Stockdale returns to day job at Wembley
DAVID STOCKDALE has toasted promotion once this month – at the non-League club where he is majority owner.
But he will miss Droitwich Spa lifting the West Midlands Regional League Division One champions shield today because of a pressing engagement at Wembley with Wycombe.
But whatever happens in the League One playoff final, you will not find Stockdale, 36, letting the grass grow under his feet.
He has had more clubs than Tiger Woods, runs an expanding property business and is an award-winning community champion for comforting the bereaved after an air disaster.
He has also won the Golden Glove for the most clean sheets in League One.
Although he never won a full cap, Stockdale was called into Fabio Capello England squads.
He withdrew from the first to get married, but Capello forgave him.
Stockdale still makes you believe a man can fly, as MK Dons found out when the Chairboys made it to the play-off final this month.
After a 19-year career spanning 445 games at 16 clubs and 132 clean sheets, he is preparing for life after football with a portfolio of 40 properties.
As 51 percent owner of Droitwich, he has delivered the Saltmen to a new home, including a community 4G pitch.
He said: “We are about to take the keys. It’s been two-and-a-half years in the making, and it’s nice to put something back when football has been good to me.
“We have just been promoted after a sixmonth unbeaten run to reach step six of the pyramid, so it’s a good time to bring the club ‘home’ after years outside the town.”
Stockdale’s pastoral work at Brighton, visiting grieving families after the Shoreham air show disaster, made him a PFA community champion.
“To win that award was special, something close to my heart,” he said. “It was haunting to drive to training past the spot where it happened, but Brighton handled it with great sensitivity and I was proud to be part of that.”
As for his latest date at Wembley, Stockdale said: “Everyone knows what Wycombe are about, and we know our limitations. We may not be the prettiest team, but we’re OK with being underdogs.
“When we won promotion two years ago, the only fans in the ground were cardboard cut-outs. This time, we have a chance to do it in front of our families.”