The Championship.
The bubbling-pot of English football. Where great men such as Neil Warnock, Steve Bruce and Mick McCarthy have been forged in fire and sweat. Half-time pies are still rife and you can even buy a ticket for a Saturday 3pm kick-off that’s less than £100.
In this league, the boys are separated from the men, and every season 24 teams slog it out for three slots in the Premier League promised land. Arguably, the Championship is where high-quality football and pure fan dedication meet in the truest sense. No armchair fans to be seen in this league.
The Championship has produced some astoundingly good players, who’ve done absolute bits in the league itself but also gone on to be established in the Prem and world football. Every player in this article has played minutes in the Championship, that’s our only rule. We’ve shown the year they made their Championship league debut.
But who is the greatest ever Championship player? 🍿 😳
Here’s our 7 suggestions 👀
1. JAMIE VARDY - LEICESTER CITY 2012
Famous for his pre-match Red Bull & packet of crisps, Vardy made his Championship debut in 2012 for the mighty Leicester City, after being signed from Fleetwood Town for £1million. It’s fair to say Vardy has paid that milly back and then some.
His first Championship league game was at the King Power Stadium vs Peterborough, where he got an assist in a 2-0 victory. His first Championship goal came in a 2–1 away defeat to Blackburn Rovers on 25 August.
It looks like his time at Leicester is coming to an end, though - ironically as the Foxes relegation to the Championship. Vardy's future remains unclear for now - but with Leicester needing to trim their very bulky wage bill, the seasoned striker may well be heading for pastures new.
Relive Vardy’s Championship Days with a Cult Kit
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2. GARETH BALE - SOUTHAMPTON 2006
This man’s trophy cabinet is more packed than a tin of sardines on a rush-hour train home. Gazza Bale has certainly cleaned up on the world football stage, winning a stonking; 5 Champions Leagues, 4 Club World Cubs, 3 La Ligas and even a cheeky English League Cup with trophy-less Spurs.
Of course his European silverware haul came at Real Madrid, but Bale’s career began at Southampton where he graced the Championship with 40 appearances. His first Championship game was at home in a 2-0 victory over Millwall. His first Championship goal was a free-kick, in a 2-2 away draw against Derby County at Pride Park.
Back in 2020, Bale was ranked the second fastest player on planet football - clocking an incredible 
36.9 km/h - quicker even than Kylian Mbappe. Insane.
Relive Bale’s Championship Days with a Cult Kit
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Other Bale clubs:
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3. CRAIG BELLAMY - CARDIFF 2010
Craig Bellamy, what an absolute weapon. We mean that in every sense of the word. Bellamy has had a real journeyman career, playing for Newcastle, West Ham, Liverpool, City and more. After tearing things up in the Prem with Manchester City in 2009, disagreements with new manager Mancini pushed the Welshman to explore a return to his boyhood club, Cardiff City, who were then in the Championship.
His first Championship game was in a home 4-0 win over Doncaster Rovers, where in typical Bellamy style he scored a thunderous 35 yard free-kick. In 2010, he made a total of 34 Championship appearances for Cardiff, scoring 11 goals.
Despite such a colourful career, Bellamy is probably best remembered for THAT Liverpool golf-club bust up with John Arne Rise 😳.
Relive Bellamy’s Championship Days with a Cult Kit
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Other Bellamy clubs:
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4. JOLEON LESCOTT - WOLVES 2004
On his day, what a baller. Lescott played in the first ever Championship season in 2004 with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He played a whopping 212 games for the Old Gold, 87 of which came in the Championship. Lescott sealed a spot in the Championship Team of the year in 05/06.
After a few successful seasons at Everton, he made a move to money-rich Man City where he went on to win 2 Premier League titles, 1 FA cup and 2 League Cups. Lescott even snuck in 26 caps for England, quite the rise for a man from Wolves’ academy.
Lescott, who has scars on his forehead and hairline after getting hit by a car when he was a five-year-old, finished his career with spells at West Brom and Sunderland.
Relive Lescott’s Championship Days with a Cult Kit
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Other Lescott clubs:
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5. JAMES MADDISON - NORWICH 2016
Madders, now known for his wand of a right-foot, pinging in pile-drivers for Leicester City and generally causing a nuisance for the Big 6. He’s one of the Premier Leagues most talented midfielders and on his day, could get into any team in the world.
Maddison made his Championship debut for Norwich in 2017, scoring in a 3-1 away win against Preston North End. From then, Madders broke into the Norwich first team and established his place as a regular starter. He ended that season as Norwich’s Player of the Season and with a cheeky nomination for the EFL Championship Young Player of the Year.
He rose to international prominence while at Leicester, where his outstanding performances earnt him international honours. However, he agonizingly missed out on England's 2022 World Cup squad despite statistically being one of the most effective attacking midfielders in the Premier League.
Relive Maddison’s Championship Days with a Cult Kit
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Other Maddison clubs:
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[SHOP THE COVENTRY CITY COLLECTION]
6. DARREN BENT - IPSWICH 2004
An absolute icon of English football, Darren Bent terrorised defences for clubs and country for nearly 18 years. Criminally underrated, he was a prolific marksman and an all-round dangerman. He’s played for some of England's biggest clubs from Charlton, Spurs, Villa, Derby & more.
His Championship days began with the mighty Ipswich Town, where he played in the first ever Championship season in 2004. He scored 56 goals in 140 games for the Town, so he’ll always hold a fond place in the Tractor Boys’ hearts.
Relive Bent’s Championship Days with a Cult Kit
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Other Bent clubs:
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7. JOHN STONES - BARNSLEY 2011
Finally, we’ve got the legend from up-north, John Stones. Stonesey has made a serious name for himself in the Prem, renowned for being an intelligent reader of the game and being great with the ball at his feet. For Man City, he’s won pretty much everything there is to win, apart from that elusive Champions League 😳
Stones started his Championship days at Barnsley, where he played 24 games, his debut in a 4-0 defeat to Reading. He scored his first Barnsley goal in a 4-3 League Cup victory against Rochdale.
Relive Stones' Championship Days with a Cult Kit
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Other Stones' clubs:
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8. MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE - SHEFFIELD UNITED 2022
The Wolves loanee was in sensational form for the Blades during the 2021/22 season, getting off to a flying start by scoring on his debut and again on his second game. The England under-21 international, who is in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, became a key player as the Blades reached the play-offs, eventually losing to Nottingham Forest on penalties.
So impressed were Forest with Gibbs-White that they splurged more than £25 million on him soon after securing their promotion to the Premier League - and while it was a hefty sum of money to spend on an inexperienced player, he has looked the part at the City Ground.
Surely full international honours are just around the corner.
Relive Gibbs White's Championship Days with a Cult Kit
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Who was the greatest ever player to play in the Championship?
So there you have it, some absolute belting players have graced the Championship when you really think about it. But what do you think, did we get it right... who is the greatest ever player to play in the Championship?
Let us know on Twitter:
Who's the greatest ever Championship player? 🍿 😳
— Cult Kits (@cultkits) August 1, 2022
You won't beat these 7 suggestions 👀https://t.co/kcg9sZmULp
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1 comment
Think you missed the best…..Harry kane