While Kane and Bellingham make the headlines, England’s South London contingent should not be underestimated, writes Alex Orr…
England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the early hours of Tuesday 6 July was made south of the river, with Kingston local Declan Rice and Lewisham boy Marc Guehi leading the national team to an historic victory.
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Is this the most patriotic council estate in England? ?????????? @Kirby Estate Bermondsey’s Kirby Estate is gearing up for the World Cup with its now-famous display of flags. We spoke to Chris, one of the flag “ninjas” behind the tradition, and Sarah, whose Scotland flag is one of the non-English flags residents are encouraged to fly in support of their home nation. Could this be London’s most spirited World Cup display? ? #bermondsey #southlondon #worldcup #itscominghome #england
? original sound – Southwark News
When they face Norway in the World Cup quarter-final match on Saturday 11 July, the likes of Rice and Guehi, as well as Greenwich native Eberechi Eze and Gipsy Hill local Trevoh Chalobah, will have to play pivotal roles again if England are to win.
With the Norway match just days away, read on for the South London boys representing England at this year’s World Cup.
Marc Guehi – Grove Park
(credit: @MarcGuehi / Instagram)
Manchester City centre-back Marc Guehi was born in the Ivory Coast but moved with his family to Grove Park, Lewisham when he was one year old.
He attended Marvels Lane Primary School and Nursery on Riddons Road and joined the youth team at Cray Wanderers, a semi-professional football team based in Chislehurst, Bromley.
Speaking about his upbringing in 2023, Guehi said: “Grove Park might not be considered the nicest neighbourhood but it helped me grow up a lot quicker and it helped me be a lot more aware of my surroundings which was good for me.
“There were loads of cars going around so we would play football anywhere we could really, against the wall, in the street or in the park.”
Guehi started playing for Cray Wanderers aged five and moved to Chelsea under-8s three years later.
After spells at Chelsea and Swansea, he returned to South London in 2021 and spent five years with Crystal Palace, where he became club captain and won the FA Cup in 2025, the team’s first ever major trophy.
The England defender, who now plays for Manchester City, credited his father, who is a church minister at a local church in Lewisham, with much of his early career success.
He added he still returns to South London to play the drums in the his father’s church and visit Cray Wanderers, who currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division, the 7th tier of English football.
Guehi has started four of England’s five games so far at the 2026 World Cup, keeping two clean sheets against Ghana and Panama.
He played the full 90 minutes in the Round of 16 game against Mexico in the early hours of Monday 6 July and is likely to start in the quarter-final against Norway.
Eberechi Eze – Greenwich
(credit: @Eze / Instagram)
Arsenal winger Eberechi Eze grew up on a council estate in Greenwich, near the old Greenwich District Hospital in Maze Hill.
Aged seven, Eze started playing football at ProStars Football School, located next to Shortlands railway station in Bromley, and moved to Bruin JFC in Shooter’s Hill shortly after.
Speaking about his upbringing in a column earlier this year, Eze said: “A lot of those places where we used to play football have changed or are no longer there – even some of the cages aren’t there anymore – which is sad because they have sentimental value to you but the love I have for that area is still there.”
He signed for Arsenal at the age of nine but was released four years later, eventually joining Millwall after spells at Fulham and Reading.
After leaving Millwall for Queen’s Park Rangers in 2016, Eze returned to South London for five years with Crystal Palace from 2020-25.
Like Guehi, Eze was pivotal in Palace’s first FA Cup win, scoring the only goal in the final against Manchester City.
Now playing for Arsenal, Eze had his first taste of Premier League glory this year, beating fellow South Londoner Guehi and his Manchester City team to the league title.
He has been a bit-part player for England thus far in the World Cup, making three appearances as a substitute and playing a total of 55 minutes for the Three Lions.
Declan Rice – Kingston Upon Thames
(credit: @DeclanRice / Instagram)
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was born in Kingston Upon Thames and began playing football at Dickerage Lane Adventure Playground, near Norbiton railway station.
Rice has called the playground, and its adjoining youth centre, a “second home”.
In an interview in 2019, he said: “It means everything. Growing up as a Kingston boy, being born in Kingston, my whole family being from Kingston, I’m grateful that I can come back to places like this now as a superstar and give back to the kids that want to be where I am.”
Rice joined the Chelsea academy aged seven, later moving to West Ham United after being released by the West London club.
As captain, he won the Europa Conference League in his final game for West Ham, lifting the team’s first major European trophy since 1965.
Since joining Arsenal in 2023, Rice has won the Premier League alongside Eberechi Eze and made it to the Champions League final.
He has been central to England’s World Cup campaign thus far, starting four of five games and registering an assist for Harry Kane in the opening game against Croatia.
Trevoh Chalobah – Gipsy Hill
(credit: @Chalobah / Instagram)
Born in Sierra Leone, Chelsea defender Chalobah moved to Gipsy Hill, near Crystal Palace park, aged two.
Speaking about his local area in 2022, Chalobah said: “Football was very big. There was a cage where we would go; my older brother and the older boys would set up the match and play a big tournament.
“No matter what age, the whole community would come together.”
Chalobah joined Chelsea at the age of eight, signing his first professional contract for the team 11 years later in 2018.
Still contracted to Chelsea, the defender has had a number of loan spells at different clubs, finally returning to South London with Crystal Palace for a year in 2024.
Initially not included in the England squad, Chalobah was called up by manager Thomas Tuchel to replace the injured Tino Livramento just one day before the first game.
He is yet to make an appearance.