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The Pope journey
Some of you probably know all of this--but I didn't and this is for all those like me that didn't.
It's about showing what kind of person you really are when it seems like an impossible dream.
Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope says an England call-up seemed a "far off possibility" when he was starting a milk round at 4am after being released by Ipswich Town as a ****ager.
Pope, 25, is in the England squad for their forthcoming friendlies with Italy and the Netherlands after an impressive debut Premier League season.
But he was let go by Ipswich aged 16, and had to take part-time work while playing for non-league clubs.
"It's been a hard ride," he said.
"I had a couple of jobs. I worked in Next and on a milk round. I was on an electric float, a 4am-er in Soham. It didn't pay much."
Pope joined non-league Bury Town after leaving Ipswich, and even after joining Charlton Athletic in 2011 had spells outside the Football League at Harrow Borough, Welling United and Aldershot Town.
"I've played in some cold, dark leagues," he said. "I was in Bury Town reserves in the Es*** and Suffolk Border League. I think that was tier seven.
"Brightlingsea was a rough one... I hope the people of Brightlingsea don't mind! Little Oakley - some places you need a map. [It was] 10 people and a dog.
"You have to prove yourself at every level to get to the next one."
Pope joined Burnley from Charlton in 2016 but only made his Premier League debut in September when the Clarets' first-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton was injured.
"I feel like I've put in some hard yards and proven myself at those levels. I don't think it's a fluke to get called up to the England squad.
"It's obviously a day I never thought I'd see come and, now it has, it's massive elation for me and everyone close to me."
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The media just love a proper Roy of the Rovers or Tough of the Track story don't they?
Once Billy Mercer sorts out Pope's kicking, Nick could well be one of the world's best keepers.
Where does SD buy his stardust from..?
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He’s certainly making headlines with
Non league to the top
Distant dreams
Everyman for himself.
Ready for the Heaton Challenge
Milk round to cream of the crop
Gold top to
One story he hasn’t told for obvious reasons is the 2002 Soham murders. Jessica and Holly were born in 1991 and he was born in 1993 so must have been at the same school and known those involved.
That’s a bit like Andy Murray and Dunblane.
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Where does SD buy his stardust from..?
He has a block chain that makes it!
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Mirror say Nick was in the same class as Jessica and Holly at Soham
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-new...e-was-12247994
