Morgan Rogers, the 23-year-old Aston Villa and England footballer, has spoken about his journey from a grassroots team in Halesowen to the England squad. His love of football began at home, with his parents and brothers being avid fans. Rogers has credited his thirst for knowledge and playing against 'bigger, quicker kids' for his rapid improvement.
Rogers has become a mainstay of Thomas Tuchel's England squad, featuring in the vast majority of games. However, he faces strong competition from midfielder Jude Bellingham for a starting role. Former West Bromwich Albion manager Darren Moore, who was part of the club's academy coaching staff when Rogers was a young player, has said that he was 'quickly identified as one of the real star performers in the academy'.
Rogers' talent was evident from an early age, not just on the pitch but also in his academic work. He attended Sandwell Academy and was part of the side that won the National Schools Cup in 2017. Scott Follis, the head of PE at Sandwell Academy, remembers Rogers as an 'excellent footballer, natural with the ball and effortless'.
Rogers' rise to fame has inspired future generations at his old school. He is continuing to break records and push the boundaries of what is possible for young footballers.