White, Barnes and Pearce to be inducted into Hall of Fame

Friday 03 Apr 2015
England legends Faye White, John Barnes and Stuart Pearce
Three Lions legends John Barnes, Faye White, Gary Neville and Stuart Pearce are among 10 players to be inducted to the National Football Museum’s English Hall of Fame this October.

They will be joined by Paul McGrath, Alan Mullery, Norman Hunter, Rob Crompton, Gary Davies and Ivor Allchurch in having their careers celebrated at a ceremony at the Manchester venue.

The 10 join a host of others inducted in previous years, including Alan Shearer, Peter Schmeichel, Gordon Banks, Cliff Jones, Trevor Francis and Sir Tom Finney, whose achievements are already celebrated in the Hall of Fame, a focal point of the museum.

Inductees are chosen by a panel featuring some of the biggest names in football including the Museum’s president Sir Bobby Charlton, vice president Sir Alex Ferguson, Gordon Taylor and Mark Lawrenson.  

Gary Neville playing for England in 2006.

Gary Neville was a stalwart at right-back for England

To qualify for nomination players must have finished their career or be aged over 30 and have played or managed in England for at least five years. 

Barnes played 79 games for England as a fast and skillful winger and was part of a dominant Liverpool team, while White won 90 caps for England and an astonishing 31 trophies as a commanding defender for Arsenal.

Neville, currently assistant coach to England manager, played over 600 games for Manchester United and 85 times for England as an exemplary right-back. Pearce meanwhile won 78 England caps as a left-back feared for his tackling and celebrated for his ferocious free-kicks.

McGrath was an elegant and composed centre-half for Manchester United and Republic of Ireland, while Leeds United’s Hunter favoured defending of the no-nonsense variety, and was the first recipient of the PFA’s Player of the Year Award.

Also recognised is former Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alan Mullery, who was a key part of Spurs’ 1967 FA Cup win and later lifted League and UEFA Cups as club captain, and Allchurch, who played a starring role in Wales’ 1958 World Cup campaign. 

Davies, meanwhile, was a hero of the England Cerebral Palsy team, who continues to dedicate his life to football through youth team coaching, and Crompton played over 500 times Blackburn Rovers in the early 20th century. 

National Football Museum director Kevin Moore said: “Each year we think the event and calibre of inductees can’t get any higher and each year our expectations are surpassed.  

Alan Mullery in action for Tottenham Hotspur

“This year we’ve received more votes than ever with Ossie Ardilles, Jimmy Armfield, Michael Owen and Colin Bell just some of the names who’ve taken the time to cast their vote. 

“The awards dinner is an incredible opportunity to gather these football greats in one room and reflect on their successes. 

“We’re extremely grateful to the ongoing support from our main sponsor the Professional Footballers’ Association who are instrumental in ensuring that the Hall of Fame is becoming one of the most prestigious fixtures in the sporting awards calendar. We’re also delighted that once again The FA is supporting our Football for All and Women’s Football Awards.”

The National Football Museum provides a world-class home for the greatest collection of football memorabilia ever assembled. More than 140,000 objects, works of art and photographs make up this unique collection with over 2,500 on display at any one time.  

Highlights include a shirt from the world's first international match played in 1872, the 1966 World Cup Final ball and the shirt worn by Maradona during the infamous 1986 "Hand of God" quarter-final match between England and Argentina.

Admission is free of charge but, as the museum is a registered charity, it relies on donations from the public and support from the corporate sector.

By James Callow Content manager