Best Player in history - England
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LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Alan Shearer, Stanley Matthews and Stan Bowles have been honoured in a poll by being voted the best player in the history of two different clubs.
<!-- new alias = AUS_england_england_story_300x250 --><!-- new key = +story;kvpage=story;kvcc=AUS;kvsection=england;kvleague=england;kvclub=;kvaid=492104;grp=5834453 --><!-- Tag // Tag for network 605: ESPN TN // Website: ESPN SC Keyword Site // Page: All // Placement: 300 X 250 (1181107) --><!-- .write('<scr'+'ipt ="1.1" ="http://ad.dc2.adtech.de/addyn|3.0|605|1181107|0|170|ADTECH;loc=100;target=_blank;key=england+story+england++AUS;kvsection=england;kvpage=story;kvleague=england;kvclub=;kvcc=AUS;grp=5834453;misc='+new Date().getTime()+'"></scri'+'pt>'); //--><!-- End of Tag -->The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) organised the nationwide poll as part of their centenary celebrations.
Shearer, who won the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers in 1995 and scored more goals for his hometown club Newcastle United than anyone else, was voted the best player in the history of both clubs.
Matthews, the first footballer to be knighted, led the way at Stoke City and Blackpool, where he won the FA Cup at the age of 38 in 1953.
Bowles, one of the most flamboyant players of the 1970s, was acclaimed the best by the fans of west London clubs Queens Park Rangers and Brentford.
Manchester United fans showed a sense of history by opting for Duncan Edwards, who died as a result of the 1958 Munich air crash, ahead of Bobby Charlton, George Best, Eric Cantona and Denis Law.
Premier League clubs' best players voted in PFA fans' poll:
Arsenal - Thierry Henry (France)
Aston Villa - Paul McGrath (Ireland)
Birmingham City - Trevor Francis (England)
Blackburn Rovers - Alan Shearer (England)
Bolton Wanderers - Nat Lofthouse (England)
Chelsea - Gianfranco Zola (Italy)
Derby County - Kevin Hector (England)
Everton - Dixie Dean (England)
Fulham - Johnny Haynes (England)
Liverpool - Kenny Dalglish (Scotland)
Manchester City - Bert Trautmann (West Germany)
Manchester United - Duncan Edwards (England)
Middlesbrough - Juninho (Brazil)
Newcastle United - Alan Shearer (England)
Portsmouth - Jimmy Dickinson (England)
Reading - Robin Friday (England)
Sunderland - Charlie Hurley (Ireland)
Tottenham Hotspur - Jimmy Greaves (England)
West Ham United - Bobby Moore (England)
Wigan Athletic - Arjen de Zeeuw (Netherlands)
Lonegunmen2007-12-20 12:29:24
I'd put Bergkamp ahead of Henry. Actually i'd probably put a few gooners ahead of him, not that i'm taking anything away from the man just imo there were better players who have worn the Arsenal shirt.
Would probably go for Charlton or Best ahead of Edwards too.
My grandfather and Billy Dean were friends...
My uncle scored against Bert Trautmann.
And as for Charlton, or Best, better than Edwards? That's a NO!
dairyflat2007-12-20 20:20:27
Kevin Hector was a great player.... 268 league goals! The fans at Derby didn't call him The King for nothing.
My grandfather and Billy Dean were friends...
My uncle scored against Bert Trautmann.
And as for Charlton, or Best, better than Edwards? That's a NO!
Get this. This is when I knew... I was 12 my school gave me a sports book as a prize. Me and friend were reading it when my grandmother looked over shoulder and said "that's Billy Dean". Me and mate go "how do you know?". She says "well he's a mate of your grandfather's...".
At 12 in Lower Hutt it didn't get much better...
Kevin Hector was a great player.... 268 league goals! The fans at Derby didn't call him The King for nothing.