As soon as I knew Mark was interested I think it literally took about 20 minutes to sort – I was ready
KEEPER STOCKDALE REVEALS HE JUMPED AT CHANCE TO HELP SKY BLUES OUT AFTER TOUGH TIME IN BRUM
FROZEN out Blues goalkeeper David Stockdale has thanked Coventry City and the club’s fans for giving him the perfect pick-me-up.
The 33-year-old stopper was drafted in on an emergency loan by the Sky Blues on Friday and promptly helped the League One side get back to winning ways with a much-needed three points and welcome clean sheet at Rochdale – the 1-0 victory the club’s first ever win at Spotland.
And Stockdale was made to feel right at home by the 898 travelling Sky Blue Army who sang his name aloud at a ground that holds a special place in his heart – the last time he played there being the day he met his wife.
“It was nice to get some minutes,” said the experienced Birmingham City stopper, who filled in for first choice Lee Burge who was out with a shoulder injury.
“I have got a bit of a sore throat but I enjoyed it.”
Asked how hard it was to go straight into a side at such short notice, having only trained with Coventry once on Friday, Stockdale said: “To be fair I only knew four or five names and they were my back line but as long as they know what I’m saying, that’s what matters, and obviously through the game you get to know them more.
“Friday was tough because I have
David Stockdale
not been in much competitive training so it was basically getting the rustiness off, but when you step over the line for a league game in conditions that are proper like northern, for me, it’s what you want to do.” The former Fulham and Brighton keeper didn’t put a foot wrong on his City debut, commanding his area and providing a vocal presence as well as pulling off one terrific save to deny wily Dale striker Ian Henderson an equaliser at a familiar end of the ground.
“I’m from Leeds originally, so not too far away,” he said.
“The last time I played here at Rochdale we got beat in the play-off semi-final on penalties, in that goal.
“That was back in 2008 when I was with Darlington – 17th of May, 2008 – and I’ll tell you why I know that, because that’s when I met my misses!
“Well, I went out on a date that night.”
As for his situation at St Andrew’s, Stockdale admits that while he’d like to fight for his place it’s looking extremely unlikely under current boss Garry Monk.
“I’ve just been training with the Under-18s, keeping out of the way and keeping my head down and hoping that things like this come along to
I was impressed with the fans. It’s always nice when they are chanting your name and they don’t even know you.
prove that I am still there and basically show people that you’re good enough,” said the player, who was called into the England squad back in 2011 and 2012 during his time at Fulham.
He added: “I’m just not in the manager’s plans, which is football. Hopefully something comes along in the summer. I’ve got another year on my contract. I’d like to fight for my place but sometimes that’s not possible.”
This is Stockdale’s third emergency loan this season, having also helped out fellow League One clubs Southend United and Wycombe Wanderers earlier in the campaign. And he revealed he jumped at the chance of working with City boss Mark Robins again.
“When I was at Fulham I went on loan to Rotherham with him and we had a good half-season there where we did really well,” he said.
“I always kept in contact with him because he was good to me. He’s honest and tells you how it is, and that’s how I like it.
“As soon as I knew Mark was interested I think it literally took about 20 minutes to sort. I said I was ready, he gave me the address of the training ground and that’s how quickly things can happen in football.” Asked if the Sky Blues supporters had given him a nice boost, he said: “Of course, yes. I was impressed with the fans. It’s always nice when they are chanting your name and they don’t even know you. They hadn’t seen me play before so to be able to put in a solid performance and them shout my name, I haven’t heard that for quite a while.
“Hopefully Lee gets back from his injury quickly and I’ll be gone but, if not, I’ll be available.”
Stockdale is spending this week training at Ryton while Burge is assessed.
City are looking for at least one new goalkeeper to bring in this summer, possibly two. Both Burge and understudy Liam O’Brien will be out of contract with the Sky Blues in June and, as it stands, look to be leaving the club. Stockdale has worked with the City boss before and Robins is clearly an admirer of the player.
Asked if the experienced former Fulham and Brighton keeper would come into his thoughts in the summer, Robins said: “I think we might be limited with the finances.”
Stockdale’s wages are likely to be a major issue unless he was willing to take a huge cut and drop down from the Championship to League One.
The player, however, wouldn’t rule out a switch to Coventry, in theory at least. Asked if it would be a consideration, he said: “Anything is a consideration at the moment.”