There have been a few players who did it the hard way – hauling themselves from the non-leagues to the top table of English football by their boot laces at a relatively late age.

They're regularly called Late Bloomers because all too often Premier League teams source players from abroad, and it has been a challenge for English non-league players to ascend the ranks all the way to the top. In fact, it’s more common for players to move down the leagues rather than up.

Every now and then a success story occurs and while West Ham's Michail Antonio is certainly flavour of the week in the Premier League, he isn't the first name to make the step up from non-league football.

Here are five players you didn't know played non-league football before becoming well established in the top-flight...

Troy Deeney

Troy Deeney

A failed Aston Villa youth player, Troy Deeney was on the verge of ending his short-lived football career to become a builder in his early days.

Deeney took on an apprentishop as a builder whilst continuing to play for non-league side Chelmsley Town before being noticed by League One team Walsall. His success in the lower league's saw Watford pay a £250k fee for his services and the forward has gone from strength to strength ever since.

Now in contention for an England call-up, Deeney proves once again that people are capable of reaching the top if they have the talent and commitment.

Les Ferdinand

LES FERDINAND

Ferdinand was still plugging away at non-league Hayes at the age of 21 before QPR took him off their hands for a mere £15,000 in 1987.

Goals didn't flow right away, but by the time of the Premier League's inception in 1992/93, he was an established goal scorer and helped propel the club to fifth in the league. Newcastle was his next port of call and Ferdinand became an iconic figure at St. James's Park before a move to Tottenham in 1997.

Ferdinand went on to score 149 Premier League goals and become one of England's most underrated forwards ever.

Kevin Phillips

Kevin Phillips vs Sunderland

Released by Southampton as a kid, unknown to many, he was a full-back who signed for non-league Baldock Town on semi-pro terms in the summer of 1991.

Phillips was a defender until an injury crisis resulted in manager Ian Allinson deciding to play Phillips as a striker. He scored twice in his first match as a front man and in December 1994, Watford paid £10,000 for him – plus four additional payments of £5,000.

Phillips is the only Englishman ever to win the European golden shoe, after scoring 30 goals for Sunderland in 1999/00. He retired in 2014 after helping Leicester secure promotion to the Premier League after a ten year absence, aged 41.

Rickie Lambert

Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Barclays Premier League

Rickie Lambert was playing fourth division football at the age of 25. By 32, he was playing regularly in the Premier League.

He started out at non-league club Blackpool. Known for his large build and physicality as a player, Lambert has stood out at every level. He’s won numerous awards, including three league Golden Boots and was signed by Southampton in 2009.

In 2014 he moved to boyhood club Liverpool after being called up for England's World-Cup squad in just months previously.

Steve Finnan

steve finnan

Steve Finnan moved to England and joined Welling United in 1993. From there, he went professional in 1995 when he was signed by Birmingham City for a fee of £100,000.

Finnan is the only player to have played in the World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, Intertoto Cup, all four levels of the English league football and the Football Conference - not a bad claim to fame!

He also starred for Liverpool from 2003-2008 where he won the Champions League, FA Cup and Super Cup before winning a FA Cup runners-up medal with Portsmouth in 2010.