Crystal Palace
Sansom started out playing in the youth team at Crystal Palace, whom he joined while still at school, and made his first team debut at the age of just 16. In 1977 he captained the Palace juniors team to FA Youth Cup success while also skippering the England team at the same level, collecting Palace's "Player of the Year" award in his first season.
Quick, calm, strong in the tackle and an excellent crosser of the ball, Sansom missed just one league game in 156, starting back in 1976, when Palace were in the old Third Division and were about to be labelled as the "Team Of The '80s". Palace progressed through the divisions with this young side and briefly topped the old First Division at the end of 1979. However Palace were unable to sustain this form and did not win any trophies in this period.
On 23 May 1979, Sansom made his debut for the full England team, in a goalless draw against Wales.
Read more about this topic: Kenny Sansom
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