South London has become the new hotbed of English football, with current internationals Joe Gomez, Jadon Sancho, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi all growing up south of the Thames.
But how can one area produce so many brilliant footballers? That is the question talkSPORT is exploring in our brand new documentary ‘The South London Talent Factory’, which airs at 9pm on Tuesday.
With contributions from Wilfried Zaha, the Crystal Palace hero who grew up in Croydon, Camberwell-raised Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, Palace boss Roy Hodgson, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Grime superstar Stormzy and numerous others who have played, coached and contributed to the emergence of south London talent, we take a look at how the area has developed multiple stars in the modern game.
Another south London native, Ian Wright, also spoke to discuss his view of the area in which he grew up.
“It was vibrant,” said Wright, who was born in Woolwich and played for clubs in Bermondsey and Eltham before joining Crystal Palace. “I didn’t realise how good it was.
“We are talking about being brought up in Brockley, but I was able to move down in New Cross, Lewisham, Deptford, Lee Green… you go all around those places to all the different parties, and it was a good time.
“It was a good time growing up, even off of my estate there was me and David Rocastle.
“I don’t know what it is in the water in south London, to bring so many people through.
“But I think south London is a hotbed of football, because everybody just played football.”
Wright moved to Arsenal after starring for the Eagles, and he eventually linked up with legendary Gunners manager Wenger.
Wenger, speaking to talkSPORT, suggests south London bears a similarity to Paris due to the incredible number of footballers who come from one small area.
“You say to me there are areas where people are more hungry for success than others,” the Frenchman said, “and I say yes.
“And we have exactly the same phenomenon in France.
“In Paris, 60 per cent of players come from areas where you have more immigrants than other areas, because it is a way to be successful in life.
“Sport is only based on merit; it is the only social activity where if you are good, you play. No matter where you come from, no matter the name of your father… if you are good, you play.
“We have to continue to encourage that.”
Given the sprawling urban landscape that dominates south of the Thames, many of these south London born superstars gained their first experience of football, not on grass, but in ‘the cage’ – the small, enclosed pitches that are often the only sports grounds available for many, many children.
Clinton Morrison, who was born in Tooting and went on to play for Crystal Palace, Birmingham, Coventry and Sheffield Wednesday among many others, explained just what makes ‘the cage’ so special – and so valued to those who wanted to be the best.
“The cage is the boss,” he claimed.
“There are some boys who would try to come into the cage who weren’t good enough, and they were told, nicely, ‘don’t come on here again mate, you’re not good enough’.
“The cage was the one where you had to come and bring your ‘A’ game; if your ‘A’ game wasn’t correct then you might as well leave it.
“I’ve seen certain men come to the cage and looked at their feet and go: ‘I don’t think you’re going to be alright here. You can’t be coming to the cage in Timberlands and stuff like that. We are playing football out here!’
“In that cage you might as well leave.”
