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England keeper Nick Pope buys set of goalposts as his old club York City

  /  autty

England goalkeeper Nick Pope has bought a set of goalposts from his former club York City - but admits he has no idea how to get them home.

The Burnley stopper spent part of the 2013-14 campaign on loan at the club, then in League Two, when he was a player at Charlton Athletic.

The Minstermen, who now play in the sixth-tier National League North, left their home of 89 years Bootham Crescent to move into the new LNER Community Stadium back in January.

The club auctioned off 132 pieces of memorabilia from their old stadium, featuring everything from signs, tables and chairs to the urinals.

Item No 1 on the list were three sets of goal posts used on matchdays during the club's final few months at the stadium, each with a starting price of £250.

And 28-year-old Pope, who played 24 times during his loan spell as York reached the play-offs, ended up winning a set.

'I've not transported it yet and that's still in discussions,' he told BBC Radio York. 'I thought we'd cross that bridge if I won the bid and then I did and I'm not sure how we're going to do it.

'I bid on it because it coincided with my garden getting renovated and I just thought there was a nice space at the end for it.

'I thought it would be a good thing to help the club if I won the bid and if someone else outbid me then that would be more money for them.

'I still follow them on social media and keep and eye on the results. They played an important part in my career so it's nice to keep an eye on them.'

However, Pope, who is likely to be part of England's Euro 2020 squad this summer, says he absolutely won't be using the goalposts for extra keeping practice at home.

'I think every goalkeeper dreams of being an outfield player growing up so I'll chuck someone else in goal and have shots at them. They don't let me do that in training,' he said.

'It probably is unusual for a goalkeeper to have a goal in their garden. I don't want too many of my friends coming round and ruining my garden, I'll have to be selective.'

As well as York, Pope also spent loan spells at Harrow Borough, Welling United, Cambridge United, Aldershot Town and Bury during his time as a Charlton player.

He joined Premier League club Burnley in 2016 and has since played 113 times for them, breaking into the England squad in 2018. He has won seven caps for his country.

Related: Manchester City