They are two of the most influential people in the country right now – and they both have links to the same corner of Stockport.

Phil Foden and Angela Rayner both spent their childhoods in Bridgehall, where the England and Man City ace went to primary school, and the country's new deputy prime minister grew up.

Last week, the Labour Party won an election landslide over the Conservatives, with a 174-seat majority in Parliament. The outcome catapulted Angela Rayner to the position of deputy prime minister overnight.

Her extraordinary rise to power began as a 'free school meals kid' on the Bridgehall estate, becoming a teenage mother, Stockport Council care worker and Unison rep before her ascent to high office.

This week the eyes of the world watched Angela Rayner form the new government with Keir Starmer, before shifting to another famous face from Stockport – Phil Foden.

The footballer went to school at the local primary in Bridgehall, the neighbourhood situated between Adswood and Edgeley in central Stockport.

Phil Foden's journey to stardom came at Manchester City's academy, when he caught the eye of manager Pep Guardiola while working his way through the ranks.

Bridgehall Primary School, pictured in 2018 (Image - Google Maps)

This week, the local primary school celebrated the achievements of Angela Rayner and Phil Foden as testament to the area's 'incredible community'.

In 2015, Angela Rayner became the first female MP to secure the Labour seat of Ashton-under-Lyne, and was appointed to the shadow cabinet under then-leader Jeremy Corbyn just over a year later, eventually becoming Labour's deputy leader under Keir Starmer.

Following the general election result, she now holds one of the most powerful political positions in the UK, wielding major influence over the future direction of the country.

Meanwhile, Phil Foden is regarded as a generational sporting talent – a key member of Manchester City's Treble-winning, Four in a Row squad, with a string of Premier Leagues, FA Cups, a European Cup and Premier League Player of the Season accolade to his name, all by the age of 24.

Dubbed the 'Stockport Iniesta' by City supporters, Foden is an England regular, expected to control games and dazzle opponents with his skilful play across the midfield.

When the Euros football tournament began, he was one of the first names in Gareth Southgate's squad, but the team struggled in their opening games, with some critics turning their ire on an out-of-position Foden.

Still, the squad reached the final, and provided some heart-stopping moments in the tournament before bowing out to Spain.

Foden was joined by Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer, Stockport's very own Three Lions.

Stockport was proudly represented by both players and fans at this year's Euros competition in Germany (Image - Gareth Eccleston)

The borough of Stockport is undergoing huge changes at the moment, with regeneration work turning the town and its districts into one of the country's most sought-after places to live.

But like so many other parts of Greater Manchester there are social challenges too – including in Bridgehall.

Community spirit is strong in this area – something Bridge Hall Primary School celebrated in a Facebook post this week, paying tribute to Angela Rayner and Phil Foden's success and how they inspire others.

"We are Bridge Hall, a community to have helped and been part of the lives of these two prominent people," the post said.

"Two people who, in different ways, are currently so important to our country. Perhaps it's not, as the papers might want it to be, a disadvantage starting life on our estate like ours.

"It's because of our incredible community, including some of the challenges we may face, that make us work hard and look what we achieve. That's what we take from people like Angela Rayner and Phil Foden.

"We are proud… proud of where we start and proud of what we achieve."

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