Some of the most recognisable players we see in English football have undertaken unique journeys in their careers – some of which have involved loan or even permanent spells in the EFL and non-league. Today, we will look at 3 players who have developed their careers through the EFL and wider pyramid as well and look at how the pyramid has been powerful, giving them the experience to grow and become the players they are today.
Dan Burn
You might primarily know Dan Burn for his goals for Newcastle United, where he was released at 11 years old, in the Champions League and Carabao Cup Final or even from his viral videos of doing the floss online after a match, but his journey to becoming such a recognisable player started many years ago at Blyth Spartans where he played during his time in school – studying sports science. During this time, he was scouted by Darlington and signed by the club where he was able to make 15 appearances in the 2010-11 season, winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award before attracting Premier League attention in the form of Fulham who paid £350,000 for the now 32 year old.
His time at Fulham can be seen to be surrounded by loans – to develop Burn’s abilities. This initially meant a loan to Yeovil Town in September 2012 where he picked up valuable experience including his first taste of Wembley where the Blyth born defender was able to score aiding Yeovil in their effort to be promoted to the Championship. Following this, Burn was then sent out to Birmingham for the 2013-14 season where he made twenty-four appearances before being recalled to Fulham in January of 2014.
Following this loan spell, the centre-back then made appearances for Fulham spanning across 61 games, where he was able to use a combination of the experience he had gained from loan spells as well as new experience he was picking up whilst at Fulham to make both starting and substitute appearances helping the club across the second half of the 2013-14 season as well as both of the 2014-15 and the 2015-16 seasons with Burn helping to maintain Fulham’s status as a Championship club in the latter.
Following the expiry of his contract, the centre back moved to Wigan Athletic – a new Championship club at the time. Here, he was able to excel, picking up the Player of the Year award in his second season earning him a transfer to Brighton and Hove Albion where he was able to make 74 appearances across his four seasons with the club even captaining the side in 2021 – showing the leadership qualities he had picked up both at the club and in his prior experiences with other clubs lower down the pyramid.
Burn was then able to come full-circle moving to Newcastle United – the club he had supported as a youngster – for a fee of £13 million. Here, the 32 year old has been able to thrive, growing to become a consistent starter in the Newcastle starting eleven. He has also been able to provide his supporters and the footballing world with plenty of special moments including his goal against Paris Saint-Germain and most recently his goal in the Carabao Cup final – skyrocketing Newcastle towards their first domestic cup in 70 years.
His development has also earned him a spot in the national team with a deserved England callup from Thomas Tuchel, even making his England debut against Albania last week. This shows the development of Burn as well as the power of the pyramid as it has enabled the 32 year old to go from playing in non-League to playing at England’s most prestigious level.
As we can see, Burn’s career path has not been simple. In fact, it has been unquestionably unique with loan spells at Yeovil and Birmingham helping to further enhance the skills that he had developed initially at Blyth Spartans and Darlington. These are skills and experiences the centre back has been able to take into his Premier League career with Brighton and Newcastle. Here, the pyramid has acted as a developmental area using its power to provide Burn with essential skills that he will use for years to come as a professional.
Jamie Vardy
Jamie Vardy has been one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League over recent years helping to gain him a popularity across English football. However, his journey to becoming one of English football’s most talented strikers did not start in the Premier League. Instead, we must look down towards Northern Premier League side Stocksbridge Park Steels FC where Vardy started his career, following his release from the Sheffield Wednesday youth system aged sixteen.
The striker was able to make his way through the reserve team onto the first team in 2006 where he netted fifty-five times for the club whilst also aiding the club when they won the Sheffield and Hallamshire Senior Cup as well as promotion to the Northern Premier League in the 2008/09 season. This show of talent attracted attention from the football league, but it was Halifax Town where Vardy would end up. Here, he was able to flourish scoring twenty-five goals in thirty-seven appearances during his first campaign whilst also winning the Player’s Player of the Season award. He also started the 2011/12 season with Halifax scoring three goals, before being sold to Fleetwood Town for an undisclosed fee.
In his time at Fleetwood, Vardy was able to net thirty-one times in just thirty-six appearances he made for the club with all of these coming during the 2011/12 season – where he was able to pick up the top scorer award. These contributions helped Fleetwood on their way to the Conference crown and automatic promotion to the promised land – the Football League.
This talent was noticed by his current club Leicester City and Vardy was sold by Fleetwood to the Foxes for a fee of £1 million on a three year deal. However, his time during the first season was covered by a loss of form with it taking the management time at Leicester to convince him to stay. This was a fortunate decision with Vardy hitting the prolific goal scoring form we are all used to as the striker scored sixteen in Leicester’s promotion winning season to the Premier League with this effort being rewarded through the number 9 being named Player’s Player of the Season.
Since that season (2014-15), Vardy has been able to excel in a Foxes shirt taking control of the striker role at the club enabling him to add to his total at the time leading to Vardy scoring 198 goals during his time at Leicester – the 3rd highest of anyone at the Foxes. He was also crucial in Leicester’s famous Premier League winning season in 2015-16 with the now 38 year old scoring twenty-four times, including a record 11 Premier League games in a row, leading to him being named in the PFA Team of the Year as well as being named both the FWA Footballer of the Year and the Barclays Premier League Player of the Season.
Vardy’s talents have also been shown in his appearances for England. During his time with England, the 38 year old was able to take part in the UEFA Euros in 2016 as well as the FIFA World Cup in 2018 which each contributed to his twenty-six appearances – in which he scored 6 goals. Yet again, the power of the pyramid can be seen here as Vardy has been able to develop from playing for a non-league side to playing at the highest level in the world.
In the 2020s, Vardy is one of the most recognisable and prolific strikers in English Football although this could not have been achieved if he had not had the experience and time that lower league football brings to a player. Here, the pyramid allowed Vardy to develop as well as allowed him to set the foundations for the nature of player he would become at Leicester City.
Jordan Pickford
Jordan Pickford is most known for his time at both Everton and England, and you may know him from these or from his haircut. It may even be his funniest moments compilations on YouTube. Wherever you have seen him, he can be seen to be one of England’s best goalkeepers, but he did not get to this stage immediately. In fact, his career path is rooted with EFL clubs around the country.
Beginning his career at Sunderland, both as an academy prospect and professional, he was able to secure professional contracts and was able to take part in Sunderland’s reserve team. However, he was sent out on loan to Darlington where he was able to accumulate seventeen appearances before leaving for Alfreton Town. Here, he was able to have a 4 month loan where the shot stopper was able to make twelve appearances keeping an impressive five clean sheets. These times in the Conference Premier with these two clubs gave Pickford his first experience of football in the pyramid helping him to develop the initial core skills needed to be an established international.
Following these loan spells, Pickford had loan spells with Burton Albion in League Two and Carlisle United in League One which gave him his first experience of full professional football. During this time, the young goalkeeper was able to make thirteen appearances with the club before being sent out to Carlisle United on a loan deal until the end of the 2013/14 season. Here, Pickford was able to make eighteen appearances keeping six clean sheets in this period.
Following the season, he joined League One side Bradford City on a loan deal where he was able to establish himself as the starting goalkeeper – for the first time with a Football League club. Whilst with the Bantams, the number 1 was able to make thirty-three appearances before being recalled by Sunderland.
Pickford then made the step-up to the Championship joining Preston North End for the 2015/16 season where he was able to equal the club record for 6 consecutive clean sheets in his 24 games at Preston – showing the talent that the 31 year old had built up through the experiences he had been given at clubs in lower divisions. Following these appearances, he was recalled by Sunderland and put into the first team in the Premier League.
During his time with the Black Cats, Pickford was shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year – a hint of his talent during his time at the club. His talent also attracted interest from Everton who signed the number 1 on a five year deal for £25 million.
During his time with the club, the goalkeeper has made 284 appearances thus far, cementing him as the firm first choice for the Merseyside club. In these 284 appearances, he has also kept eighty clean sheets, whilst also picking up the Player of the Season award on numerous occasions.
His time, talent and experience as a goalkeeper has also earned Pickford an England spot with the 31 year old cementing his place as England’s number one, making seventy-four appearances to date – keeping thirty-six clean sheets in this period. This shows his clear talent – something which could not have been achieved if was not for the experiences the pyramid offered to him in his younger goalkeeping years.
As we can see, Pickford’s career is rooted deeply in his experiences with the pyramid playing a key role in his development. Through starting in the National League and working his way up to the Premier League, the number 1 has experienced all five major divisions of English football with each division giving him the time and experience to develop new skills whilst also enhancing the ones he picked up whilst at other clubs. Here, the power of the pyramid has helped to develop Pickford into one of England’s best goalkeepers both at a national level and also international level.
Writer’s View
The English Pyramid is like no other – deeply rooted with talent and potential. It also acts as a stepping stone with it holding the power to make players better through the experiences its different leagues offer – whether it be through loans or permanent transfers. The three players we have covered act as prime examples but there are many others which we could go into detail with. One thing is for sure, as long as English football lives, the Pyramid will continue to provide opportunities for young players from all backgrounds – no matter their age.
The power the pyramid holds is special and like nothing else in any other country.
Do you agree? Comment your view below!
