1277 players have had the honour of representing England since the Three Lions’ inaugural international fixture against Scotland in 1872.
Plenty of these stars have written themselves into folklore and become national legends, such as Peter Shilton, Paul Gascoigne and the late great Sir Bobby Charlton.
But several others have departed the international stage by barely leaving a mark, with 365 players going down in the list of one-cap wonders.
The most recent player to make their debut for the Three Lions was Rico Lewis against North Macedonia back in November, and the likes of Anthony Gordon, Jarrad Branthwaite and Kobbie Mainoo will hope earn their first caps over the coming week with clashes at Wembley against Brazil and Belgium.
Wembley has long-been the base for the national team, but in the early 2000s it was demolished and rebuilt with the ‘new Wembley’ opening up in 2007.
England hosted Brazil in a friendly in 2007 in what was the first game at the ‘new’ Wembley
![Brazil's star-studded side included the likes of Ronaldinho but England secured a 1-1 draw](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/20/18/82698643-13219921-Brazil_s_star_studded_side_included_the_likes_of_Ronaldinho_but_-a-1_1710961183064.jpg)
Brazil’s star-studded side included the likes of Ronaldinho but England secured a 1-1 draw
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In the first game at the revamped stadium, the Three Lions – then coached by Steve McClaren – entertained a star-studded Brazil in a friendly match.
England drew 1-1 that day and their side encompassed many familiar names such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
However, one unfamiliar star lined-up to make his debut at left back. He was a player who will forever be known for starting the first ever game for England at the new stadium, while in the process he also became his club’s first Three Lions international in 100 years.
But, who was the mystery player? Mail Sport takes a look…
![Then-England coach Steve McClaren put his faith in one star who made his debut at left back](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/20/18/82697435-13219921-image-m-6_1710958323545.jpg)
Then-England coach Steve McClaren put his faith in one star who made his debut at left back
On that famous day against the Selecao, Paul Robinson was busy organising a defence that included legends of the game like John Terry, Jamie Carragher and Ledley King.
Alongside the trio, there was a relatively unknown, lesser-heralded left back by the name of Nicky Shorey.
Shorey, who was 26 at the time of his debut, had been playing in the old Third Division (now League Two) just seven years previously after coming through the ranks at Leyton Orient.
Shorey impressed enough to earn a move to Reading in 2001, who were in Division Two (League One) at the time.
After an initial bedding in period, he became an integral player for the Royals and was part of their side when they were promoted to the Championship.
The left back’s progression only continued under Steve Coppell with Reading going up to the Premier League as champions in 2005-06 with an astonishing 106 points – a total that remains a record in the second tier to this day.
The Berkshire club’s remarkable rise was replicated in the top flight, with Coppell’s side securing a highly-impressive eighth-placed finish in their first Premier League season, missing out on Europe by just one point.
Shorey’s performances started to catch the eye as the campaign went on, with Reading fans introducing a ‘Shorey for England’ chant.
This was picked up by the media and, despite intense competition in that position with the likes of Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge, there was increasing clamour for Shorey to receive a call-up.
At the end of the season, the Reading icon did earn some reward as he was picked for the England B squad in May 2007.
He started a clash with Albania on May 25 which then led to one of the biggest moments in his career.
McClaren was suitably impressed and a day later, he informed Shorey he would like to add him to his senior squad for games against Brazil and Estonia.
‘Yeah it still seems a bit surreal now,’ Shorey told the Three Lions podcast in 2020. ‘It was even more surreal at the time because literally, we just got promoted with Reading and we’d only been in the Premier League one season.
‘And if you’re gonna get a cap as a left back in the era of Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge, it’s very difficult.
‘You’ve got to have a bit of luck and fortunately I think they might both have been injured. It just came at a time when I was playing really well and we’d done really well at Reading.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/20/18/82698607-13219921-image-a-2_1710961183108.jpg)
Shorey’s impressive displays for Reading in the Premier League saw him called-up by England
![McClaren rewarded Shorey with a debut in the first game at the 'new Wembley' against Brazil](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/20/18/82698503-13219921-McClaren_rewarded_Shorey_with_a_debut_in_the_first_game_at_the_n-a-3_1710961183157.jpg)
McClaren rewarded Shorey with a debut in the first game at the ‘new Wembley’ against Brazil
‘You never quite think it’s gonna happen until you actually get a call and someone says listen you’re in the squad.’
Things got even better for Shorey as McClaren put his faith in him from the start against Brazil in what was a special day at the ‘new’ Wembley.
Shorey would go onto play the full 90 minutes, marking greats of the game like Kaka and Ronaldinho, with John Terry’s opener pegged back by a 90th-minute equaliser by Ribas Diego.
In the process, Shorey – who played in front of 88,745 fans – became the first Reading player in 100 years to represent England at senior level, while he also joined a small group of stars who have played in all four EFL divisions before going on to represent the Three Lions.
Reflecting on his debut, Shorey added: ‘Anytime you’re representing England, it doesn’t matter if it’s a B game or a full international, it’s massive.
‘If you’re going to get the opportunity to play for England it doesn’t really matter who you’re playing against or what game, but if you can pick a game…I mean Brazil, first senior game at the new Wembley – it’s sort of that marker, you know you’re going to go down in history.
‘It was just great to be playing for England but to play against that calibre of players and that iconic team at the new Wembley (was amazing).
‘Even to this day it still takes people to tell me “oh I remember you played for England” and I say “yeah I did”.
‘And then it still shocks me when they know because it’s in the past now and I’m living my life and getting on with new things, but it’s something that will never ever leave me.’
Shorey would go onto win a second international cap against Germany in August of that year.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/20/18/82698493-13219921-image-a-4_1710961183159.jpg)
Speaking in 2020, Shorey admitted he still finds it surreal he played against Brazil 17 years ago
![Shorey went onto win a second international cap, playing against Germany in August 2007](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/20/18/82698497-13219921-Shorey_went_onto_win_a_second_international_cap_playing_against_-a-5_1710961183273.jpg)
Shorey went onto win a second international cap, playing against Germany in August 2007
He also made two further Three Lions squads, but never added to his list of appearances as Reading endured a disappointing second campaign in the top flight and were relegated.
Shorey, now 43, would go onto represent the likes of Aston Villa, West Brom and Portsmouth, while he also enjoyed a second spell with Reading when they returned to the Premier League four years later.
Since retiring, has since had coaching and recruitment roles at clubs such as Stevenage, Reading and Gillingham, with Shorey departing the League Two side at the back end of 2022.
Whatever Shorey goes onto do, as the former left back admits, he will always be remembered for playing in England’s first ever game at the ‘new’ Wembley.