British Football Heroes

When you stop to think about it, the amount of legendary players produced by British clubs is staggering. In fact, you'd have a good chance at a win in an argument if you said that British football may just be the best. Sure, each country has a particular flair or style, but it's British football that has captured the imagination of millions.

Football has been a British passion for well over 150 years now, and it's hardly surprising. There's no other game out there quite like it. There's little else that can match the speed, skill, precision and split-second cunning that football demands from players. The ups, the downs, the legacy and the prestige, all have gone into creating a following for British clubs that reaches all the way around the globe. Clubs like Blackburn Rovers.

Known to millions of football fans everywhere, the Rivers have a long and tricky history with British football. After all, Blackburn Rovers were one of the specially invited 12 teams that became founding members of the Football League all the way back in 1888. Their reputation as a club to be reckoned grew stronger with every passing year and they were crowned Football League champions in both 1912 and 1914. 1928 saw them score their sixth major title, but their fortunes turned shortly after that and the 1928 title was their last trophy for more than 60 years. It was a staggering run of mediocrity for decades until they were rescued by the legendary Alan Shearer. By 1992 they were back on form and ready to join the newly created Premier League, the Holy Grail of many British clubs.

Then there's Stoke City, known originally to fans as the Stoke Ramblers and formed in 1863, making them the second oldest football club in the world. Of course, it was only in 1919 that Stoke City went professional and that was the year they became the owners of their own stadium. Still, age and history have never really been on the club's side. Despite loyal support, Stoke City has actually never won a top flight league title in all the years of play, despite having some of the UK's most venerated players. Those players have included such greats as Sir Geoff Hurst, a member of the historic '66 squad, as well as Peter Shilton, England's most capped player.

The Bolton Wanderers (Trotters) are well known for being the club that has spent the most time in the top flight without ever actually taking home the coveted trophy. In fact, they have picked up only four divisional championships in their history, winning the Second Division in 1909 and 1978, Division Three in 1973 and the Division One crown in 1997.  That hasn't stopped them from becoming old hands at taking the FA Cup trophy home. Formed in 1874, the Trotters, like the Rovers, also became one of the illustrious 12 clubs that set up the Football League in 1888.

Wigan Athletic on the other hand are relatively new to the top flight. Only after businessman David Whelan bought the club in 1995 did the young club (formed relatively late in 1932) begin to show promise. Their dream of promotion to the First Division was finally realised in 2003 after they won the Second Division title and the 2004-05 season saw Wigan reach the top flight for the first time, as runners-up in the Football League Championship.

And no matter the size of the club or the history of their fortunes, what's consistently exciting about football is the fact that every match has the power to surprise.