As the Premier League marches on into a new decade, it would seem that the stakes have never been higher for our clubs. The financial benefits of top-flight football make relegation unthinkable for smaller teams, while the spectre of failing to land trophies or a European place looms large over the traditional powerhouses. Squads are necessarily bigger and more foreign players are now plying their trade on our shores.
All of these factors are either explanations for the Premier League being widely regarded as the best league in the world, or the consequences of such a belief. But what does this state of affairs mean for young players who are hoping to make it to the top, particularly those grafting in non-league? The natural conclusion is that rough diamonds are now very unlikely to break through from the semi-professional ranks. However, this has not always been the case and still cannot be applied as a strict rule of thumb. Here, Sport.co.uk takes a look at the top ten players to have made it from non-league to Premier League.
1. Ian Wright
Wright was snapped up by Crystal Palace just short of his 22nd birthday after being spotted playing for Sunday league side Greenwich Borough. After plundering 117 goals in 277 games in all competitions for the Eagles, he earned himself a move to Arsenal. He was an instant hit at Highbury and achieved legendary status by smashing Cliff Bastin's long-standing club goalscoring record (although this was later surpassed by Thierry Henry). He fired a total of 185 goals for the north London giants and also picked up 33 England caps, scoring on nine occasions.
2. Les Ferdinand
'Sir Les' cut his teeth at Southall and Hayes before being snapped up by QPR for £15,000 in 1987. He eventually established himself as one of the most feared strikers of his generation at Loftus Road, hitting 90 goals in 184 games. Newcastle recognised his qualities and paid £6m to bring him to the north-east, where he formed a deadly partnership with Alan Shearer. A hugely impressive 50 goals in 84 games - and consecutive Premier League runners-up medals - followed on Tyneside before he was sold to Tottenham. Ferdinand also managed to pull on the England shirt on 17 occasions, scoring five goals.
3. Stuart Pearce
'Psycho' will forever be remembered by England fans for his vein-bursting celebration of a successful penalty against Spain in Euro 96, following his miss against the Germans in the World Cup semi-final six years earlier. However, it is easy to forget that he was playing his trade for lowly Wealdstone for five years before being picked up by Coventry in 1983 and subsequently earning legendary status at Nottingham Forest. With a career tally of 896 appearances and 110 goals - plus a haul of 76 caps for the Three Lions - Pearce is rightly regarded as one of the finest left-backs to grace the top flight in recent times.
4. Kevin Phillips
Another late bloomer, Phillips started out as a right-back but was converted to a striker when he was signed by non-league Baldock Town. He was bought by Watford at the age of 21 and a decent strike rate at Vicarage Road earned him a move to Sunderland. After firing the Black Cats to the Premier League, Phillips won the European Golden Boot in 1999-2000, finding the net on 30 occasions. Still playing in the Premier League for Birmingham and has scored 250 goals in 531 career appearances in all competitions. 'Super Kev' also won eight England caps.
5. Stan Collymore
After failing to win senior contracts at Wolves and Walsall, Collymore dropped down to the Conference - or Blue Square Premier in today's money - to learn his trade with Stafford Rangers. Spells at Crystal Palace and Southend followed, before he made his name at Nottingham Forest. The powerful striker scored 22 Premier League goals in 1994-95 as Forest finished third, which prompted Liverpool to splash out a British record £8.5m to secure his services. Collymore eventually scored 125 goals in 306 games during his career and picked up three England caps, but arguably failed to live up to his undoubted potential.
6. John Barnes
The Jamaican-born winger was spotted by Watford playing for non-league Sudbury Court and was snapped up in 1981 for the princely sum of a set of kit. Barnes played a key role as the Hornets marched from the old Fourth Division to the top flight in a six-year spell. Kenny Dalglish then paid £900,000 to take him to Liverpool in 1987, where he picked up two league titles, two FA Cup wins and a League Cup success, firing 108 goals along the way. He also played for England on 79 occasions, scoring 11 goals, including an unforgettable solo effort against Brazil in 1984.
7. Kerry Dixon
When Dixon signed for Chelsea in 1983, they were wallowing in the old Second Division - a far cry from their position at the summit of the Premier League today. However, the big striker's goals fired them into the top flight and he went on to notch 193 strikes for the Blues, placing him second in their all-time scoring charts. Dixon arrived at Stamford Bridge from Reading, who had plucked him from non-league after spells with Chesham United and Dunstable. He eventually retired in 1997 after a career that brought 276 club goals in all competitions and four in eight England appearances.
8. Steve Finnan
The Irish full-back first turned out for Welling United, before spells with Birmingham and Notts County. Finnan then joined Kevin Keegan's revolution at Fulham in 1998 and was part of the team that got promoted to the Premier League. Five years later, he earned a move to Liverpool, where he won the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Champions League. Finnan is the only player to have played in the Blue Square Premier, all four professional divisions in England, the Europa League, the Champions League and the World Cup. He has won 52 caps for the Republic of Ireland and is still playing top-flight football for Portsmouth.
9. Iain Dowie
A battering ram of a striker, Dowie spent five years in the semi-professional ranks for Cheshunt, St Albans City and Hendon before being taken on by top-flight side Luton in 1988. After a promising stint at Kenilworth Road, he moved to Southampton, via a short spell at West Ham in the Second Division. Dowie managed to fire 32 goals in 144 games for the Saints, where he played alongside legends such as Matt Le Tissier and Alan Shearer. The affable frontman also turned out for Northern Ireland on 59 occasions, scoring 12 goals.
10. Chris Smalling
The most recent addition to the non-league to Premier League ranks, Smalling was playing for Maidstone United in the Isthmian League until June 2008, when Fulham took a punt on him. Despite making just 11 senior appearances for the Cottagers to date, the 20-year-old defender immediately caught the eye of both Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger and signed for Manchester United in a £12m deal last month. He will remain on loan at Fulham until joining the Red Devils in the summer. Smalling has already picked up three England Under-21 caps and looks to have the world at his feet as he prepares to head to Old Trafford.
Honourable mentions
1. Michael Kightly
Cut his teeth at Basildon United before being dubbed the 'Ryan Giggs of non-league' for his performances at Grays. The talented midfielder recently made his Premier League debut for Wolves, although his 2009-10 season is being blighted by injury. Kightly has seven England Under-21 caps to his name.
2. Steve Guppy
Spotted by Southampton while playing for local team Colden Common, Guppy was a fantastic crosser who was once touted as the answer to England's struggle to find a top-class left winger. He enjoyed a distinguished career in the top flight, mainly with Leicester, and earned a solitary cap for his country.
3. Alan Pardew
'Pards' turned out for a host of non-league outfits - Whyteleafe, Epsom & Ewell, Corinthian Casuals, Dulwich Hamlet and Yeovil Town - before earning a move to Crystal Palace in 1987 at the age of 26. He picked up two FA Cup runners-up medals during his time in the top flight with the Eagles.