IN A drawer in his bedroom, alongside his three England C caps and match shirts, David Fitzpatrick has a little pink book.
England’s 18-man squad who toured Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary all have one too.
The words in the book are confidential and anonymous – but they were written by their Three Lions team-mates.
Each player takes his turn to write a message in each other’s book – what they respect about them, the qualities they admire – as they are passed around the table.
Then the team go off to separate parts of the hotel to read what their peers think.
“It’s hard to describe, I don’t know, you get a bit emotional about it,” Fitzpatrick, who came on as a sub against Slovakia and played the full game against Hungary, said.
“You don’t expect it because you’ve only met most of them four or five days earlier but they’ve got a high opinion of you straightaway. It’s a really nice thing and it does draw you all closer together instantly.
“I like to keep everything I can, shirts and programmes, so it’s in the draw with them. It’s something I will definitely keep reading when I need a boost.
“I enjoyed all the meetings and debriefs. I’m quite a quiet lad and I like to observe but it’s a massive learning experience for me. It’s given me a taste of what it’s like at a higher level.”
Fitzpatrick admits he sometimes rubs his eyes in disbelief when he’s away with England C.
Before this season the 24-year-old was playing for New Mills in the Evo-Stik NPL North as well as in the Altrincham Sunday League for pub side Brookland’s Tap.
But an impressive first ever year at Conference Premier level for Southport has seen the left-back win two England C call-ups.
He made his debut against Czech Republic last November and despite missing out on the squad for Jordan, the former Northwich Victoria man was back for England’s central European tour.
“My friends are very supportive and they tell me they’re not shocked, but deep down I know it’s been a whirlwind 12 months with the way things have changed,” Fitzpatrick says in England’s Slovakian hotel.
“It’s been a crazy season. I post up pictures of me training with England and my mates love it.
“I’m happy with myself but at the same time there’s a bit of regret because I think maybe if I’d done a few little things different I could have been at this stage a couple of years ago. But you can’t dwell on things, you’ve got to enjoy the moment and it’s not too late to keep progressing.”
Fitzpatrick is also reaping the rewards of hard graft this season. Combining part-time football with a full-time job in Human Resources for a claims company means he’s often burning the candle at both ends.
“My days go from eight in the morning to eight at night Monday to Friday,” he said. “It’s a long week, sometimes we’ve got long trips down south, but I love it.
“When I was playing at New Mills I kind of thought my chance had gone. You do see players from Non-League step up and I’m hoping to do the same. I’m realistic but I’m just hoping League football isn’t too far away.”
