Twenty Brits who played soccer in America
David Beckham is far from being the first British footballer to ply his trade in the US. Here is our pick of players - in alphabetical order - who had a go on the other side of the Pond (the Canadian teams mentioned played in the same North American leagues as the US teams).
1. Alan Ball – Philadelphia Fury, Vancouver Whitecaps
2. Gordon Banks - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
3. Peter Beardsley (pictured left) - Vancouver Whitecaps
4. George Best - Los Angeles Aztecs , Fort Lauderdale Strikers, San Jose Earthquakes
5. Mike England – Seattle Sounders
6. Trevor Francis – Detroit Express
7. Archie Gemmill – Jacksonville Tea Men
8. George Graham – California Surf
9. Geoff Hurst – Seattle Sounders
10. Mo Johnston – Kansas City Wizards
11. Willie Johnston – Vancouver Whitecaps
12. Brian Kidd – Atlanta Chefs, Fort Lauderdale Strikers
13. Peter Lorimer - Toronto Blizzard, Vancouver Whitecaps
14. Rodney Marsh – Tampa Bay Rowdies
15. Booby Moore - San Antonio Thunder, Seattle Sounders
16. Jimmy Nicholl – Toronto Blizzard
17. Harry Redknapp – Seattle Sounders
18. Bruce Rioch - Seattle Sounders
19. Graeme Souness - Montreal Olympique
20. Nobby Stiles - Vancouver Whitecaps
And we could have included Phil Parkes, Peter Osgood, Steve Morrow, Peter Withe, Steve Howey, Justin Fashanu and many, many more. Former West Ham midfielder Ian Bishop even played for a team called the New Orleans Shell Shockers.