Whether it’s true or not it can’t be denied that Mansfield and the surrounding area has produced some brilliant sports stars.
Our area can boast a 1966 World Cup winner, a double Olympic gold medalist, an FA Cup winner and perhaps the most infamous Ashes cricketer of all time.
And of course there’s two other very notable swimmers who have done themselves and the area more than proud – and plenty more who have put our area on the map.
Let us know who your favourite local sports star is and why via our social media channels.
You can keep up with the latest sports news across the area, here.
5. Steve Ogrizovic
As a player, he was a goalkeeper from 1977 until 2000, the last 16 years of which were at Coventry City. Nicknamed "Oggy", he holds the record at Coventry City for the most appearances as a player (601 in all competitions, 507 in the league) and he played in the winning FA Cup team of 1987. Photo: Getty Images
6. John Whetton
Mansfield's John Whetton is best noted for winning gold in the 1500 metres at the 1969 European Athletics Championships and reaching the 1500 metre final in both the 1964 and 1968 Summer Olympics. The former Sutton Harrier represented England in the 1,500 metres, at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Photo: Laister
7. Rebecca Adlington
Rebecca Adlington wrote herself into the world's sporting history when she won the 800m freestyle final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in a new world record time of 8:16:22. She also won the 400m freestyle gold and became the first woman to win swimming gold for Great Britain since Anita Lonsbrough in 1960. Photo: Getty Images
8. Oliver Hynd
Kirkby's Ollie Hynd and is a multiple medal winner having shone on the big stages. He won the gold medal in the 400 m freestyle S8, beating the world record in the final, and the 200m individual medley SM8, also in a world record, during the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Photo: Getty Images