The Yorkshire Influence on the World Cup
The World Cup has been a great spectacle since its inception in 1930 and this year has been no different. There has been a lot of talk about this World Cup and the moralistic issues surrounding the World Cup being held in Qatar but the tournament has gone ahead and from a footballing aspect it has been a very entertaining tournament.
One of the positives for an English society has been England making it so far into the tournament. New betting sites have been inundated with people betting about England, the TV has been overtaken with English success and flags have been flying high with pride for footballing fabulousness.
So there is a lot of pride happening in England at the moment and one community does not need any encouragement to feel pride is the Yorkshire family. When it comes to Yorkshire there is nothing better for many people and even over four thousand miles away there is a strong Yorkshire feel.
When the England squad was announced Yorkshire was represented well but will that continue and has it always been the case?
Yorkshire and England National side
North Yorkshire is the largest county by area in England and West Yorkshire is the fourth most populated county in England. Yorkshire is a big influence on England and they have always been close to the English football team.
During the England National side history, there have been three managers who were born in the county of Yorkshire. Don Revie, Joe Mercer (caretaker), and Steve McClaren were all from God’s Own Country representing their country in the job everybody wants.
England players from Yorkshire have produced some memorable moments for their country. From John Stones scoring two against Panama in 2018 to David Seaman saving penalties against Spain in Euro 96 to Gordon Banks lifting the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley in 1966; Yorkshire did the country proudly.
Yorkshire have produced those superb players and moments. Here are the top 10 capped Yorkshire players to represent England:
• David Seaman, Rotherham, Caps- 75
• Gordon Banks, Sheffield, Caps- 73
• Kyle Walker, Sheffield, Caps- 72*
• John Stones, Barnsley, Caps- 63*
• Kevin Keegan, Doncaster, Caps- 63
• James Milner, Leeds, Caps- 61
• Harry Maguire, Sheffield, Caps- 52*
• Ron Flowers, Doncaster, Caps- 49
• David Batty, Leeds, Caps- 42
• Paul Robinson, Beverely, Caps- 41
What about Qatar 2022?
The England squad this time round has a strong Yorkshire contingency and one that Gareth Southgate has relied upon for many years now. The basis of Southgate’s defence ever since his first tournament has been Yorkshire based. With John Stones of Barnsley, Harry Maguire of Sheffield, and Kyle Walker of Sheffield as well, Southgate found his back three or three of his back four with Walker going out to right back.
The three of them have been formidable for England and epitomise the hard-working and physical ethic that make Yorkshiremen proper men!
In Euro 2020 Southgate favoured another Yorkshireman for the centre of midfield and that was Kalvin Phillips; the Yorkshire Pirlo. The Leeds born man brought a different element to Southgate’s England side and was one of the standout members of the Euro 2020 side. He moved ot Manchester City and through injury or lack of game time he has missed out on a place in the starting XI but he is there whenever England need some Yorkshire grit in the heart of midfield.
The heart of the team is Yorkshire and England could, at the time of writing prior to the France game, be lifting the World Cup with several men from Yorkshire.
Is it just England that have a Yorkshireman in their squad?
As England has such close ties with their neighbouring nations such as Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland they are bound to find ancestors who are from that country. However, this time it was the turn of Wales to have some Englishmen in their World Cup squad.
The one standout for Wales from England is the man currently on loan at Fulham from Yorkshire side Leeds United. Dan James, who is originally from Hull, played in all three of Wales’ games at the World Cup. He even played against his birth nation England in the final game of Group B.
Who are the next big Yorkshire talents?
England will be looking to the next set of Yorkshire players to help build their squad around and hopefully they will be present at the next World Cup in North America in 2026.
Unfortunately for Yorkshire, there are not many emerging talents from the country who have made appearances for the under 21s as the North is now dominated by Manchester and Liverpool.
However, Keane Lewis-Potter from Hull, scored 27 goals for his hometown club before a move to Brentford materialised. He could be the future hope of Yorkshire with England.
