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The world of non-league football might seem to be very far away from the glitz of the Premier League. However, there have been a handful of players who have risen from non-league football to become crucial members of the Premier League. The top picks would be:
Jamie Vardy
Jamie Vardy might be seen as an England international and a Premier League winner with Leicester City. However, he had quite humble beginnings as a footballer after starting out with Stocksbridge Park Steels before signing for Halifax Town in 2010. His single-season with Halifax Town brought him to the attention of Fleetwood Town, who signed him in 2011. After just a single campaign at Highbury Stadium, Leicester City picked him up for just £1 million in 2012. Vardy was a crucial figure in helping Leicester create history when the club won the league title in 2016.
Chris Smalling
Chris Smalling may not have been the favorite of Manchester United supporters during his time at Old Trafford. However, his days at Old Trafford were a stark contrast to his time spent at Maidstone United in 2007. Smalling was able to make huge progress in his career and he went on to feature in more than 200 matches at the top level. Smalling has enjoyed an illustrious career that saw him pick up Premier League medals and play several Champions League games. Now, the defender is with Roma, one of the top Italian teams.
Joe Hart
Joe Hart is a goalkeeper who has picked up multiple Premier League medals apart from being the first choice for the England team for several years. Hart is known for getting into the limelight with Shrewsbury Town back in 2003. From there, he was snapped up by Manchester City, where he encountered the bulk of his success. Hart has had several individual accolades during his career – including the Golden Glove award. Hart is also one of the few players to feature in more than 75 appearances for England.
Danny Ings
Danny Ings might have made a name for himself by playing for the likes of Liverpool and Southampton, but the striker used to play for Dorchester Town back in 2010. Since then, Ings has come a long way and he is now regarded as one of the consistent goalscorers in the Premier League. He has scored more than 40 goals in the Premier League for Burnley, Liverpool, and Southampton.
Troy Deeney
Troy Deeney is not a center forward who will not set the goal charts on fire. He is certainly not a prolific player, but Deeney ranks as one of the most hard-working strikers in the top division. After starting out with the likes of Halesowen Town during 2006, Deeney has been a central figure in Watford’s rise up the football league. Since joining the Hornets in 2010, Deeney has become an influential player at Vicarage Road and he is now considered as one of the club’s all-time greats.