In making the selection, the PFA canvassed the opinions of the supporters of present, and some former, league clubs about their Number One player.
[1] In 2007 the Professional Footballers' Association celebrated the centenary of the foundation of The Players Union by launching their "One Goal One Million" campaign.
The campaign involved a whole year of celebratory fund-raising activities with the aim of raising £1 million to fully fund a new Children's Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Unit at the University Children's Hospital, Manchester.
Throughout the year the PFA ran a number of high-profile events involving current and former players and managers with the sole purpose of reaching the £1 million target.
On the anniversary of the day that the PFA was formed in 1907 – December 2 – there was a match between an England Legends XI, captained by Alan Shearer and managed by Terry Venables, against a World Legends XI captained by Gianfranco Zola and managed by Jürgen Klinsmann, culminating in a Gala Dinner in the evening involving a host of top entertainers.