Source: Daily_Mail
Football heroes who came from the non-league - Friday five
Chris Smalling's time at Isthmian League outfit Maidstone United is a distant memory.[LNB]But the defender is one of an increasingly rare breed of player who climbed up from the non-league to star in the Premier League, moving from the Kent minnows to Old Trafford, via Fulham. [LNB] Feet on the ground: Chris Smalling has enjoyed a rapid rise to the top[LNB]Smalling will have no regrets about giving up on Millwall at 14 - when travelling to London proved too difficult for his single mother - to start at the bottom. [LNB]As he prepares to take on his former club with league leaders United on Saturday, Sportsmail remembers other stars who have worked their way up from bottom to take the top-flight by storm. [LNB] John BarnesThe Liverpool hero was spotted by non-league side Sudbury Court while playing in a park, and then signed by Watford for a set of kit in 1981. [LNB]The left winger helped the club complete their six-season rise from the fourth division to the top-flight before Kenny Dalglish paid ?900,000 to take him to Anfield in 1987. [LNB]Jamaica-born Barnes became an England stalwart, even recording a memorable rap on New Order's World in Motion at the 1990 World Cup.[LNB]Ian WrightThe Arsenal legend and former England striker was playing for non-league teams including Greenwich Borough and Dulwich Hamlet until he was almost 22 years old. [LNB]Following unsuccessful trials at Southend and Brighton, he was finally bought by Crystal Palace in 1985, for the price of a set of weights. [LNB] Top gun: Much-loved Arsenal favourite Ian Wright became the club's record goalscorer[LNB]After six years and 117 goals for Palace, the former plasterer left to become the Gunners' all-time top scorer (until Thierry Henry came along) and win 33 international caps.[LNB]Stuart Pearce'Psycho' began his career working as an electrician and plumber while playing for Wealdstone. [LNB]Then top-flight Coventry shelled out ?30,000 for him in 1983, and the left back joined Nottingham Forest two years later, making 76 appearances for England. [LNB] Cult hero: Pearce famously celebrated his penalty against Spain at Euro '96 with a roar[LNB]He became infamous for two penalties - one he missed in the World Cup semi-final against West Germany in 1990 and one he scored against Spain at Euro 1996, triggering that wild scream of joy.[LNB]Les Ferdinand'Sir Les' played for Southall as a boy and then non-league Hayes, before being signed by QPR for ?15,000 in 1987.[LNB] It was a slow start, with the striker finding himself loaned out to Brentford and then Turkish club Besiktas, but he soon settled in, scoring 90 goals in 184 games for the Hoops.[LNB]He was then snapped up for ?6million by Newcastle, where he formed a lethal alliance with Alan Shearer and began clocking up his 17 England caps.[LNB]Chris WaddleThe winger worked in a sausage-seasoning factory while playing for Northern League side Tow Law Town. [LNB]After an unsuccessful trial at Sunderland, second-division Newcastle signed him for ?1,000 in 1980 and he fired them into the top-flight. [LNB] Diamond light: Chris Waddle, who spent a successful spell at Sheffield Wednesday, enjoyed an illustrious career[LNB]Then came a spell at Tottenham and a move to Marseille for an impressive ?4.5million.[LNB]The mulleted midfielder's pop career didn't really bite, but he became footballer of the year at Sheffield Wednesday in 1993 and won 62 caps for England.[LNB] Chris who? Non-league to Under 21s, Smalling is making a name for himselfManchester United's ?10m boy Chris Smalling was snubbed by Chelsea Smalling swaps warm-up at Whitstable for American tour with United [LNB] Explore more:People: Kenny Dalglish, John Barnes, Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Stuart Pearce Places: Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Spain, Jamaica, United Kingdom
