Hale has pipped its rivals to the top of the Premier League, beating Alderley Edge, Knutsford and Wilmslow as the number one location for football superstars – with at least 33 Premiership footballers living in the area.

According to the latest figures, there are more Premiership footballers living in Hale, Bowdon and Hale Barns than in any other area in the region, with numbers rising by 20 per cent in the last 12 months alone.

Footballers from Manchester City, Manchester United, Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn, Wigan, Liverpool and Everton have all flocked to the village. Three players from the Manchester City first team live on one street alone, making it home to some of the country’s best footballing talent. And it doesn’t stop there; players from teams as far away as Burnley, Stoke City, Birmingham City, Aston Villa and Fulham are also reported to own houses in the area.

Peter Waterson, principal of Watersons Independent Estate Agents, which compiled the property research, commented: “We’ve seen a sharp increase in the number of footballers looking to move into Hale during the last 12 months.

“After years of being second choice to the likes of Alderley Edge and Wilmslow, Hale is now the most fashionable neighbourhood in Cheshire for footballers. It’s hardly surprising; not only is the area cram-packed with stunning period and contemporary properties, but the centre is bustling with restaurants, bars and boutique shops. It’s an ideal match for the high calibre of living that footballers are looking for.”

Hale’s close proximity to Liverpool, Manchester and major UK airports also makes it a real crowd pleaser and a perfect playground for footballers and their WAGs The area is also home to Premiership managers and some of the great footballing legends of the 1970s and 1980s.