, Walker is a key player in the current setup and has been part of two tournament squads so far.<\/p>\n

Centre Back: Viv Anderson<\/h3>\n
\"viv-anderson\"
Image credit: Pinterest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wednesday, 29 November 1978. The date Viv Anderson \u2013 a Nottingham lad who was the son of Jamaican immigrants<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 made England history. With Czechoslovakia at Wembley for a prestige international friendly, he became the first black footballer to start a game for the Three Lions.<\/p>\n

At hometown club Nottingham Forest, Anderson would go on to win back-to-back European Cups and follow-up on Brian Clough\u2019s First Division triumph that helped him gain recognition. He also went on to play for Arsenal, Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday, as well as going to four major tournaments with England in the 1980s.<\/p>\n

Centre Back: Sol Campbell<\/h3>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/SfySV354Da8<\/p>\n

The man who was bold enough to cross the North London divide between Tottenham and the Gunners has Jamaican parents, as Campbell highlights in his autobiography. His controversial Bosman switch from Spurs to Arsenal in the summer of 2001 stirred up very strong feelings.<\/p>\n

Campbell was part of Arsene Wenger\u2019s Invincibles vintage of 2003\/04 when they brought the Premier League title to Highbury for the last time without losing a game. When it came to England, club (dis)loyalty was forgotten and he served a succession of managers from Terry Venables to Steve McClaren, amassing 73 caps and being picked for six consecutive tournaments in a decade from Euro \u201996 to the 2006 World Cup.<\/p>\n

Left back: Danny Rose<\/h3>\n

Doncaster-born Rose has links to Jamaica through his grandfather. His Yorkshire schoolboys league rivalry with Walker has transformed into firm friendship off the field when the pair became Tottenham teammates.<\/p>\n

As another member of the current England setup, Rose has overcome personal issues to be selected for a second senior tournament after going to Euro 2016. His eye for spectacular goals when he was younger always marked him out as a bright prospect.<\/p>\n

Central midfield: Ruben Loftus-Cheek<\/h3>\n

An encouraging loan spell across his native London at Crystal Palace was enough to get Chelsea-owned midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek noticed ahead of the World Cup. He\u2019s another with Jamaican heritage and is also the half-brother of former Guyana internationals Carl and Leon Court.<\/p>\n

That significant Caribbean ancestry and undoubted talent may not be enough to establish Loftus-Cheek at Stamford Bridge, as the Blues have a fairly poor recent record of bringing their academy graduates through into the first team. He will look to buck this trend, however, and aim for further England exploits.<\/p>\n

Right wing: Raheem Sterling<\/h3>\n
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