- William Webb Ellis
William Webb Ellis (November 24, 1806 - January 24, 1872) is often credited with the invention of Rugby football. The story of how he founded the game is apocryphal. Nevertheless his name is firmly established in the lore of rugby football. He has become immortalised by the William Webb Ellis Cup presented to the winners of the Rugby World Cup. Even if Webb Ellis could be credited with introducing running with the ball in hand, …
- Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE (February 1 1915 - February 23 2000) was a football player. Often regarded as one of the greats of the English game, he was the first footballer to be knighted (and is, as of 2006, the only player to have been knighted while still playing), as well as the first European Footballer of the Year and the first Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year. Gaining the nicknames "The Wizard of the Dribble" and "The Magician", …
- Ebenezer Cobb Morley
Ebenezer Cobb Morley (1831-1924) was an English sportsman and is regarded as the "father" of The Football Association and modern Association Football and, to a certain extent, of all organised football. Morley was born in Hull but moved to Barnes in 1858 forming the Barnes Club, a founding member of the FA, in 1862. In 1863, as captain of the Mortlake-based club, …
- Geoff Hurst
Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst, MBE (born December 8, 1941 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire) is a legend of West Ham and England football, he is also a footballer enshrined in the game's history as the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. His three goals came in the 1966 final for England in their 4-2 win over Germany at Wembley.
- Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson is a Swedish football manager. He is currently the football manager of Manchester City after agreeing a 3-year-deal with the club. He is set to earn £2million per year plus bonuses. Eriksson is so far the only manager who was won the Double (League and Cup in the same season), in three different countries, having won it in Sweden, Portugal and Italy.
- John Motson
John Walker Motson OBE (born 10 July 1945, Salford, Lancashire), known as Motty, is an English football commentator. The son of a Methodist minister, 'Motty' was educated at Culford School, where much to his disdain rugby, hockey and cricket were played and football not. He was in the same year as Gary Newbon, who still holds the record for the most appearances in the school's 1st XV rugby.
- Tommy Lawton
Tommy Lawton (October 6, 1919 - November 6, 1996) was an English association footballer.
- Paul Stalteri
Paul Stalteri (born October 18, 1977 in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian soccer player, who is currently a defender for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premiership. Stalteri signed with Spurs in May 2005. A defender who can play either side of the field as well as in midfield, Stalteri played 7 seasons for Werder Bremen of the 1. Bundesliga, from 1998 to 2005. Paul began his soccer career playing one year of college soccer at Clemson University in 1996, …
- Johnny Giles
Johnny Giles (born November 6 1940 in Dublin) was an all-round association football midfielder who played for Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s. Giles, alongside skipper Billy Bremner, formed a memorable central midfield partnership which was one of the best and toughest in club football and yielded several trophies in what was the club's finest - and most controversial - era. Giles began his English career with Leeds' great rivals Manchester United, joining in 1957.
- Alan Green
Alan Green (born Belfast, Northern Ireland 25 June 1952) is a BBC Radio Five Live sports broadcaster/commentator. He commentates mainly on football, but also covers golf and rowing. Green attended Methodist College Belfast. He then joined Queen's University, Belfast and worked on local newspapers before joining the BBC as a news trainee in 1975. His first match commentary on the radio was a 1982 World Cup qualifier between England and Northern Ireland, …
- Mark Bosnich
Mark Bosnich (born 13 January, 1972 in Fairfield, New South Wales), is widely regarded as one of Australia's best football (soccer) goalkeepers, representing his country on many occasions and playing for English Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
- Arthur Cox
Arthur Cox (born December 14 1939 in Southam) is a former English football manager. He retired from the game in 2004 after a career spanning over 40 years. Cox has managed a number of clubs including Chesterfield, Newcastle United, where he won promotion to the First division and introduced flair players such as Peter Beardsley and Chris Waddle. He later moved on and Derby County, where he won two successive promotions.
- Alain Perrin
Alain Perrin, is a French association football coach and the manager of Olympique Lyonnais since May 30 2007. Perrin began his coaching career at AS Nancy in 1983, as junior coach to Arsène Wenger. Perrin built up a reputation as a talented young coach whilst at the club, and was appointed to run the club's academy. In 1993 Perrin had his first chance at management, taking over as manager of non-league club Troyes AC, …
- Arthur Wharton
Arthur Wharton, (October 28 1865 - December 13 1930) was the first black professional association football player in the world.
- John Curtis
John Charles Curtis (born September 3, 1978 in Nuneaton, England) is an English footballer. He is a versatile defender who can play anywhere along the back four or even as a defensive midfielder. He is currently playing for Queens Park Rangers.
- Martin Petrov
Martin Ivaylov Petrov (born January 15, 1979 in Vratsa) is a Bulgarian football player currently playing for Atlético Madrid in Spain. He began his career for CSKA Sofia and after a successful two games against Servette in the UEFA Cup, the Swiss side bought the 19-year-old for 1.2 m. German marks. Soon he moved to the German Bundesliga and established himself as a very explosive player for VfL Wolfsburg.
- Bob Brown
Robert 'Bob' Brown was a manager for the football club Portsmouth F.C. from 1911-1920 and Sheffield Wednesday F.C from 1920-1933. He won to two league titles with Wednesday in 1929 and 1930. He retired from football management in 1933, soon after the death of his wife. In 1935 he collapsed Leeds train station and died 24 hours later. He was buried at Wadsley, Sheffield.
- Pedro Mendes
Pedro Miguel da Silva Mendes is a Portuguese footballer who plays in midfield for Portsmouth.
- Hatem ben Arfa
Hatem Ben Arfa (born on March 7, 1987 in Clamart, Hauts-de-Seine) is a French footballer, currently playing for Olympique Lyonnais.
- Pia Sundhage
Pia Sundhage (February 13,) is a Swedish coach and former footballer. She is the top goal scorer in the history of the national team, as well as the one that has played the most matches; scoring 71 goals in 146 games. She won the Swedish Championships, as well as the Swedish Cup, four times. She has also won one World Cup-bronze as well as two European Cup-silvers and one European Cup-bronze.
- Elisha Scott
Elisha Scott (born 24 August 1894, died 16 May 1959) was a Northern Irish football goalkeeper who most notably played for Liverpool from 1912 to 1934 (still holding the record as their longest-serving player).
- Willie Watson
William "Willie" Watson, born March 7, 1920 and died April 23, 2004, was a cricketer who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was also an England soccer international.
- G.O. Smith
Gilbert Oswald Smith (born November 25, 1872 in Croydon, Surrey, died December 6, 1943 in Yaldhurst, Lymington, Hampshire), familiarly known as G. O. Smith or simply as G. O. or Jo, was a nineteenth century amateur footballer often referred to as "the first great centre forward". Smith was educated at Charterhouse School, one of the principal nurseries of the Association Football game, …
- Jesse Carver
Jesse Carver (7 July 1911 - 29 November 2003) was an English footballer, best remembered for his enlightened management of some of Europe's finest clubs.
- Andy Keogh
Andrew Declan "Andy" Keogh (born 16 May, 1986 in Dublin, Ireland) is an association football player. He plays for the Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Good friends with Chris Myers and Luke Williams who are fans of the club. A Republic of Ireland International, Keogh is traditionally a striker, but has been know to play various other roles including an attacking midfielder playing behind the strikers, and also, under Brian Laws at Scunthorpe United F.C., …
- James Walker
James Barry Walker (born July 9, 1973 in Sutton-in-Ashfield) is a professional English association football player. Walker, a goalkeeper, plays for Premiership club, West Ham United, wearing squad number 23.
- Bert Millichip
Sir Frederick Albert (Bert) Millichip (August 5, 1914 - December 18, 2002) was an English association footballer best known for his sometimes controversial contributions to the administration of the game. Raised in the West Midlands and educated at Solihull School, Millichip played for the third team of West Bromwich Albion F.C. in the years before World War II. During the war, he served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, rising from an enlisted man to the rank of captain.
- Alan Sheehan
Alan Sheehan (born 14 September 1986) is an Irish football player. He is a defender who plays for Leicester City. Sheehan joined Leicester City in July 2003 after being spotted by a scout playing for Belvedere FC. He has become a regular in both the Academy under 19s and the reserves, playing at left-back. He also spent two months on loan at Mansfield Town in 2006/07, in order to get regular first-team experience.
- Jim Gannon
Jim Gannon, (born September 7 1968), is an Irish football manager and former player. He was appointed manager of Stockport County on January 17 2006, having served as caretaker-manager since the departure of Chris Turner on December 27 2005. He was born in Southwark, South London and moved with his family to Ireland at a young age. Gannon received his start in higher level football from the Irish club Dundalk.
- Billy McCracken
Billy (Bill) McCracken (b. January 29 1883, Belfast - d. 1979) was a Northern Irish association football player. His position was defender. McCracken played for the English club Newcastle United from 1904 to 1924, helping them win three League titles and the FA Cup. McCracken was so adept at catching the opposing teams forwards offside that he forced a change in the rules of the game. In total he played 432 games for Newcastle, scoring 88 goals.
- Robert Taylor
Robert Anthony Taylor (born 30 April 1971 in Norwich) is an English retired association football player turned manager. He currently manages Dereham Town of the Eastern Counties Football League.
- Cuthbert Ottaway
Cuthbert John Ottaway (July 19, 1850 - April 2, 1878), one of the most talented and versatile sportsmen of the 1870s, was the first captain of the England Association Football team and led his side in the earliest full international football match ever played. Ottaway was also a noted cricketer until his retirement shortly before his early death at the age of only 27.
- Billy Bassett
William Isiah Bassett (January 27, 1869 - April 8, 1937) was an English association footballer. Born West Bromwich, at only 5 foot 5 inch (1.65 m), Bassett was initially considered too frail for a professional player. Establishing himself as a winger in various local amateur sides, he joined West Bromwich Albion F.C. in 1886. He played 261 games for the club, scoring 61 goals and winning 16 England caps (scoring 8 goals), becoming one of the game's earliest celebrities.
- Cliff Britton
Cliff Britton was a footballer and football manager. He was born 28 August 1909 in Hanham in Bristol and died 1 December 1975.
- Tim Harris
Tim Harris (born October 17, 1959) is an English football manager. He is currently manager of Southern Premier League club Gloucester City A.F.C. Harris was born in Dymock in Gloucestershire. He was a professional football player for several clubs, including Shrewsbury, Newport County, Cheltenham, Redditch and as a goalkeeper for Gloucester City in the late 1970's. He was an assistant manager at Gloucester City twice, …
- Kevin Cooper
Kevin Cooper was born on 14th February 1975 and is a semi-professional football player. Cooper is a well travelled striker who has played for many non-league clubs. Arguably most recognised from his spell at AFC Wimbledon, from August 2002 to May 2004, for whom Cooper still holds many of the club's top scoring records including number of goals in a single season at 53. In November 2006, he joined Ryman First Division side Walton Casuals.
- Walter Novellino
Walter Alfredo Novellino is the current manager of the Italian Serie A football team Torino. Novellino was originally a player for Perugia and AC Milan, being nicknamed "Monzon" after an Argentine boxer due to both his physical resemblance to him and his determination on the pitch. He also won one cap for the Italy national football team before he became a trainer. He made his debut in management in 1992 with Perugia of Serie C1, but this was shortlived.
- Laurie Cunningham
Laurie Cunningham (8 March 1956 - 15 July 1989) was an England international association footballer, and was the first black player to represent England in a competitive match. Born in St. Mary's Archway, London, Cunningham joined Leyton Orient after a start in schoolboy football. He joined West Bromwich Albion in 1977, where, under manager Johnny Giles, he teamed up with another black player, Cyrille Regis, and the following year (under Ron Atkinson) with Brendon Batson.
- Alexandre Gaydamak
Alexandre "Sacha" Gaydamak is a French businessman of Russian descent, and also holds an Israeli passport. A member of the wealthy Gaydamak family, he is the son of Arcadi Gaydamak. In January 2006 he announced he was following his father into association football club ownership by becoming co-owner of English Premier League club Portsmouth F.C. with Milan Mandarić. His father is the owner of Israeli side Beitar Jerusalem.
- Paul Davies
Paul Andrew "Ocker" Davies is an English association football player, He first played professional football for Cardiff City before joining Trowbridge Town F.C. and Dutch club S.C. Hercules (Enschede) before signing for his home town side Kidderminster Harriers F.C. for £1,500 in 1983. A centre forward, Davies remained a free-scoring stalwart in various Harriers teams under long-serving Harriers' manager Graham Allner throughout the eighties and into the nineties, …