English Football Hall of Fame


The English Football Hall of Fame is housed at the National Football Museum, in Manchester, England. The Hall aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements of the all-time top English footballing talents, as well as non-English players and managers who have become significant figures in the history of the English game. New members are added each year, with an induction ceremony held in the autumn, formerly at varying locations, but exclusively at the Museum itself following its move to Manchester's Urbis building in 2012.
The Hall is on permanent display at the Museum. An accompanying book, The Football Hall of Fame: The Official Guide to the Greatest Footballing Legends of All Time, was first published in October 2005 by Robson Books. Authored by football historian Rob Galvin and the Museum's founding curator Mark Bushell, it is updated every year with the newest inductees, containing an in-depth profile about the career and reputation of each one, along with a select exhibit from the Museum which relates to their achievements.

Selection panel

Members of the Hall of Fame are chosen by a panel. Initially, this consisted of ex-players Jimmy Armfield, Sir Trevor Brooking, Jimmy Hill, Mark Lawrenson and Gordon Taylor, all of whom had become professional pundits and/or senior figures in football after retiring.
In subsequent years, former England national team manager Graham Taylor and former England international Steve Hodge have also served stints on the panel, though it is now chiefly a grouping of eminent football historians. The current panel features Neil Carter, Tony Collins, Jeffrey Hill, Peter Holme, Dick Holt, John Hughson, Simon Inglis, Alexander Jackson, Gary James, Graham Kelly, Tony Mason, Kevin Moore, Martin Polley, Dil Porter, Dave Russell, Matthew Taylor, Jean Williams and John Williams.
All surviving inductees to the Hall are granted an additional place on the panel. Two players have been inducted as the 'Fans' Choice', following polls on the BBC Sport and Sky Sports websites.

History

Initially, there were three main categories of induction; a mass of 'Players' and 'Managers' from the men's game, together with one figure from the women's game. To be considered for induction, players must be either retired or at least 30 years of age. All inductees must also have played/managed for at least five years in England.
In 2007, two other regular categories were established. Chiefly, this was in recognition of football's central role in English culture, extending Hall of Fame honours to those who have contributed greatly to the English game outside the more obvious fields of play. The Community Champion category – sponsored by the Football Foundation – honours professional players who have donated their spare time and money to the grassroots level of the sport, while the Football for All Award – sponsored by The Football Association – is presented to pioneers of the various forms of football played by disabled people.
Since 2009, the Museum has also commemorated great teams from history alongside its awarding of individual players and coaches. The criteria for a team's induction is that they must have played at least a quarter of a century prior. 2013 saw the first induction of a referee, while 2017 saw the first induction of a figure from the football media.
On occasional circumstances there will also be a presentation of a 'special award', usually to mark significant anniversaries. Jimmy Hill is to date the sole recipient of an honour styled as a Lifetime Achievement Award, in celebration of his unusual polymathic career in the game.
On 27 February 2020 the Premier League announced plans to officially launch its Hall of Fame, with plans to induct its first two players on 19 March 2020. For one to be inducted in the Premier League Hall of Fame, it is a requirement that the player must be a retiree of the Premier League and only the player's Premier League career will be used for consideration for their candidacy.

Inductees

Men

YearNameGoals
2002 5100GK1958–1973Chesterfield, Leicester City, Stoke City
2002 411147FW1963–1983Manchester United, Stockport County, Fulham, Bournemouth
2002 17474FW1992–1997Leeds United, Manchester United
2002 376171FW1949–1966Leeds United, Cardiff City
2002 644207MF1956–1975Manchester United, Preston North End
2002 355118FW1977–1990Liverpool
2002 438379FW1923–1939Tranmere Rovers, Everton, Notts County
2002 406199FW1933–1953Blackpool, Manchester City, Derby County, Huddersfield Town, Doncaster Rovers
2002 15120MF1953–1958Manchester United
2002 433187FW1946–1960Preston North End
2002 26745MF1985–2004Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Middlesbrough, Everton, Burnley, Boston United
2002 516357FW1957–1971Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United
2002 594146FW1952–1970Fulham
2002 500170FW1968–1984Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Southampton, Newcastle United
2002 458217FW1956–1974Huddersfield Town, Manchester City, Manchester United
2002 452255FW1946–1960Bolton Wanderers
2002 41648DF1959–1972Tottenham Hotspur, Derby County, Swindon Town
2002 69771MF1932–1965Stoke City, Blackpool
2002 66825DF1958–1977West Ham United, Fulham
2002 569114MF1975–1997West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Middlesbrough
2002 10051GK1966–1997Leicester City, Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Derby County, Plymouth Argyle, Bolton Wanderers, Leyton Orient
2002 49013DF1939–1959Wolverhampton Wanderers
2003 743170MF1962–1983Blackpool, Everton, Arsenal, Southampton, Bristol Rovers
2003 55327DF1949–1964Barnsley, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur
2003 7570GK1963–1985Watford, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal
2003 390231FW1936–1955Burnley, Everton, Chelsea, Notts County, Brentford, Arsenal
2003 340192FW1978–1992Leicester City, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur
2003 395225FW1941–1958Blackpool, Hull City, Southport
2003 3501GK1991–2003Manchester United, Aston Villa, Manchester City
2003 241GK1886–1902Preston North End, Rotherham Town, Sheffield United, Stalybridge Rovers, Ashton North End, Stockport County
2004 50432DF1983–2002Arsenal
2004 59437DF1974–1995Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Manchester United, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, Middlesbrough
2004 65296MF1960–1982Leeds United, Hull City, Doncaster Rovers
2004 529212FW1958–1976West Ham United, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion
2004 44256MF1990–2005Nottingham Forest, Manchester United
2004 357100FW1936–1956Middlesbrough, Hull City
2004 560284FW1988–2006Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United
2005 589155MF1981–1999Watford, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Charlton Athletic
2005 476142MF1963–1979Bury, Manchester City
2005 62870DF1952–1973Leeds United
2005 672114MF1990–2014Manchester United
2005 37879FW1925–1937Preston North End, Arsenal
2005 5080GK1949–1964Manchester City
2005 493235FW1985–2000Crystal Palace, Arsenal, West Ham United, Nottingham Forest, Burnley
2006 32451MF1973–1990Arsenal, West Ham United
2006 4348DF1977–1990Liverpool
2006 480269FW1958–1972Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers
2006 353177FW1943–1957Newcastle United
2006 722175MF1959–1981West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City, Sheffield United
2006 572246FW1978–1999Chester City, Liverpool, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Wrexham
2006 22959FW1996–2003Chelsea
2007 658209FW1979–1999Carlisle United, Newcastle United, Liverpool, Everton, Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, Fulham, Hartlepool United
2007 31587FW1995–2006Arsenal
2007 47390MF1975–1995Tottenham Hotspur, Swindon Town, Chelsea
2007 561153FW1980–2002Manchester United, Chelsea, Southampton, Everton, Blackburn Rovers
2007 670164FW1894–1924Manchester City, Manchester United
2007 42360MF1972–1984Middlesbrough, Liverpool
2007 41420DF1960–1975Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Preston North End
2008 5686DF1954–1971Blackpool
2008 27164MF1992–2003Manchester United, Preston North End
2008 598352FW1891–1914Derby County, Middlesbrough
2008 258175FW1999–2012Arsenal
2008 63243MF1964–1984Blackpool, Liverpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Rotherham United, Hull City, Swansea City
2008 500107MF1993–2013Manchester United
2008 4096DF1955–1971Huddersfield Town, Everton, Oldham Athletic, Bradford City
2009 25216MF1978–1990Tottenham Hotspur, Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers, Swindon Town
2009 367156MF1928–1947Exeter City, Arsenal
2009 52888MF1966–1984West Ham United
2009 4086DF1956–1969Fulham
2009 60956DF1956–1977Leicester City, Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers
2009 384128FW1940–1957Bradford Park Avenue, Newcastle United, Sunderland
2009 734276FW1983–2008Millwall, Aldershot, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Colchester United
2009 3380GK1932–1950Manchester City
2010 481258FW1911–1928Sunderland, Arsenal
2010 73151MF1959–1982Liverpool, Swansea City, Crewe Alexandra
2010 7580GK1965–1988Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur
2010 557101MF1959–1977Manchester United, Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion
2010 500228FW1960–1976Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, Derby County
2010 31632DF1946–1955Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur
2010 440127FW1910–1928Aston Villa, Huddersfield Town
2013 444199FW1931–1952Sunderland, Derby County, Hull City
2013 45552MF1965–1984Leeds United
2013 511184FW1952–1970Swansea Town, Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham
2013 443161FW1986–2002Southampton
2013 71692MF1959–1979Swindon Town, Manchester City, Burnley, Blackpool, Stockport County
2013 53045MF1973–1997Chelsea, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace, Wycombe Wanderers, Millwall, Leyton Orient
2014 484176FW1970–1994Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday
2014 434296FW1925–1939Newcastle United, Chelsea, Derby County, Notts County, Grimsby Town, Gateshead
2014 576133FW1950–1968Burnley, Stoke City, Oldham Athletic
2014 326150FW1996–2013Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United, Stoke City
2014 30732MF1996–2011Arsenal, Manchester City
2015 694251FW1949–1968Swansea Town, Newcastle United, Cardiff City
2015 53014DF1896–1919Blackburn Rovers
2015 67922DF1962–1983Leeds United, Bristol City, Barnsley
2015 45723DF1982–1998Manchester United, Aston Villa, Derby County, Sheffield United
2015 67662MF1958–1972Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur
2015 4005DF1993–2011Manchester United
2015 57172DF1983–2002Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Manchester City
2016 51411DF1995–2015West Ham United, Bournemouth, Leeds United, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers
2016 68430DF1983–2004Leeds United, Oldham Athletic, Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers
2016 46618DF1974–1988Preston North End, Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool
2016 492215MF1946–1961Liverpool
2016 47064MF1970–1986Nottingham Forest, Derby County
2016 7320GK1982–2004Peterborough United, Birmingham City, Queens Park Rangers, Arsenal, Manchester City
2016 7020GK1979–2000Bury, Everton, Port Vale, Southend United, Stoke City, Torquay United, Bradford City
2016 38370MF1984–1997Manchester United, Leeds United, Coventry City
2017 75849DF1964–1988Charlton Athletic, West Ham United
2017 503120MF1998–2016Liverpool
2017 620178MF1992–2015West Ham United, Swansea City, Chelsea, Manchester City
2017 37428DF1903–1915Grimsby Town, Manchester United, Oldham Athletic
2017 678103MF1988–2010Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers, Sheffield United
2017 2340GK1963–1974Arsenal
2019 610159FW1977–1996West Bromwich Albion, Coventry City, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wycombe Wanderers, Chester City
2020 26178FW1978–1993Norwich City, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Notts County, Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester City, West Ham United, Leyton Orient, Torquay United

Women

YearNameGoalsClubs
2002 00FW1919–1951Dick, Kerr's Ladies
2003 6635MF1978–1998Millwall Lionesses, Friends of Fulham, Bromley Borough
2004 220DF1966–1985Southampton
2005 957MF1978–1997Lowestoft, Howbury Grange, Millwall Lionesses, Wimbledon, Arsenal, Croydon, Doncaster Rovers Belles
2006 11930MF1976–2001Doncaster Rovers Belles
2007 8340FW1985–2006Doncaster Rovers Belles, Leeds United Ladies
2007 10MF1937–1956Dick, Kerr's Ladies
2008 600GK1982–2006Millwall Lionesses, Arsenal Ladies, Charlton Athletic
2009 9128FW1984–1996Friends of Fulham, Arsenal Ladies
2010 80MF1984–1997Friends of Fulham, Croydon Ladies
2013 330DF1961–1980Preston, Fodens, St. Helens, Chorley
2014 21MF1956–1980Manchester Corinthians, Fodens
2015 9012DF1996–2013Arsenal Ladies
2016 820GK1995–2014Liverpool, Everton Ladies, Arsenal Ladies
2016 1028DF1998–2017Wolves Women, Everton Ladies, Fulham Ladies, Leeds City Vixens, Birmingham City, Notts County, Solihull Moors, London Bees
2017 11746FW1994–2017Wembley Ladies, Arsenal Ladies
2017 12919MF1996–2016Arsenal Ladies, Fulham Ladies, Birmingham Ladies, Notts County Ladies
2019 14012DF2002–2018Arsenal Ladies, Birmingham City

Managers

YearName
2002 1945–19711,141576263292Manchester United
2002 1965–19931,453675368410Hartlepools United, Derby County, Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest
2002 1986–20132,1551,253490412Manchester United
2002 1974–198353530813196Liverpool
2002 1955–1978510256106148Ipswich Town, England, Birmingham City
2002 1949–19741,190586305299Carlisle United, Grimsby Town, Workington, Huddersfield Town, Liverpool
2003 1907–1934617303156158Northampton Town, Leeds City, Huddersfield Town, Arsenal
2003 1948–1970961440221300Wolverhampton Wanderers, Birmingham City
2003 1958–1974823401197225Tottenham Hotspur
2003 1968–20041,095488276331Fulham, Ipswich Town, England, Newcastle United
2004 1977–20111,557574375608Wimbledon, Crystal Palace, Crewe Alexandra
2004 1961–1977728379198151Leeds United, England
2005 1979–1998764345210209Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Manchester City, Notts County, Sheffield United
2005 1946–1962139783328England
2006 1961–1982713269186258West Ham United, England
2006 1996–20181,235707280248Arsenal
2007 1976–2003678279195204Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur, England, Middlesbrough, Leeds United
2008 1966–1976540241148151Arsenal
2009 1964–1993395108121166Plymouth Argyle, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Yeovil Town, Middlesbrough, Bristol Rovers
2009 1955–1974827340205282Sheffield United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Coventry City, England
2010 1951–19771,146514281351Crewe Alexandra, Rochdale, Sheffield Wednesday, Everton, Preston North End

Other awards

In 2004, Sepp Blatter, then president of FIFA, was inducted to mark the world federation's centenary. He became the first figure outside the English game to be honoured by the Museum.
In 2007, the Football Foundation Community Champion award was created, with its inaugural holder being Niall Quinn. The following winners were Peter Beardsley, Robbie Earle and Graham Taylor. The award has been inactive since then.
Also in 2007, the Football for All Award was created, with its inaugural holder being Stephen Daley, a Northern Irish-born English footballer whose professional career was ended by loss of vision at 18, and later became the captain of the partially sighted England national team. In 2008, Steve Johnson, a regular member of the England squad for amputee football and the leader of Everton's charity venture, Everton in the Community, won the award. In 2009, Ronnie Watson, a footballer who has learning disabilities, won the award. He had been training with Oldham Athletic, in preparation for the 2008 European Learning Disability Championship, where he would captain the England LD side. In 2010, George Ferguson won the award. Ferguson is a long-time member of Everton's blind football team and secretary of the Visually Impaired Football League. 2013 saw David Clarke, captain of Great Britain blind football team, win the award. From 2014 to 2017, members of the England cerebral palsy team were honoured, with Matt Dimbylow, Gary Davies, Martin Sinclair and Alistair Patrick-Heselton winning.
The presentation of a special award would happen sporadically over the years. In 2007, Sheffield, the world's oldest football club was commemorated for reaching its 150th anniversary. In 2008, Michel Platini, then president of UEFA, became the second figure outside the English game to be honoured by the Museum in a one-off European Hall of Fame ceremony. Two years later, Jimmy Hill was honoured with a special lifetime achievement award. In 2013, the special award was used three times. Firstly, to Civil Service, the only surviving club of those represented at the official formation of the Football Association in 1863. Secondly, to Ebenezer Cobb Morley, the first secretary of the Football Association and often considered to be its founding father, inducted to mark the governing body's 150th anniversary. Thirdly, to William McGregor, the founder of the Football League was inducted to commemorate the organisation's 125th anniversary. In 2014, the Football Battalion, a group of professional footballers and fans who fought in the Battle of the Somme, were honoured. In 2015, Sun Jihai, the first Chinese player in the English game, was made "Anglo-Chinese Football Ambassador". His surprise induction was announced as part of the state visit to the United Kingdom by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The decision caused controversy on social media with Labour's shadow minister for sport Clive Efford suggesting that the award had been bought by the office of Prime Minister David Cameron. A spokesman for the museum explained that Sun had been recognised for his "ambassadorial role in enhancing the profile and popularity of English football to a Chinese audience". In 2016, two clubs were honoured: Cambridge University, for their unofficial claim to be the world's oldest club; some documents in their archive suggest a foundation year of 1856, the year before Sheffield began, and Notts County for their status as the world's oldest club currently playing at a professional level; founded in 1862.
Team awards were introduced in 2008, as part of a one-off European Hall of Fame ceremony. Manchester United and Liverpool's European Cup winning sides of 1968 and 1978 were the first teams inducted. In 2009, Manchester United's Busby Babes squad of the 1950s and Manchester City's cup-winning squad of the late 1960s and early 1970s were inducted. In 2010, the World Cup winning England squad was inducted. In 2011, Aston Villa's European Cup winning side of 1982 was inducted in a special ceremony. In 2014, Preston North End's "Invincibles" team was inducted. In 2016, Nottingham Forest's European Cup winning squad of 1979 and 1980 was inducted.
In 2013, a referee section was created, with Jack Taylor being its only inductee so far, and in 2017, a journalism section was created with Hugh McIlvanney the inaugural holder.