YORK City have recouped almost £3.2 million from former players who have gone on to play in the Premier League.

One-time England non-League international David Stockdale, however, is the first to have left Bootham Crescent for free.

Stockdale became the third ex-City ’keeper to appear in the world’s most famous league when he starred in Fulham’s 2-1 victory over Everton last weekend.

That outing has already seen him eclipse Nick Culkin’s one minute run-out as a Manchester United substitute in 1999, although he might be hard pushed to emulate Dean Kiely’s record of 197 top-flight games.

Culkin (£250,000) and Kiely (£125,000) both commanded transfer fees when they left the Minstermen for Old Trafford and Bury respectively.

Prior to Stockdale, five other players, discounting on-loan pair Michael Proctor and Richard Ord, also went on to make the step up with the quintet of Jonathan Greening (£1 million), Richard Cresswell (£950,000), Graeme Murty (£700,000), Marco Gabbiadini (£80,000) and Darren Williams (£50,000) significantly swelling the City coffers.

Having been released by then City boss Billy McEwan in 2006, last summer Stockdale earned Darlington a six-figure sum which could rise to £600,000 depending on his future Craven Cottage achievements. That expensive error in judgement, though, by Stockdale’s own admission, gave him the motivation to reach the top.

He followed his debut against Everton with an excellent save to secure a 1-1 draw during Thursday’s Europa League clash at CSKA Sofia, earning praise from studio pundit Andy Townsend just four days after former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown predicted a bright future for him on Match Of The Day 2.

The Leeds-born stopper admits the past seven days have been a little surreal, saying: “Hearing them talk about me on Match Of The Day was a bit weird after all those years watching the programme and the ’keepers you wanted to be like. But it was a nice weird, not a bad weird.”

There was little shame in the first-half goal Stockdale conceded with Tim Cahill – one of the world’s best headers of a ball – beating him with a trademark goal.

Fulham secured the points, however, with goals from Paul Konchesky and Damien Duff before Stockdale denied Belgian international Marouane Fellaini with a fine reflex stop late on.

The 23-year-old added: “Cahill’s goal was a great header and you can’t beat yourself up when that happens. What I had to do afterwards, I was happy with and a lot of the players told me I had done well. That was pleasing because it was such an important game as we were on a bit of a losing streak.”

Stockdale’s displays in the West London side’s last two games could leave manager Roy Hodgson with a surprise dilemma as regular first choice Mark Schwarzer is expected to have recovered from a neck injury for tomorrow’s trip to Wolves.

With 39 caps for Australia, more than 400 Premier League appearances and a spell in the Bundesliga behind him, Schwarzer looks a strong candidate for a recall.

In Schwarzer’s absence, though, Stockdale, was preferred to fellow reserve Pascal Zuberbuhler, who has 51 Switzerland caps as well as Champions League experience with Grasshoppers, Bayer Leverkusen and Basle.

Both Schwarzer and Zuberbuhler also represented their countries at the last World Cup finals but at 37 next month and 38 respectively are reaching the twilight of their careers.

Stockdale is just hoping he is doing enough to prove he can be their eventual successor. He said: “Working with Schwarz and Pascal every day is almost a privilege. Pascal’s coming to the end of his career and is a great ’keeper.

“I don’t think it was a case of them thinking I was better than him. They maybe just thought let’s have a look at the future.

“I was only told I would be playing against Everton about an hour-and-a-half before. It was a great feeling and a nice surprise.

“It shows how far you can come without really knowing it. Roy Hodgson basically said ‘Do what you can do, we believe in you, so go out and enjoy yourself’.

“There was a lot of excitement and nervous energy but, as soon as I got out and heard the first whistle, I was back to just playing football. I think the hype gets to you more if you’re not actually playing and are sat on the bench or in the stand.

“I got some starts in pre-season and I was told they would try and involve me more. I worked hard and thought ‘this is the best opportunity I’ve ever had, so I’m going to give it everything’.

“I want to try and play on and keep Schwarz out of the team, although I realise that will be a very hard task. It looks like I’m getting to the place where I always wanted to be – a Premiership ’keeper – but I want Sunday to be just the start. I want to prove to people that I can do it and show there’s life after Mark Schwarzer.”

Thursday’s trip to Bulgaria saw Stockdale make another smart save and the 6ft 3in stopper admits he has enjoyed Fulham’s European adventure this season, even when an understudy to Schwarzer.

He said: “I never thought I’d play in what used to be the UEFA Cup and it’s another thing I can look back on when I retire. I played in Italy for the England non-League team when I was at York. That was very good but nothing compared to the Premier League and Europa Cup.

“I have been fortunate enough to see all the places in Europe this season and work with one of the best ’keepers in the world. Schwarz is very calm and meticulous in everything. His warm-ups are done right and he’s the ultimate professional, which rubs off on you. He does not miss a trick and, what he has to offer, he teaches me.”

Despite enjoying the atmosphere created by a cosmopolitan squad boasting 17 different nationalities, Stockdale was pleased with his manager’s recent transfer window loan capture from West Brom.

“I’m good friends with Jonathan Greening now,” Stockdale said. “I was in the under-15s just as he was leaving York and we’ve been talking about our old coaches like Garry Naylor and John Stockton. It’s nice to have a familiar face around.”