This is an interesting article compiled by Vital Football: http://www.southampton.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=394738 In it you'll find a ranked list of all clubs for whom every England international was playing when he made his full international debut. Tottenham and Villa head the rankings with 73 players, while Saints are in 18th place with 33. Can anyone name all 33? As the article concludes, it would be interesting to see the rankings based on which clubs' academies contributed the most future internationals, regardless of which club they were playing for when they eventually got picked.
When I read your first lines I immediately thought "how many started with us"... I couldn't name 33! I could pick an all time "played for Saints & England 11" Shilton Mills Wright Watson Bertrand Paine Williams Ball Channon Le Tissier Keegan Subs: Forster, Clyne, Armstrong, Shearer, Lambert, Lallana, *I've missed an obvious one, I know*
Quite an impressive 33 when you consider that the contribution probably only got going in the late 40s and 50s because football wasn't played any further south than London. Before then it was well known that Southerners only sailed boats and/or had picnics in the New Forest.
Well let's think about this... I can't imagine there would be anyone from the Southern League days, or the early years in the Football League upto WWII, but stranger things have happened. For sure, Chivers' England debut occurred when he was at Spurs. Alf Ramsey Terry Paine Mick Channon A mere 30 more to go..!
The legendary C.B.Fry got his only cap for England at football in 1901, while he played for Saints. He must have been the first I imagine.
Tom Parker was better known as an Arsenal player, but he had his only England cap playing for Saints.
In more recent years we've had Matt Le Tiss, and of course Lallana, Lambert, and now Clyne. 24 to go.