On the opening day of the season, a bright orange glow could be seen over Hull's KC Stadium. And that was just Phil Brown's perma-tan. He had secured his first top-flight victory as a manager.

Days later, and Tony Pulis would be celebrating the same feat. The remaining promoted manager, Tony Mowbray, may have to wait a bit longer for his maiden Premier League win.

But here we have the latest men to become bosses in the Premier League - after a successful grounding in The Football League.

There is a similar story at Ewood Park, where a man who once famously loved being labelled the Guv'nor has earned the right to be called it, even if he probably prefers the Gaffer these days.

Paul Ince took his first steps in management in the League, with successful spells at Macclesfield and MK Dons.

But, unlike England winning a penalty shoot-out, these guys are not a footballing rarities.

Of the 20 managers in the Premier League, 13 of them once plied their trade in The Football League.

Of the seven who didn't, only Gareth Southgate was given a chance in the Premier League. The rest are non-English managers who started in the distant leagues of Spain, France and, er, Scotland.

It's common now for retired footballers to cut their managerial teeth in The Football League.

They know that, as with most professions, you have to start at the bottom to make your way to the very top.

Roy Keane began managerial life in the League. He first donned a suit and strolled menacingly along the touchline in 2006/07 season. He had learned a thing or two from his mentors. One was Martin O'Neill, who got Wycombe promoted to the League in 1993 before moving on to Norwich then Leicester and winning promotion there.

Like O'Neill, Kevin Keegan, Alan Curbishley and Harry Redknapp started managing in football's oldest league. Heck, even Roy Hodgson, a man who could probably tell Phileas Fogg a thing or two about distant lands, had an early stint at Bristol City before heading off to Inter Milan, via several clubs that sound like Ikea kitchen utensils.

So at a time when the English FA have once again sought the guidance of a foreign coach to lead the country's elite players, it's worth remembering that The Football League remains a healthy breeding ground for our most promising managers.

Ipswich's Jim Magilton and Nottingham Forest's Colin Calderwood are among the Championship's bright young things.

Nigel Pearson has been given the opportunity to "do a Phil Brown" at Leicester. Gary McAllister is looking to kick-start his fledgling managerial career by reviving Leeds United, while former Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder John Sheridan isn't looking out of place at the helm at Oldham.

Peterborough's Darren Ferguson has a promotion to his credit in his first full season in charge.

But The Football League is not just for up 'n coming Brits. Ince's departure to Blackburn let in Roberto Di Matteo at MK Dons. Roberto Martinez is looking every inch El Señor at Swansea.

For Chris Coleman, Iain Dowie, Alex McLeish, Alan Pardew and Aidy Boothroyd a spell back in the lively hub of English football will do no harm.

And with such exciting talent around them, who's to say they won't learn a few new tricks either?

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