WONDERS OF THE PYRAMID: From playing with builders to facing Bayern Munich! Harrow-born Dapo Afolayan rose from English football’s ninth tier to fire St Pauli to the Bundesliga

If this week has demonstrated one thing, it is the power of the pyramid. A significant 25 of the 33 players selected in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championships have spent time playing in the English Football League (EFL).

On Wednesday, Ademola Lookman – born in Wandsworth, south London – joined the exclusive club of players to score a hat-trick in a European final. Just a decade ago, he was playing Sunday League football before Charlton Athletic set him on a path to stardom, culminating in his current success with Atalanta.

Another inspiring story, although less headline-grabbing, is that of Dapo Afolayan. The forward from Harrow spent time in the youth setups at Chelsea and West Ham but didn’t truly break into professional football until he dropped down to lower leagues. Now, he is set to realize his dream of becoming a top-flight player, albeit not in the Premier League, but in the German Bundesliga with St Pauli, after playing a crucial role in their promotion with two goals and an assist in the final game.

Afolayan’s journey is marked by resilience and sacrifices. If not for opportunities provided by clubs like Solihull Moors and Bolton Wanderers, his dreams might have remained unfulfilled. Reflecting on his time at Chelsea, he said, “I remember being at Chelsea and just looking at all the young boys who have come through there. I was at Chelsea but I didn’t think I was going to ‘make it’ – I had to be realistic.”

He played alongside future stars like Tammy Abraham and Dominic Solanke and learned from top coaches. However, he had to balance football with academics, a priority instilled by his father. Leaving Chelsea to focus on his GCSEs, Afolayan achieved stellar grades (six A*s, two As, and a B) and played football as a hobby while studying civil engineering at Loughborough University. It was during this time, playing in the ninth tier, that he was spotted by non-league scouts.

“Playing in non-league was really good for me, really humbling,” Afolayan recalls. “But I was at my lowest point. I was still enjoying my football but I was paying to play, my team-mates were builders! It was really fun, we’d play a game and then end up in the social club after.”

Despite the drastic change from Chelsea to non-league, Afolayan embraced the experience as an opportunity. His prolific stint at Solihull Moors caught the attention of West Ham, where he scored on his debut in an FA Cup match. However, his time at West Ham was short-lived, and he found himself seeking new opportunities once again.

“I felt in my head I’d made a great step because I was at West Ham,” he says. “But in reality, I had not.” Many would have given up after not making it at two top clubs, but Afolayan persevered, eventually joining Bolton. His resilience paid off as he secured a move to St Pauli, a club known for its political stance and intense atmosphere.

“Coming to Germany was very daunting,” Afolayan admits. “Not because I was scared of playing football here.” His story exemplifies the importance of the football pyramid, where players can rise through the ranks, demonstrating that setbacks are merely steps toward greater achievements.