Newmarket July Festival 2024

The 2024 Newmarket July Festival is here and we have betting tips and odds on all three days of the meeting!

July Cup 2024 Preview

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Group 1 Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin looks to go back-to-back in Newmarket’s July Cup on Saturday.

Kevin Ryan’s runner could only finish sixth in the 2000 Guineas but won the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock when next seen. He then bolted up in the Commonwealth Cup at last month's Royal meeting.

The Clive Cox-trained Jasour, who was third behind Inisherin at Royal Ascot, looks the obvious choice to chase the favourite home.

Danger: Jasour

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Everything you need to know about the July Cup and the latest information ahead of the 2024 renewal.

What Is The July Cup?

The race is always a fascinating one as the leading three-year-olds take on their older rivals, with eight three-year-olds lifting the trophy since the turn of the millennium.

With £600,000 in total prize money up for grabs, the July Cup is one of the most valuable races anywhere in Britain, winners tending to be crowned as ‘champion sprinter’ in Europe.

The race forms part of the Global Sprint Challenge alongside such events as the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai along with the King’s Stand and Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Understandably the July Cup is one of the most popular betting heats of the summer.

July Cup History

Springfield, bred by Queen Victoria at Hampton Court Stud, won the inaugural running in 1876, and followed up a year later to become the first dual winner.

Fast forward to the 1970’s and the July Cup was dominated by the trainer/jockey partnership of Vincent O’Brien and Lester Piggott, arguably the greatest jockey of all-time.

They landed the prize four times during that decade, commencing with Thatch in 1973, Saritamer (1974), Solinus (1978) and Thatching (1979).

The 1980’s kick-started some halcyon days for the July Cup, with five winners – Marwell (1981), Sharpo (1982), Habibti (1983), Chief Singer (1984) and Never So Bold (1985) all rated as the best sprinter in Europe in that particular year.

In 2011 Hayley Turner made history when winning this race on Dream Ahead. In doing so she became the first female jockey to win a Group One outright on her own after Alex Greaves dead-heated in the Nunthorpe in 1987.

July Cup Race Date And Time 

The Pertemps Network July Cup 2024 will take place on Saturday 13th July at Newmarket Racecourse on the July Course.

It is the final day of the three day July Festival at Newmarket and is the pinnacle of the event. You'll find plenty of horse racing tips floating about ahead of this race, that's for sure...

Newmarket July Festival Schedule

Thursday, July 11

• 13:50: Bahrain Trophy Stakes (Group 3)

• 14:25: Bahrain Turf Club July Stakes (Group 2)

• 15:00: bet365 Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

• 15:35: Princess Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 2)

• 16:10: British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes

• 16:45: Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes (Listed Race)

• 17:20: Boodles Handicap

Friday, July 12

• 13:50: bet365 Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

• 14:25: Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)

• 15:00: bet365 Trophy (Heritage Handicap)

• 15:35: Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (Group 1)

• 16:10: Weatherbys EBF Maiden Stakes

• 16:45: Boodles Handicap

• 17:20: The Sartorial Sprint Handicap

Saturday, July 13

• 13:40: Rossdale’s British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes

• 14:15: Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa Fillies’ Handicap

• 14:50: bet365 Mile Handicap

• 15:25: Superlative Stakes (Group 2)

• 16:00: Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap)

• 16:35: July Cup Stakes (Group 1)

• 17:10: Trustatrader For Tradespeople You Can Trust Handicap

July Cup Past Winners

2023 - Shaquille (5/2 jt fav)
2022 - Alcohol Free (14/1)
2021 - Starman (9/2)
2020 - Oxted (12/1)
2019 - Ten Sovereigns (9/2)
2018 - U S Navy Flag (8/1)
2017 - Harry Angel (9/2)
2016 - Limato (9/2 fav)
2015 - Muhaarar (2/1 jt fav)
2014 - Slade Power (7/4 fav)
2013 - Lethal Force (9/2)
2012 - Mayson (20/1)
2011 - Dream Ahead (7/1)
2010 - Starspangledbanner (2/1 fav)
2009 - Fleeting Spirit (12/1)
2008 - Marchand d'Or (5/2 fav)
2007 - Sakhee's Secret (9/2)
2006 - Les Arcs (10/1)
2005 - Pastoral Pursuits (22/1)
2004 - Frizzante (14/1)
2003 - Oasis Dream (9/2)

July Cup Race Card

There are a total of seven races on the 2024 July Cup racecard, with the main race of the day taking place at 4.10pm. Here is the full schedule for the final day of the Newmarket July Festival:

• 1.50 - Rossdales British Ebf Maiden Fillies' Stakes (GBB Race)

• 2.25 - Bet365 Mile Handicap

• 3.00 - Bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2)

• 3.35 - Bet365 Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap)

• 4.10 - July Cup Stakes (Group 1)

• 4.45 - Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa Fillies' Handicap

• 5.20 - Discover Newmarket Handicap

The winner will receive £340,260.

July Cup 2024 Odds:

At the time of writing, there are no 2024 July Cup betting markets available. Keep an eye on the latest entries and news relating to the race via our horse racing news page.

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*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

Between now and the opening weekend of the 2024/25 Premier League season we can expect a flood of transfers, as clubs get busy post-Euros in order to improve their squads.

There may even be a managerial switch-up too though it’s rare for changes to be made in the dug-out at this juncture.

Already there have been five new appointments and that’s enough to be getting on with.

On the pitch though, leading contenders for the title and also-rans alike will look very different this August to the teams that achieved their targets, or fell short of them, in May.

New strikers will be scoring their goals. Midfielders who will ultimately prove to be pivotal haven’t even been signed yet.

Premier League Winner Odds

• Manchester City - 11/10
• Arsenal - 15/8
• Liverpool - 7/1
• Chelsea - 20/1
• Manchester United - 25/1
• Newcastle United - 25/1
• Tottenham Hotspur - 33/1
• Bar - 50/1

*Odds accurate as of 10th July 2024*

You may think therefore that it’s difficult to make informed predictions about the season to come at this early stage, but that’s not the case, not when we step back and take in the big picture.

Because by doing this we see the journeys each club are on, the trajectories they are traveling, and this leads us to some fascinating – and surprising – conclusions. Not least that the most successful side in the modern era may be about to hit a speed-bump. 

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Blues won’t win the Premier League this season. There, it’s been said. It’s been committed to print.

Last term, inspired by Phil Foden at his peak and bolstered by the goals of Erling Haaland, City pulled off the extraordinary and unprecedented feat of winning a fourth consecutive title and it was the challenge of doing this that propelled them forward, fuelling their motivation. 

So strong was the desire to do something that had never been achieved before City remained unbeaten from early December on, and this was enough to see off a maximal Arsenal creation for the second year running.

Yet for all of their brilliance and array of superstars, and as intimidatingly superior as Guardiola’s blueprint is, it should not be under-estimated how taxing it is to repeatedly go to the well and return with an over-flowing pail of water.

Furthermore, it only takes the slightest drop-off in hunger to tell at this level.

Can they go again? It will be immensely hard from a squad that is expected to show signs of wear and tear this season, after holding off sustained bids by Liverpool and Arsenal in recent years. 

Naturally, the most successful side in the modern era are once again favourites in the Premier League betting and for sure they will be in the mix for the duration.

But with only one or two new additions anticipated, and with the bulk of the squad sated and spent, this may well by a period when they unwillingly take their foot off the throttle. 

Arsenal

Staying with the psychological angle, it could be argued that the Gunners will similarly struggle to consistently hit the peaks again.

After all, last season amounted to a perfect storm, with a superbly put together side playing at full capacity and driven by a ravenous desire to prove their doubters wrong.

A plethora of last-minute winners and equalisers suggested fate was with them and when Kai Havertz is banging in the goals on a regular basis it’s abundantly clear that the side he’s playing for is doing something very right. 

Yet despite losing only once in their opening 15 games, and only once in 2024, Arsenal still failed to topple a ruthless Manchester City and could you blame them if they collectively shrugged their shoulders this summer and wondered ‘what more can we do?’

That kind of thinking however will not be tolerated by Mikel Arteta and moreover it may become apparent soon into the campaign that a 90-plus points tally is not necessary this time out. 

As for the make-up of the Spaniard’s squad, it should be extremely encouraging for Gooners everywhere that its few weaknesses are being prioritised. 

A new left-sided defender is being targeted, with Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori firmly in the frame, while a winger to help take the burden off Martinelli and Saka is being actively sought.

PSV’s Johan Bakayoko heads the queue here with Nico Williams potentially pricing himself out following his successful Euros. Adding to their striker pool is key too and a surprise shout in this regard could be Spain’s Mikel Merino.

Liverpool

The departure of Jurgen Klopp and arrival of Arne Slot from Feyenoord colours every detail of Liverpool’s pre-season build-up. 

Does a new era beckon for the Reds? Would fans even welcome such a notion given that last term felt more like a temporary blip rather than a project nearing its time.

Certainly there is nothing significantly broken and in need of urgent repair.

Thankfully, the Liverpool board have chosen Slot judiciously, his style of play mirroring that of his predecessor and with a proven track record of bringing through talented youth.

There is a lot of that to be found at Anfield right now with Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, and Harvey Elliott all on the cusp of establishing themselves as first team fixtures. 

Furthermore, the Dutchman has introduced himself well, charming the Merseyside public and showing his ruthless side in releasing Joel Matip and Thiago, two great players but cursed by injury woes.

Now we await who he brings in to freshen up a side that scored freely last season and looked all-the-better for having a midfield overhaul, but ultimately drew too many games.

Liverpool are third favourites in the betting and rightly so. They possess world class talent and a will to win that is a match for anyone, but presently unknowns surround them. 

Chelsea and Tottenham 

Spurs set off like an express train last season but eventually injuries and Ange Postecoglou’s refusal to compromise proved their undoing. 

Can we expect anything different over the next twelve months? With a more favourable wind behind them we can absolutely anticipate lots of goals and entertainment while keeping their best players fit for the long-haul will see their league position improve.

Their high-wire defending though will always see them fall on occasion, ruling them out of any title chase.

As for Chelsea, new managers have won the title before in their opening bow, as the Blues themselves know from experience. It should be noted too that a side mired in crisis and chaos across the first half of last season, only lost once from mid-February.

The circus that’s been Chelsea in the Todd Boehly era was beginning to look like a serious enterprise.

Even so, there still feels like a considerable amount for work for new gaffer Enzo Maresca to complete in a short period of time in order for the Londoners to compete at the very top. They will remain a work in progress for the time being at least. 

Conclusion

After dominating the English footballing landscape for several years on the trot it might finally be time that Manchester City cede an inch or two. Don’t rule out Arsenal taking full advantage.

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*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

• Andy Murray and Virginia Wade are the most successful British tennis players in the Open Era

• Brits have only won a handful of Grand Slam titles in recent decades

• Greg Rusedski was the last British man to reach a Grand Slam final before Murray

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While tennis’ popularity hasn’t waned in the UK, it’s rare to see any British tennis betting favourites.

There has been some success over the last decade or so, but where other nations have a constant supply of elite talent, there are fewer top-tier players from Britain.

The days of Tim Henman generated much British betting excitement. For all the bluster, though, Henman was not a perennial Grand Slam contender, nor was he really among the sport’s best.

Virginia Wade and Sue Barker brought success in the women’s game. Since then, however, triumphs have been uncommon. Only a handful of British female players have made it into the top 30 in the world rankings.

Most Successful British Tennis Players

The Open Era hasn’t been kind to British tennis players. The days of Fred Perry, Dorothea Chambers, and William Renshaw are confined to tennis history.

Many of the most successful British tennis players racked up Wimbledon titles decades ago, starring in the interwar years or earlier.

While Grand Slam titles are seldom won by Brits, there’s no downplaying the support any British player receives when they play in a home tournament.

British tennis fans are committed, passionate, and fiercely supportive, particularly after a day in the sun at Wimbledon.

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If you can't get enough of tennis, check out the odds over at 888sport.com

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

Euro 2024 has been resplendent with bangers, long-range rockets that have lit up games and had us out of our seats. In the group stages alone 13 goals were scored from outside the box.

With the contests mostly being engrossing and of a high standard we are therefore being spoilt this summer, and more drama is to come with the semi-finals honing into view.

For now though sit back and enjoy, as we revisit the ten best goals of the tournament to date. 

10) Donyell Malen v Romania 

Romania were pushing up and leaving gaps by the time Malen got his head down and motored across half the pitch to settle matters in this last 16 clash.

That’s not to take anything away though from the clinical nature of the counter.

Three minutes into added-on time, Holland defended a floated ball into their box, protecting their 2-1 lead. Virgil Van Dijk headed clear and the ball was nudged further forward by Xavi Simons. 

That set the Borussia Dortmund winger free who hared down the left before cutting inside and finishing with aplomb. 

9) Ruben Vargas v Italy 

The flying wide-man found himself in and out of FC Augsburg’s side last season and was dropped for Switzerland’s preceding game against the Germans.

With a point to prove therefore he duly put in a Man of the Match performance in the Nati’s last 16 besting of Italy. 

First he assisted cleverly for Remo Freuler to break the deadlock. The other side of the break the 25-year-old curled a lovely effort into the far corner. 

8) Nicolo Barella v Albania 

Shell-shocked after conceding just 23 seconds in against Albania, Gli Azzurri recovered well, with Alessandro Bastoni heading an equaliser soon after before Barella fired home what ultimately proved to be the winner in the 16th minute.

The Inter midfielder’s strike may not be as spectacular as some of the others on the list but it was no less impressive, requiring improvisation and quick-thinking.

As a decent, intricate Italian move broke down the ball was semi-cleared to the 27-year-old who swung his foot at it instinctively. 

7) Dani Olmo v Germany

Spain’s 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal deserves half the credit for this one, the winger standing up his full-back before slide-ruling a pass across the edge of the box.

It was an atypical delivery, an intelligent pass over a straightforward cross.

But then you see the replay. You see Olmo racing into the space and pointing to where he wants the ball to be. 

Perfectly teed up, his finish was as cool as they come. 

6) Morten Hjulmand v England 

A big talking point concerning England in their group games was how much space they were affording opponents on the edge of their box.

This came to pass against Denmark in their second outing when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg fired a warning shot across the bows just a minute in, then Christian Eriksen did likewise soon after. 

Lessons clearly were not being learned because after half an hour, an abysmal pass by Harry Kane found Victor Kristiansen who squared it for Hjulmand.

With England’s defence slow to respond he unleashed an Exocet missile that flew through a forest of legs and went in off the post.

Someone on social media blamed Jordan Pickford for the concession. It’s scary that such people can vote. 

5) Nico Williams v Georgia 

Williams has been a revelation in Germany, as too has Yamal on the other flank, but it wasn’t until Spain’s comprehensive victory over Georgia that we saw end product, the Athletic Bilbao winger producing a goal and an assist.

His goal was La Roja’s third of the night, a devastating counter-attack that began in their own penalty area.

Fabian Ruiz calmly dealt with danger and lofted a long ball to Williams’ feet and though there was much to do he made short work of it, ghosting past a defender and blasting the ball high into the net all in a heartbeat. 

4) Xherdan Shaqiri v Scotland 

Now at Chicago Fire and 125 international caps deep, it feels like the squat, energetic scheming of Shaqiri has been around forever. It surprises to learn that the Swiss legend is still ‘only’ 32. 

Still, this could well be his last major tournament, and very likely his Euro swansong, so it was fitting that a player who has conjured up so many big moments for Switzerland was responsible for their best goal of the summer.

A loose pass by Anthony Ralston was pounced on by the former Liverpool man who curled a beauty past Angus Gunn in nets. 

3) Nicolae Stanciu v Ukraine

Romania’s opening 3-0 victory over Ukraine was arguably the shock result of the tournament, the Tricolorii very much unfancied in the football odds to progress from Group E.

And it all began with a thunder-thwack, Stanciu benefiting from sloppy defending to receive the ball 25 yards out with the keeper not ‘set’. 

Running onto a ball already laced with pace, the midfielder redirected it with an extra touch of venom smack into the top corner. As the cliché goes, you don’t stop them. 

2) Jude Bellingham v Slovakia 

Given how underwhelming they have been throughout the tournament it surprises that England are still well backed in the sports betting to lift the trophy in Berlin. Patriotism and optimism is a heady brew.

Or perhaps people are sensing that something feels fated in Germany, with Gareth Southgate’s strugglers somehow finding a way through each and every time. 

In the quarters a penalty shoot-out was negotiated. In the last 16, facing an ignominious exit at the hands of Slovakia, and with mere seconds remaining, a player who had been anonymous to that point pulled off an unbelievable bicycle kick to equalise. 

It was a special goal by a special talent who has elsewhere not been especially special at all. 

1) Arda Guler v Georgia 

With the Euros just four days old, Turkey and Georgia played out the game of the competition, each on the front foot throughout. 

At the half-hour mark Georgia’s Mikautadze cancelled out Mert Muldur’s superb volley, a goal only omitted here so that no game is featured twice.

And then, entering stage right, Turkey’s greatest young talent for at least a generation took possession 30 yards out, was given far too much time, and took full advantage of it, wrapping his boot around a shot that fizzed low and hard beyond the reach of the despairing keeper. 

It was a goal that announced Guler’s genius to the world. It was a coronation.

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*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

• Martina Navratilova is the most successful female tennis player at Wimbledon in the Open Era

• Navratilova’s nine titles is two more than Steffi Graf and Serena Williams

• Only nine different women have won multiple titles since the start of the Open Era in 1968

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The women’s draw at Wimbledon can be split into very different eras. Several of the game’s all-time greats have enjoyed periods of dominance at the All England Club, making them hefty tennis betting favourites for years in a row.

Running down the most successful women in Wimbledon history, we find several spells of repeat winners.

Women have won two or more Wimbledon singles’ titles on the bounce on nine occasions in the Open Era, starting with Billie Jean King’s back-to-back success in the 1970s.

Wimbledon has been unpredictable from a sports betting perspective in recent years. The three most recent champions were all first-time winners. As the list of Wimbledon Women’s winners below shows, though, that has not always been the case.

Wimbledon Women's Winners:

• 1968 – Billie Jean King

• 1969 – Ann Jones

• 1970 – Margaret Court

• 1971 – Evonne Goolagong

• 1972 – Billie Jean King

• 1973 – Billie Jean King

• 1974 – Chris Evert

• 1975 – Billie Jean King

• 1976 – Chris Evert

• 1977 – Virginia Wade

• 1978 – Martina Navratilova 

• 1979 - Martina Navratilova

• 1980 – Evonne Goolagong Cawley

• 1981 – Chris Evert Lloyd

• 1982 - Martina Navratilova

• 1983 - Martina Navratilova

• 1984 - Martina Navratilova

• 1985 - Martina Navratilova

• 1986 - Martina Navratilova

• 1987 - Martina Navratilova

• 1988 – Steffi Graf

• 1989 – Steffi Graf

• 1990 - Martina Navratilova

• 1991 – Steffi Graf

• 1992 – Steffi Graf

• 1993 – Steffi Graf

• 1994 – Conchita Martinez

• 1995 – Steffi Graf

• 1996 – Steffi Graf

• 1997 – Martina Hingis 

• 1998 – Jana Novotna

• 1999 – Lindsay Davenport

• 2000 – Venus Williams

• 2001 – Venus Williams

• 2002 – Serena Williams

• 2003 – Serena Williams

• 2004 – Maria Sharapova

• 2005 – Venus Williams 

• 2006 – Amelie Mauresmo

• 2007 – Venus Williams

• 2008 – Venus Williams 

• 2009 – Serena Williams 

• 2010 – Serena Williams

• 2011 – Petra Kvitova

• 2012 – Serena Williams

• 2013 – Marion Bartoli 

• 2014 – Petra Kvitova

• 2015 – Serena Williams

• 2016 – Serena Williams

• 2017 – Gabrine Muguruza

• 2018 – Angelique Kerber

• 2019 – Simona Halep

• 2020 – Tournament Cancelled

• 2021 - Ashleigh Barty

• 2022 - Elena Rybakina

• 2023 - Markéta Vondroušová

• 2024 - TBC

Most Successful Female Players

Martina Navratilova’s nine singles titles, spanning three decades, makes her the most successful woman in Wimbledon singles history. Navratilova added seven doubles titles for good measure, too.

Only Margaret Court has enjoyed more success at a Grand Slam with her 11 Australian Open titles.

Navratilova also ranks joint-third all-time in total singles Slam titles – Serena Williams (23) and Steffi Graf (22) are the only women in the Open Era to have won more.

Such was Navratilova’s sustained success, she appeared in finals in multiple different eras of the women’s game.

Her rivalry with Chris Evert (five times meeting in the final) is what is perhaps best remembered, but Navratilova also duelled with Graf in three finals in the late 1980s and faced Conchita Martinez in the 1994 final.

Graf was near unbeatable at Wimbledon for a long period. Following her 1987 final defeat to Navratilova, the German star won seven of the next nine titles.

Graf’s only losses in that period were a semi-final, three-set upset to Zina Garrison (who then lost to Navratilova in the final) and one of the greatest shocks in Grand Slam history in the first round in 1994.

Behind Navratilova and Graf, only two other women have more than four Wimbledon singles titles in the Open Era. Serena and Venus Williams have a combined 12 titles, with Serena’s seven putting her level with Graf.

Serena is one of the richest tennis players ever. Many consider her the GOAT, and she is unquestionably one of the best athletes of the 21st century.

It was actually Venus who broke through at Wimbledon first, however, defeating Lindsay Davenport in 2000 and Justine Henin in 2001.

Serena got the better of her sister in the final in the two following seasons. That wasn’t the last time the sisters matched up on Centre Court in the last match of the tournament, however. Venus beat Serena in straight sets for her fifth title in 2008. 12 months later, Serena got revenge to win her third title.

Serena defended her title again in 2010 – the Williams sisters won nine of 11 Wimbledon titles between 2000 and 2010 (Serena was runner-up in one of the other two).

Since 2010, Serena has won three more Wimbledon titles and been runner-up twice. Venus made her ninth final in 2017.

The aforementioned quartet have combined for 28 Wimbledon singles titles in the Open Era. Only two others, Billie Jean King and Chris Evert, have won more than two.

King started the Open Era off with her third consecutive singles crown, beating Judy Tegart in two sets. King won three in four years in the 1970s, with Evert splitting up her period of dominance by winning in 1974 and 1976.

Evert won her third and final title in 1981. Despite finishing with three titles, Evert’s Wimbledon career could have been so much more – the Florida born star lost seven Wimbledon finals throughout her career, contributing to her unwanted record of the most Grand Slam finals losses of all-time (16).

Find more information about some of tennis’ most extraordinary records in our article on Wimbledon men’s winners.

Wimbledon Amateur Era:

American Helen Wills Moody led the way in the Amateur Era, winning eight titles between 1927 and 1938.

Dorothea Lambert Chambers is second to Wills Moody with seven titles, though Lambert Chambers’ successes came between 1903 and 1914 when Wimbledon was in a different format.

Three of Lambert Chambers’ titles came through defending the challenge round.

Brit Blanche Bingley and French right-hander Suzanne Lenglen won six titles apiece in the Amateur Era. Lenglen dominated the women’s game at the All England Club with all six of her titles coming between 1919 and 1925.

Billie Jean King and Margaret Court are the only women to have lifted the Wimbledon trophy in the Amateur Era and the Open Era. Court defeated King in the 1963 final. King’s successes came in the two events before the Open Era.

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*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

Down the years, and especially in the modern era, top-flight clubs have routinely released promising academy players for the cruellest of reasons. It’s because the youngsters in question are too small.

Talent never comes into their thinking, nor the player’s work ethic or dedication to improvement. Nature has decreed that the individual is destined to always wear shirts that look too baggy on him and so onto the scrapheap he goes.

Naturally, such a hardline approach has come back to bite the clubs on occasion, with famous instances galore. 

Premier League's Shortest Players:

• Shaun Wright-Phillips - 5ft 6 
• Daniel Podence - 5ft 5 
• Aaron Lennon - 5ft 5 
• Ethan Nwaneri - 5ft 5
• Jody Morris - 5ft 5 
• Billy Gilmour - 5ft 5
• Alan Wright - 5ft 4 
• Ryan Fraser - 5ft 4
• Tariq Lamptey - 5ft 4
• Bernard - 5ft 3

Aged just nine, Harry Kane was shown the door at Arsenal for being too diminutive. He eventually grew to a strapping 6ft 2 and became a ruthless goal-machine for Spurs, England and Bayern Munich.

Franck Ribery is another who was prematurely judged on his height. At 16 years of age and already showing the attributes that would make him a French footballing legend, the winger was turfed out by Lille for his below-average stature. How they must have come to regret that decision.

The list goes on: Antoine Griezmann, Joao Felix, Andy Robertson, all of whom suffered knockbacks when younger due to their size.

These examples however all have one thing in common. They grew. But what about the players who didn’t, those who remained at eye-level to Peter Crouch’s knees?

Here is a list of the ten smallest players to ever appear in the Premier League. They overcame prejudice to make the grade and deserve an enormous amount of respect for that. They certainly deserve better than that cheap Crouch joke. 

Shaun Wright-Phillips

Strictly speaking, there has been a handful of top-flight stars a couple of millimetres shorter than the former Manchester City and Chelsea winger. Wright-Phillips though simply has to be on this list.

That’s because when we think of diminutive footballers who is one of the first that springs to mind? Well, exactly.

We picture him slaloming down the right, his shirt bellowing in motion like a tent on a washing line in a strong breeze. 

Back in his pomp City were not the annual favourites in the Premier League betting they are today. But the Maine Road faithful had little ‘Shauny-Wright-Wright-Wright’ to give them hope and he was adored for that. 

Daniel Podence

After showing some positive signs at Wolves, Daniel Podence was sent on loan to Olympiacos before being sold to the Saudi Pro League.

It's a shame his Premier League career was cut short, because Podence was always a joy to watch, his low centre of gravity, nimble footwork and darting speed from a standing start meaning he could conjure up a cross from the tightest of spots. 

Aaron Lennon

Retiring in 2022, the former Spurs, Everton and Burnley flyer had similar attributes to Podence, but additionally was direct.

Not for Lennon was the temptation to indulge in unnecessary trickery, not when he had such explosive pace to rely on to beat his man. 

Across just shy of two decades at the top it became a very familiar sight, the 21-cap England international sizing an opponent up, then knocking the ball past him for a foot-race where there was only going to be one winner. 

Ethan Nwaneri

Nwaneri was still on schoolboy terms at Arsenal when he was thrown on against West Ham last season for the last 13 minutes.

Aged just 15 years and 181 days it made him the youngest ever player to appear in the English top-flight.

According to Mikel Arteta post-match, he was convinced by the youngster’s team-mates on the bench to hand him such an early debut. Being 6-0 up at the time was also probably a factor. 

Jody Morris

Morris is the first non-winger to be name-checked here and furthermore was a midfielder who was often in the midst of the action.

He was combative and full of energy; a player charged with keeping his side ticking over while also ensuring no liberties were taken by the opposition. 

The born-and-bred Londoner grew up a close friend of John Terry and together the pair broke into the Chelsea set-up.

Though his friend obviously went on to have the more illustrious career, Morris made 124 appearances for the Blues and was briefly made captain. 

Billy Gilmour

Like Morris, Gilmour started out at Stamford Bridge, but with fierce competition for starting roles in the middle of the park the Scot found himself loaned out to Norwich.

There he struggled to make an impact and for a while it looked like this cultured schemer might slip down the divisions, that was until Brighton swooped in 2022, offering up £9m.

After impressing on the south coast, Gilmour was snapped up by Napoli for around £12 million in 2024. 

Alan Wright

Nicknamed the ‘Mighty Atom’, Wright galloped down the left for any number of clubs but he will always be chiefly associated with Aston Villa, turning out for the Villans with distinction on 260 occasions.

Given England’s dearth of quality left-backs when he was in his prime, and given that he was voted into the PFA Team of the Year in 1996, it amazes that he was never furnished with an England cap.  

Ryan Fraser

A pocket dynamo of a left winger who has always been much younger than his age suggests, Ryan Fraser had been on the periphery at Newcastle before moving to Southampton. 

Returning to the Premier League for 2024-25, Fraser was no more than a fringe player as Southampton lived up to the preseason betting expectations by suffering relegation in their first season back in the big time.

Tariq Lamptey

Huge things were expected of the tiny right-back when he first broke onto the scene at Brighton, his dribbling and attacking intent that of a winger, his defensive attributes bolstered by tenacity. 

Alas, injuries have curtailed his progress, the Chelsea academy star succumbing to a serious knee problem that ruled him out for nearly a full year.

Returning to action at the start of 2024, the hype may be gone now but the talent remains. 

Bernard

The high-point of the Brazilian’s three-year stint at Goodison Park came against Spurs in the FA Cup, Bernard scoring an extra-time winner to complete a ridiculous 5-4 thriller.

That aside, he struggled to make his mark on Merseyside despite being a regular for the Selecao just a few years earlier.

At times, the tricky winger played on the left with Theo Walcott on the right. For spectators it must have felt like they were watching the game from very far away.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

• Erling Haaland has quickly become one of the best strikers in the world

• Starring for Dortmund and Norway, Haaland is breaking goalscoring records at a prolific rate

• At the center of transfer rumours, Haaland’s net worth is going to grow rapidly

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Erling Haaland’s ascension has been dramatic. Not so long ago, Haaland was on the periphery of football betting with RB Salzburg. Still in the early years of his career, he’s already one of the best players in the world.

Ballon d’Or betting odds put Haaland among the top talents in world football. This isn’t a player making his name or battling for recognition.

Haaland has arrived on the world stage – he makes Borussia Dortmund a Champions League contender, and he leads a thrilling generation of gifted Norwegians.

How Much Is Erling Haaland Worth?

Having only spent a couple of years at the pinnacle of the game, his net worth is not quite at the heights of his more experienced peers.

With his statistics soaring, and many of Europe’s wealthiest clubs pursuing his signature, though, it’s a matter of time until Haaland is receiving one of the biggest salaries in sport.

Not many players strike fear into defences quite like Erling Haaland. Every step in his career will be followed closely, and he’s got the ability to change the fortune of any club. Here’s everything you need to know about the Dortmund star.

In recent years, the Ballon d’Or discourse has been focused around two men. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo won it every year from 2008 until 2018, when Luka Modric broke their streak.

It hasn’t always been such a simple decision, though.

Best Players To Miss Out On FIFA Ballon d'Or

• Paolo Maldini

• Thierry Henry

• Andres Iniesta

• Ferenc Puskas

• Jimmy Greaves

Modric’s selection was the result of a wider debate, and in many years, the award has been controversial, with the widely considered best player often missing out on the famous trophy.

Some of the best players of all-time have never held the Ballon d’Or (or FIFA World Player Of The Year) aloft. A combination of timing and fortune has seen some greats miss out.

We’ve compiled a list of the five best players to never win the Ballon d’Or...

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*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*