As Euro 2016 gets underway on Friday when hosts France take on Romania, we will now take a look at some of the players taking part in the tournament whose careers have taken them to the South West.
Kari Arnason (Iceland - Plymouth Argyle): As Iceland make the first appearance in a major finals amongst their numbers will be former Plymouth Argyle utility man Kari Arnason. Gothenberg-born Arnason made 72 appearances and scored three goals for the Pilgrims between 2009 and 2011 until he was released by the club's Administrators, after he refused to defer his wages (All the Argyle staff were forced to defer their wages at the time whilst the club was in Administration).
Since leaving Home Park, Kari has had spells with Aberdeen, Rotherham United (who he won back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship) and his current club Malmo.
Craig Cathcart (Northern Ireland - Plymouth Argyle): Signed on loan by Paul Sturrock from Manchester United during the 2008-09 season, Craig Cathcart made 31 appearances for the Pilgrims before going on to win two promotions to the Premiership with Blackpool and Watford in 2010 and 2015 respectively. Cathcart has won 24 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring twice.
James Chester (Wales -Plymouth Argyle): Another player signed on loan from Manchester United for Plymouth Argyle by Paul Sturrock, James Chester only made three appearances for the Pilgrims before returning to Old Trafford. A move to Hull City in 2011 helped to kick-start his career, as he helped the Tigers to win promotion to the Premier League in 2013 and a year later he was part of the Hull side that faced Arsenal in the 2014 FA Cup final.
Simon Church (Wales - Yeovil Town): After making six appearances without scoring during a loan spell at Huish Park from Reading, Simon Church has enjoyed a nomadic career having spent last season on loan in the Scottish Premier League with Aberdeen from his parent club Milton Keynes Dons. He will be looking to add to the 36 caps that he has previously won for Wales during the tournament. After
Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland - Yeovil Town): Blackburn Rovers defender Shane Duffy won the first of his two caps to date for the Republic of Ireland shortly after his loan spell with Yeovil Town during the 2013-14 season. Duffy is one of four central defenders included in Martin O'Neill's squad, along with John O'Shea, Richard Keogh and Ciaran Clark.
Wayne Hennessey (Wales- Yeovil Town): After appearing for Crystal Palace in this year's FA Cup final, Wayne Hennessey will be keeping goal for Wales in their first major finals appearance since 1958. He also enjoyed a 13-match loan spell with Yeovil during their 2013-14 Championship campaign, by which time he had won the bulk of his 54 caps for Wales.
Zoltan Stieber (Yeovil Town - Hungary): Having spent the bulk of his career playing in Germany. Zoltan Stieber's 15 match loan stint with Yeovil Town, who he joined from Aston Villa in the 2007-08 season. Stieber has been with his current club, SV Hamburg, for two years and spent last season on loan with FC Nurnberg in 2. Bundesliga.
Jamie Ward (Northern Ireland - Torquay United): Jamie Ward's time with Torquay United will always be regarded by the Plainmoor faithful as a case of what might have been. Signed by Ian Atkins from Aston Villa in 2006 and stayed with the Gulls for only six months, during which time he scored 11 goals in all competitions. It was at the end of the transfer window in January 2007 that he joined Chesterfield for a fee of £95,000 - during Chris Roberts' catastrophic reign as Chairman - which effectively ended the chances of the Gulls avoiding relegation to the Conference at the end of the season. After leaving the Spireites midway through the 2008-09 season to join Sheffield United for a fee of £330,000, which earned United a windfall of £62,500 from a 25 % sell-on clause, he later moved on to Derby County and his current club Nottingham Forest. Qualifying for Northern Ireland through his grandfather, Ward has made 17 appearances for the province and has scored twice - the second of which came in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign against Greece.
