LOCAL boy Gareth Southgate has risen from a childhood in Crawley to taking charge of England full time.

In the wake of Sam Allardyce's sacking as national football team manager, Southgate steps up from the under-21s for the next four games.

Southgate grew up in Crawley and attended Pound Hill Junior School and then Hazelwick School, which covers secondary and sixth-form years.

Ahead of an under-21 game at the American Express Community Stadium last November, Southgate once said people in Brighton associate him with Crystal Palace but that, growing up, he took part in athletics competitions at Withdean Stadium and played in county football games in Brighton and Lewes on Saturday mornings as a schoolboy.

While the defender's professional playing career started at Palace, he went on to play for Aston Villa and Middlesbrough.

He made 57 appearances for England between 1995 and 2004. His most famous (or infamous) moment came when he missed a penalty against Germany in the Euro 96 semi-final at Wembley.

After retiring from playing, he managed Middlesbrough until 2009 and then took over the reigns of the England under-21s in 2013.

He will take charge of England's senior games against Malta, Slovenia, Scotland and Spain, and could be be a contender for the England job full-time if he flourishes.