301: Teddy Sheringham, Manchester United, Merlin’s F.A. Premier League 2000, Millennium Edition Sticker Collection

Today Mat Jolin-Beech takes a look at another esteemed member of the Premier League’s ‘100 Club’ who was integral to some of the greatest moments in English football during the 1990s and early 2000s before launching his own sporting dynasty to rival a certain Icelandic forward. Despite what we learn about said offspring in today’s post I will always be grateful for his fictional goals for my Ebbsfleet United side in the glory days of Football Manager 2008. Over to Mat.

Think of great English strikers. Your mind will probably go to one of the following, depending on your generation. Alan Shearer. Wayne Rooney. Michael Owen. Gary Lineker. Jimmy Greaves, Or, if you’re a Tottenham Hotspur fan, Harry Kane. But one name that isn’t towards the top of the list, but perhaps should be for both his exploits for club and country is one Edward Paul, aka Teddy, Sheringham.

Not only did his career span well over two decades, but he was part of the glorious summer of 1996, a key part of Manchester United’s treble winning team, and is the oldest player to score in the Premier League aged 40 years and 272 days. He also likes playing a bit of poker. But Teddy is a footballer and is part of a line of footballing Sheringhams. His father Paul dallied with the pitch, although not at a professional level. He once turned up to a high-level amateur/semi-pro game, and when they were short, brought on his then teenage son to make up the numbers.

Then going down the generations, is Charlie. Not only does Charlie also play as a striker, just like his old man, but he has had the honour of playing for the short-lived Crystal Palace Baltimore. A somewhat nomadic career followed those heights, including stints at Bournemouth, Cambridge City, Welling United, Dartford, and Leatherhead. During that time, he crossed paths with the son of a former colleague.

He sadly had just suffered a bad knee injury and was recovering, meaning he did not get much of an opportunity to play with Charlie. But by all accounts, Charlie’s ego was still above non-league at that time. Some people have even said that ego was with him from a young age. Thinking he was cooler than his school contemporaries. That he was destined for big things, and that, well, his dad was Teddy Sheringham don’t you know. The more I dig into Teddy’s life, the more surprised I am that he appears not to be the person I thought he was, and that he was perhaps more like the impression I’ve got of Charlie. 

As a kid, I thought Teddy was a clean-cut, model professional, ultimate nice guy. As I’ve got older, the stories relating to the dentist chair and drunken escapades on a Cathay Pacific flight. Then there are plenty more stories about his personal life, marriages, and high-profile women who he is alleged to have dated. Still, his playing career is one to be proud of, and is currently the pick of the Sheringham footballing crop. He remains one of the best strikers to play for England and has won big trophies at club level – all despite playing for Spurs. 

I’m sure Harry Kane looks on with jealousy at Teddy’s trophies and high esteem he is held in by many football fans. A botched move to Manchester City, poor recent form for club and country, and lack of a son plying a trade in the lower leagues means to me, he will never be as good as the second ‘S’ in the 90s true SAS.