Last season David Stockdale emerged as a credible contender for Fulham’s number one jersey – impressing with a series of performances that defied his relative big match inexperience.
This term, he has enjoyed a productive loan spell at Ipswich Town, however following Mark Schwarzer’s recent injury, the talented stopper has been recalled and stands determined to show what he can do further.
The 26-year-old has consistently stepped up to the challenge, so much so, whenever called upon during the 2010/11 campaign he played as well as any goalkeeper in the English top-flight as a result of his assured reading of play, bold command of the box and an innate capacity for a spectacular save.
A popular player with fans too, Stockdale has had to work his way to the top and has enjoyed a testing, yet rewarding football education. Step forward, Schwarzer’s heir apparent.
David, you find yourself back at Craven Cottage having spent more than four months on loan at Ipswich, how did you find the experience?
It was great to be honest, I needed to go out and play games, so it did me a lot of good. To be fair, it prepared me for the situation the Club found themselves in – the absence of Mark Schwarzer. I came back in with a number of games under my belt, and that was important. Quite often you could step in without too much previous game time, so I was more than ready. Ipswich was a good place to be and in terms of support it is a massive club. Results were mixed, but overall I like to think that I did well there. I wish them all the best for the rest of the season and hope that they do well.
You’ve said in the past that the Championship is a good league to play in – do you maintain that thought?
I do, and I am someone that speaks very highly of that league. A lot of players move down to the Championship to find their feet, while there are a number of talented young players too – there’s a lot of quality there. It’s a strong competition, because at the top you have West Ham, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Southampton who are all top-flight clubs. Then there are the likes of Reading, Hull, Blackpool, Burnley, Portsmouth and Birmingham that have all spent time in the Premier League of late. There’s ambitious clubs like Cardiff, Brighton and Leicester looking to move up too – so it’s very competitive. It’s a different type of football in many ways, but it is a great league to be part of.
Although you haven’t directly been involved with Fulham for the majority of the season, how would you assess the first five months of the campaign?
Even though I have been away, I have still followed the team closely. I’ve shared the team’s frustrations, because we just didn’t have the luck we possibly deserved at times. The boys played very well in games, but the ball just wouldn’t drop. The game against Odense in the Europa League was typical of that really. There are certainly a lot of positives to be taken, even if things haven’t always gone how we had hoped, but there have been some impressive results too. I have seen enough to suggest that we can move further up the league table. It is still very tight and I think the next phase of games will see us push on. There’s a lot of belief within the squad and management and that is important.
Injury to Mark Schwarzer brought about your early return to the Club, knowing how close you are to the other goalkeepers you must feel for him especially as he had been playing so well?
It was really unlucky for Mark, I know how much he wants to play, so it will be difficult for him. He has been in great form this season, and as ever he plays a key role. Of course, I want to be playing, but I do wish him a speedy recovery. He’s a top player and he’ll be determined to come back even stronger. In that time I want to show the fans and the Club that I’m capable of doing a job and maintaining the high standards that he has set. It is really good to be back playing for Fulham again, I love it here and just want to repay the faith that has already been shown in me.
In his forced absence, Neil Etheridge came in and made his Fulham debut, how pleased were you to see him given a chance in the Whites’ goal?
Well Neil has been at the Club from a very young age and he’ll always remember his First Team debut – it is a big moment for any player. The game with Odense didn’t go as he would have hoped, but for me, he wasn’t responsible for either goal. I know he was disappointed, but that shows what it means to him to be playing for Fulham. He has a lot of ability and he has a bright future ahead of him. We have a lot of good goalkeepers at the Club, it’s just unfortunate that only one of us can play.
Many saw the 2010/11 campaign as your breakthrough season – you were superb in the games that you were part of...
I look back and do like to think that I did well, but at the end of the day, I was just doing what I am supposed to do. I’m in the team to keep goals out and it was a positive period for me. Following last season, I think it was important for me to go out and continue my development, and I suppose I’m on another chapter of my career now. I want to do well again and enjoy a similarly productive spell – I need to prove that I have what it takes to be number one.
Some would say that you have little to prove however...
I don’t agree, I think every player has something to prove – even Mark Schwarzer has something to prove. It doesn’t matter if you are just starting out, or you are an experienced international, there are always areas to improve and better yourself in.
In recent weeks you have been very complimentary about the players in front of you and underlining the importance of defending from the front. With those guys doing such a good job it must make your life that bit easier?
It makes an unbelievable difference to be honest, and those boys work very, very hard. From AJ up top, right the way back, the commitment is fantastic. There is so much experience in this team, and the majority of the squad have been through a lot together. Just look at the back four alone, they have so many international caps between them. For me, we have one of the best defences in the Premier League and to get through those guys you know you have done well.
Indeed, and such resilience has seen a number of clean sheets kept this term...
Before Mark’s injury he had kept six in the league. I kept a clean sheet in my return against Bolton, so that was good, and is of course, something that all ‘keepers want to do. I want to add to that tally, because like Mark I take great pride in keeping the opposition out. For a goalkeeper or defender, keeping a clean sheet is like a striker scoring a goal – that’s what we want. If we can do our job at our end of the pitch then it makes the others’ job at the other that bit easier too.
And finally David, having entered the New Year, how do you see the remainder of the season going for the team and for you personally?
We know that we tend to have a stronger second half of the season, and with the togetherness that this squad has I think we’ll move onwards and upwards – I think this Club will be in the Premier League for a long time to come. For me personally, well, my concentration is fixed firmly on Fulham and hopefully between now and the end of the season I can play as much as possible, and play well in that time too. There’s a lot that can happen in that time, but I’m excited about the possibilities.
