In the early
1980s, Nunthorpe, on the southern edge of the Middlesbrough conurbation, gave
birth to and raised three of our most prominent sportsmen. Amazingly, in the space of six years, from
1980-85, three individuals were born there who were all to rise to
international stardom in recent times.
The eldest of
these, Jonathan Woodgate, was born on 22nd January 1980 . Appearing for club sides Leeds , Newcastle , Real Madrid, Middlesbrough , Spurs and (currently) Stoke, he rose to the very top of his
profession when he appeared for England eight
times during 1999-2008. An immensely talented centre-half, his career has been
cruelly blighted by injury, misfortune and not a little controversy.
Chris Tomlinson
was born on 15th
September 1981 , and has been Britain ’s
premier long-jumper since he broke the long-standing national record in the
discipline in 2002, and, though he missed out on the 2008 Olympic Final, he
remains a high hope for London 2012.
Liam Plunkett is
the youngest of Nunthorpe’s sporting stars, entering this world on 6th April 1985 . He has excelled for Durham County Cricket Club since making his
debut for them in 2003, moving into the upper echelons of the cricketing world
during 2005-07 with several appearances for England
at both Test and One-Day International level. He enjoyed Championship success
with Durham in 2008 and 2009, and remains on the fringe of the national team.
I assume all
three were born in the (now closed) Poole Hospital to
the south of the modern-day Nunthorpe – though I stand to be corrected.
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