Dominic Calvert-Lewin - from Handsworth to Wembley with England’s former Sheffield United striker

“The moment you dream about as a kid.”
England's Dominic Calvert-Lewin: During the pre-match warm-up prior to the international friendly match at Wembley. Picture: PAEngland's Dominic Calvert-Lewin: During the pre-match warm-up prior to the international friendly match at Wembley. Picture: PA
England's Dominic Calvert-Lewin: During the pre-match warm-up prior to the international friendly match at Wembley. Picture: PA

Those were the words tweeted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Thursday night as he marked his first England cap with a goal against Wales.

The forward’s international debut was met with a great sense of pride at Handsworth FC, the non-league club who ply their trade in the Northern Counties East Premier League where he first kicked a ball competitively.

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After his debut goal for the national side, a picture circulated on social media of a young Calvert-Lewin with a bottle of Champagne in hand, celebrating a cup triumph with one of Handsworth’s junior sides.

Handsworth FC: Where it all began for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.Handsworth FC: Where it all began for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Handsworth FC: Where it all began for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The Everton player started at the Sheffield club as a five-year-old before being picked up by Sheffield United three years later.

After nine years in the Blades academy, the 23-year-old made his United debut in 2014 before joining Everton in August, 2016 in a move he previously recalled as “simply too good to resist.”

Calvert-Lewin put himself into contention for a call-up with the Three Lions after scoring nine goals in just six appearances this term. He more than took his chance with the national team, heading in from Jack Grealish’s cross to send England on their way to a comfortable 3-0 win.

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Chris Short was one of Calvert-Lewin’s coaches during his time with Handsworth and knew the forward had the potential to turn professional but even he has been taken aback by the Sheffield-born player’s rise into Gareth Southgate’s squad.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin: In action for Sheffield United.Dominic Calvert-Lewin: In action for Sheffield United.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: In action for Sheffield United.

“You see potential in a lot of players and you know how difficult it is to see people at grassroots level make the step up,” said Short.

“He was a fantastic player.

“I remember we played Eckington one day, he scored five goals and after every one he jogged back to the halfway line like it was a walk in the park.

“He had a great attitude and his mum and dad wanted what was best for him, you knew he was destined for good things but I didn’t think for one minute would be quite as high as he got now. It is fantastic.”

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For any player to hit the heights in the Premier League and on the international stage, talent is needed. However, without hard work and dedication that talent may not get you very far.

Short said: “Hard work is key to it. He has done it all himself. His parents gave him every opportunity without pushing him.

“When he joined us I remember his dad telling me that he was always kicking the ball around the house and knocking things over. He had that dedication from day one. You knew he was always going to be good but I am so proud of where he is now.

“It was fantastic when he signed for Everton. It was a joy to see him reap the rewards of all his hard work.”

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Calvert-Lewin was a central midfielder during his time at Handsworth and only started playing higher up the pitch in his teens. His game has been taken to another level in recent months following the appointment of European Cup winning manager Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park.

Short feels that the coaching of the likes of Duncan Ferguson, who made over 350 professional appearances for top-flight clubs in England and Scotland, has also been a key factor in his improvement of late.

“Sheffield United obviously saw potential in him and he never looked back,” added Short of Calvert-Lewin, who has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for September.

“Everton was a great move for him at the time but working with Duncan Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti has definitely made him the player he is now. I think he seems to have been taught a little bit differently in the last six to eight months.

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“He doesn’t lose headers, he has a great engine and a great attitude.

“He would run through a brick wall for anyone and I knew he was that type of player when he was seven-years-old.”

Short, who is now head of development for the senior section at Handsworth, was keen to play down the influence the club has had on Calvert-Lewin. Regardless, it is clearly a place which the Everton striker holds in the highest regard.

He signed a new five-year contract with the Toffees earlier this year and with the news tweeted the picture of his younger self with a bottle of Champagne in hand at Handsworth.

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“All his hard work has paid off to hopefully him becoming a regular number nine for England,” said Short.

“Just from the little bit we did for him, and it was only a little bit, it is a proud moment.

“He started when he was five and left when he was eight.

“One of the pictures he put up when he signed his new contract with Everton last season was when we had won the cup and he had a bottle of Champagne on someone’s shoulders.

“It shows it still means something to him.”

Calvert-Lewin even returned to the club a few years ago for an end-of-season trophy presentation.

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Short said: “Dominic came back a few years ago to Olivers Mount and did a trophy presentation.

“He signed things, had photos with the players and those kids would have watched the other night and remembered they had their picture with him.

“All you need to do is look at social media and see it is a massive thing for the club. Hopefully he plays more and more games.”

Regardless of how many more caps Calvert-Lewin may earn, not many grassroots clubs can proudly say they once had a full England international on their books.

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