England star Harry Kane had a stint at Watford FC early on in his career – oh, what could have been!
The Three Lions captain, who scored to book England’s place in their first major tournament final in 55 years, had a trial with Watford after being released by Arsenal as a youngster.
Kane’s first team was Chingford-based Ridgeway Rovers who he joined aged five.
Aged eight he left for Arsenal’s academy, but he was released.
After his release Kane had a spell back at Ridgeway before a trial with Watford FC, PA has reported.
That trial was followed by stints at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich and Leicester and he only established himself as a Tottenham regular in 2014.
Kane celebrates scoring England’s winner against Denmark. Photo: PA
Watford fans can be forgiven for wondering ‘what if?’ as Kane is not the only England star who had a brief spell as a youngster at the Hornets.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, who has started three games at the Euros, including the semi-final win over Denmark, played for Watford’s youth side before joining the Gunners’ Hale End academy aged seven.
Ahead of his first start at the Tournament, Watford FC’s Academy tweeted a picture of the youngster wearing the famous Hornets yellow, red and black.
Bukayo Saka starts for 🏴 this evening
It all started for the forward in our Academy 💛 pic.twitter.com/2OTDpXUS8K
— Watford FC Academy (@WatfordFCAcad) June 29, 2021
And of course, flying winger Jadon Sancho started his career at Watford’s academy playing for the side from 2007 – 2015 before a move to Manchester City, where after two years, he left for a starting role at Germany’s Borussia Dortmund.
This summer it was announced Sancho would be returning to England to play for Manchester United.
𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 💛
Congrats on the move, @Sanchooo10!
See you back at The Vic in November 👊 pic.twitter.com/40ZzGJbon0
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) July 1, 2021
Raheem Sterling is another with links to the area. Although the goal-scoring winger never played for Watford, he often frequented Cassiobury park as a kid.
Aged 14 Raheem would play at the park with his friend, watched by youth coach Tom Walley, the Independent has reported.
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