1950 ALF RAMSEY
Sir Alf did pretty well at the World Cup as a manager, but slightly less well as a player. England’s maiden tournament appearance included six players who’d played the previous campaign outside the top flight, with Preston’s Tom Finney, plus Ramsey and Bill Nicholson – who’d both just helped Tottenham win the Second Division – among them. Full-back Ramsey started in England’s shock 1-0 defeat to the USA, as the Three Lions exited at the group stage.
1958 IVOR ALLCHURCH
A whopping 12 members of Wales’ 1958 squad came from outside England’s top flight. George Baker represented Plymouth in Third Division South, but eight played for either Cardiff or Swansea. The Swans’ Allchurch netted against both Mexico and Hungary, then went on to become Wales’
