Nick Pope: A changeover from a milkman to England national team player

Burnley goal keeper Nick Pope could make his England debut late this week against Netherlands after an impressive Premier League season performance.

Pope claimed that an England call-up seemed to be a “far off possibility” during a time when he was starting a mild round at 4am after being released by Ipswich Town as a teenager.

After being let go by Ipswich at the age 16, Pope had to endure taking partime jobs alongside playing for non-league clubs.

In an interview, he said: “It’s been a hard ride.”

“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.”

Furthermore, Pope took part in non-league Bury Town. He also joined Charlton Athletic back in 2011 and had spells outside the Football League at Harrow Borough, Wellington United, and Aldershot Town.

“I’ve played in some cold, dark leagues,” he said. “I was in Bury Town reserves in the Essex and Suffolk Border League.

Despite the difficulties, Pope was never disheartened and simply said: You have to prove yourself at every level to get to the next one.”

Pope became part of Burnley from Charlton in 2016 but only had his EPL debut in September of last year when the club’s larets’ first-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton picked up an injured.

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