The shortest England career in history belongs, ignonimously, to Peter Ward. The Brighton and Hove Albion striker,
with 16 goals to his name in a good season (he is pictured above playing for Albion during that 79/80 campaign),
earned a place on Ron Greenwood's reservist trip to Australia prior to the 1980 European Championships,
but only got six minutes as a late sub for Alan Sunderland, and never came back. He was called up because
the main squad was resting prior to the big business in Italy, and has become something of a cult figure with
England fans as a consequence. A big-money move to Nottingham Forest shortly afterwards was a disaster
and he soon sank in status. Brian Marwood's nine-minute cameo in 1988 is the closest subsequent attempt
to 'break' the record. (Matthew Rudd) |