The National Football Museum Hall of Fame aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements of those who have made an outstanding contribution to the national game.
Established in 2002, to date 190 players, managers and teams have been inducted into England’s football Hall of Fame in recognition of the impact they have made on the game and its ongoing development.
The Hall of Fame relaunched in 2019 with a commitment to achieve 50% female representation of women in the game. Recent inductees include Carol Thomas, Kerry Davis, Jack Leslie, and Vincent Kompany.
Visitors to the Museum can explore the Hall of Fame through objects and items in our galleries and displays. You can read the personal stories of the National Football Museum Hall of Fame through our online library below.
Rebecca Welch
The first woman to be appointed to referee EFL and Premier League fixtures.
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Frank Soo
The first player of Chinese origin to play in the Football League and to represent an England team.
Mary Phillip
A hugely successful centre-half who was the first Black woman to captain England.
Steph Houghton
A dependable defender and resolute leader for club and country.
Jack Greenwell
From a mining town in County Durham to Barcelona’s longest-serving manager.
Brendon Batson
West Bromwich Albion’s pioneering right-back.
Jill Scott
Lionesses centurion, Manchester City midfielder and national icon.
Vincent Kompany
Manchester City skipper and an all-time Premier League great.
Jack Leslie
Plymouth Argyle sensation and the first Black player to receive an England call-up.
Kerry Davis
A versatile forward for club and country, and one of the Lionesses’ first prominent (and prolific) Black players.
Carol Thomas
An influential right-back who became the first woman to win 50 England caps.
Walter Tull
The British Army’s first officer of mixed-race heritage and one of the country’s first black professionals.
Paul Ince
Man Utd’s box-to-box engine, and the first black player to captain England.
Terry Butcher
Ipswich Town and England’s famously resolute skipper and centre-half.
Karen Carney
A successful winger at domestic level and one of England’s most capped players of all time.
- Gordon Banks
- George Best
- Matt Busby
- Eric Cantona
- John Charles
- Bobby Charlton
- Brian Clough
- Kenny Dalglish
- Dixie Dean
- Peter Doherty
- Duncan Edwards
- Alex Ferguson
- Tom Finney
- Paul Gascoigne
- Jimmy Greaves
- Johnny Haynes
- Kevin Keegan
- Denis Law
- Nat Lofthouse
- Dave Mackay
- Stanley Matthews
- Bobby Moore
- Bob Paisley
- Lily Parr
- Alf Ramsey
- Bryan Robson
- Bill Shankly
- Peter Shilton
- Billy Wright
- Alan Ball
- Danny Blanchflower
- Herbert Chapman
- Stan Cullis
- Pat Jennings
- Tommy Lawton
- Gary Lineker
- Stan Mortensen
- Bill Nicholson
- Hope Powell
- Bobby Robson
- Peter Schmeichel
- Arthur Wharton
- Tony Adams
- Viv Anderson
- Billy Bremner
- Geoff Hurst
- Sue Lopez
- Roy Keane
- Wilf Mannion
- Don Revie
- Alan Shearer
- Debbie Bampton
- John Barnes
- Colin Bell
- Jack Charlton
- Ryan Giggs
- Alex James
- Howard Kendall
- Bert Trautmann
- Walter Winterbottom
- Ian Wright
- Liam Brady
- Gillian Coultard
- Ron Greenwood
- Alan Hansen
- Roger Hunt
- Jackie Milburn
- Martin Peters
- Ian Rush
- Arsene Wenger
- Gianfranco Zola
- Peter Beardsley
- Dennis Bergkamp
- Stephen Daley
- Glenn Hoddle
- Mark Hughes
- Billy Meredith
- Niall Quinn
- Graeme Souness
- Nobby Stiles
- Terry Venables
- Karen Walker
- Joan Whalley
- Sheffield FC
- Jimmy Armfield
- David Beckham
- Steve Bloomer
- Pauline Cope
- Thierry Henry
- Emlyn Hughes
- Steve Johnson
- Bertie Mee
- Paul Scholes
- Ray Wilson
- Manchester United 1968
- Liverpool 1978
- Malcolm Allison
- Ossie Ardiles
- Cliff Bastin
- Trevor Brooking
- George Cohen
- Robbie Earle
- Frank McLintock
- Joe Mercer
- Len Shackleton
- Teddy Sheringham
- Marieanne Spacey
- Frank Swift
- Ronnie Watson
- Manchester United 1950s
- Manchester City late 1960s / early 1970s
- Charlie Buchan
- Ian Callaghan
- Harry Catterick
- Ray Clemence
- George Ferguson
- Johnny Giles
- Jimmy Hill
- Francis Lee
- Alf Ramsey
- Brenda Sempare
- Clem Stephenson
- Graham Taylor
- England 1966
- Raich Carter
- David Clarke
- Ebenezer Cobb Morley
- Eddie Gray
- Cliff Jones
- Matthew Le Tissier
- William McGregor
- Sheila Parker
- Mike Summerbee
- Jack Taylor
- Ray Wilkins
- Civil Service FC
- Aston Villa 1982 (2011)
- Matt Dimbylow
- Trevor Francis
- Hughie Gallacher
- Sylvia Gore
- Jimmy McIlroy
- Michael Owen
- Patrick Vieira
- The Football Battalion
- Preston North End “Invincibles”
- Ivor Allchurch
- Bob Crompton
- Gary Davies
- Norman Hunter
- Sun Jihai
- Paul McGrath
- Alan Mullery
- Gary Neville
- Stuart Pearce
- Faye White
- Rachel Brown-Finnis
- Rio Ferdinand
- Denis Irwin
- Mark Lawrenson
- Billy Liddell
- John Robertson
- David Seaman
- Martin Sinclair
- Neville Southall
- Gordon Strachan
- Rachel Unitt
- Cambridge University 1856
- Notts County 1862
- Nottingham Forest 1979-80
- Billy Bonds
- Steven Gerrard
- Frank Lampard
- Hugh McIlvanney
- Alistair Patrick-Heselton
- Charlie Roberts
- Kelly Smith
- Gary Speed
- Bob Wilson
- Rachel Yankey
- Cyrille Regis
- Alex Scott
- Justin Fashanu
- Terry Butcher
- Karen Carney
- Paul Ince
- Carol Thomas
- Walter Tull
- Kerry Davis
- Vincent Kompany
- Jack Leslie
- Jill Scott
- Brendon Batson
- Jack Greenwell
- Steph Houghton
- Mary Phillip
- Frank Soo
- Rebecca Welch
Nominations
Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination for the National Football Museum Hall of Fame. There are three application windows per year, and nominees must meet the eligibility criteria to be considered.
Please ensure you have read the Hall of Fame eligibility criteria before submitting your nomination.
Nominees must meet the following eligibility criteria.
- Be a retired Coach, Manager, Player, Referee and/or Support Personnel;
- Have coached, managed, played and/or refereed football in England at elite level for a minimum of 5-years;
- Have a profile, persona and values which are aligned to the values, brand and ethos of the National Football Museum.
- Have made a tangible and evidence-based outstanding contribution towards English football based on any of the following 3 principles:
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- Achieved significant success with a Club, League and/or the English national programme – including considerable competitive achievements in elite English football as a Coach, Manager, Player, Referee and/or Support Personnel; or
- Changed the game for the greater good – significantly contributed to the ongoing development of English football, acting with integrity to enhance the diversity, inclusivity and positive impact of the game; or
- Pioneered or championed inclusion and/or diversity (directly or indirectly) – actively advocated for football to be diverse, inclusive and accessible for all.
You can download the full eligibility police by clicking here.
2024/25: 2 September – 30 November 2024 and 6 January – 31 March 2025.
2025/26: To be announced.
Please use our online form to make your nomination.
Eligible nominees are shortlisted by the Main Panel using the Hall of Fame scorecard, with the 10 highest scoring nominees progressing to the next stage. In the event of a tie for 10th place, the Chair’s decision is final.
The Executive Panel then score the shortlist and convene to review the outcome. A maximum of three of the highest scoring nominees are inducted into the Hall of Fame. In the event of a tie for a 3rd place, the Chair’s decision is final.
The Selection Panels and members provide fair and just representation from across the football sector within England. They may include historians, media, industry leaders and existing Hall of Fame Inductees who are highly knowledgeable about football, its history, its coaches, managers, players, referees, support personnel and personalities.
Can I make a nomination for the Hall of Fame?
Yes, anyone is welcome to make a nomination if they meet the eligibility criteria.
How many times can I nominate?
You can nominate multiple individuals – however we can only accept one form per nomination. The number of Nomination Forms we receive does NOT affect the shortlisting or selection process.
For example, if a supporters club want to nominate a player, please submit one form on behalf of the group, not individually.
My nomination wasn’t successful. Can I reapply?
Yes, you are welcome to apply again in future application window. Maximum of one re-submission.
How many individuals do you induct into the Hall of Fame?
A maximum of nine individuals can be inducted into the Hall of Fame per year.