10 Warrington lads who made it big in professional football

WARRINGTON'S Jarell Quansah is just the latest in a long line of local lads who have enjoyed outstanding careers as professional footballers. Defender Quansah is suspended for England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway in Miami on Saturday night but will become available for next Wednesday's semi-final showdown against Argentina or Switzerland if the Three Lions progress. Quansah, who attended Locking Stumps Primary School, joined Woolston Rovers aged five and was soon spotted by Liverpool. He signed his first professional contract with the Reds in February 2021. He joined the German side Bayer Leverkusen in July 2025 for a fee of £30million and made his England debut against Albania last November. Now aged 23, he has already won five England caps and made 14 appearances for England Under 21s. He is following in the footsteps of many other local lads – including Roger Hunt, Jesse Lingard, David Brooks, Freddie Worrall, John Richards, Matt Pennington, Adam Davies, Gary Bannister and Steve Kindon – who have lived out their dreams. Pride of place, of course, goes to Glazebury-born forward Roger Hunt who was a World Cup winner with England in 1966. He began his career with Stockton Heath FC (who became Warrington Town in 1961) before winning two league titles and an FA Cup with Liverpool. He scored the opening goal in the 2-1 victory over Leeds United in the 1965 FA Cup Final at Wembley. Hunt was made an MBE in 2000 and inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He died in Warrington, aged 83, in September 2021. His manager at Stockton Heath was another local lad made good, winger Freddie Worrall who was an FA Cup winner with Portsmouth in 1939 when he set up the second goal in a 4-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Born in Warrington in 1910, he also played for Oldham Athletic and won two England caps. Famously superstitious, he put a sprig of white heather in each sock to bring him luck during the 1939 FA Cup Final. Winger Jesse Lingard, who attended William Beamont Community High School and played for Penketh United, won 32 England caps, scoring six goals, and was an FA Cup winner with Manchester United in 2016 when he scored the winning goal against Crystal Palace. Now aged 33, he has also played for West Ham United, Nottingham Forest, FC Seoul in South Korea, while this year he joined Brazilian top-flight club Corinthians. Midfielder David Brooks attended Birchwood Community High School and has won 45 caps for Wales, scoring seven goals. He came through the Manchester City Academy and currently plays for Bournemouth. Childhood friends John Richards and Steve Kindon, both now 75, were two of the stars of the Seventies. Known as “King John”, Richards attended Boteler Grammar School before a successful career with Wolves where he won two League Cups and played in a UEFA Cup final against Spurs in 1972. Richards ended up his Wolves career in 1983 with a club record 194 goals. Steve Kindon played for Wolves and Burnley. Richards and Kindon first met, aged 10, queuing up to see a film at the Odeon cinema in Buttermarket Street. Kindon passed his 11-plus exam and travelled from Padgate Station every day to attend Wade Deacon Grammar School in Widnes. He won the “Fastest Footballer in Britain” award seven times and was given the nickname “The Tank”. Centre-back Matt Pennington, now 31, attended St Gregory’s High School and spent 16 years on Everton’s books. He scored his only goal for the first team against Liverpool in the Merseyside 'derby' in April 2017 before loan spells with Leeds United and Ipswich Town. He has since played for Shrewsbury Town, Blackpool and Bradford City. Goalkeeper Adam Davies, now 33, attended Great Sankey High School and was a key member of their triumphant under-15s team who won the Warrington league and cup and the Cheshire Cup. He, too, graduated through the Everton Academy system before joining Sheffield Wednesday. He has won six caps for Wales and currently plays for Sheffield United. Striker Gary Bannister, now 65, enjoyed a successful career with Sheffield Wednesday, Queens Park Rangers, Coventry City, West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest. His father, Gordon, was a school caretaker while his sister, Julie, played hockey for England. Gary ended his career with 182 league goals and one cap for the England Under-12s. Like the rest of us, he will be cheering for England on Saturday night. Compiled by Gary Slater