England's recent friendly against Sweden in Stockholm will be remembered by those who saw it for many different reasons.
Firstly, it was the night that saw Steven Gerrard join the select group of players who have won 100 caps for England, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's virtuoso performance up front for Sweden and the full England debuts for Raheem Sterling, Leon Osman and Steven Caulker.
As well as pulling on the Three Lions shirt for the first time in his career, Caulker also found his way onto the score sheet when he headed home a free-kick from Gerrard in the 38th minute to give England a 2-1 lead heading into half-time.
The score remain thus, until he was substituted in the 62nd minute after which point it became the ‘Ibrahimovic show’.
For Caulker, his journey from young wannabe footballer to full international began in South Somerset at the start of the 2009-10 season when he joined Yeovil Town on a youth loan from Tottenham Hotspur, along with fellow Spurs starlet Ryan Mason.
From his debut on the opening day of the campaign against Tranmere Rovers to his final appearance for the Glovers in their final home game of the season against Oldham Athletic, Caulker made a positive impact on the Huish Park faithful as he virtually cleaned up at the club’s end of season Player of the Year awards.
After leaving the Glovers, his footballing education continued at Bristol City and Swamsea City. He also received international recognition with England Under-21’s and Team GB at last summer’s Olympics before Andre Villas Boas handed him an extended run in the centre of the Spurs’ defence.
He joins an elite group who have appeared for Yeovil and England, which also includes Dick Pym, Louis Page and Graham Roberts and also, depending on your viewpoint, Sir Ian Botham!
Whereas all of the previously mentioned appeared for Yeovil towards the end of their careers, Caulker played for the Glovers at the start of his. Should he continue to progress in the matter in which he has done, he could yet have many more nights like the one in Stockholm to look forward to.
His journey in recent years has also helped to establish Yeovil’s reputation as a club where young players can learn their trade and develop as footballers. It should also serve as an inspirational tale for the Glovers’ latest crop of young Premiership loanees, which includes Gozie Ugwu, Korey Smith, Dan Burn and Daniel Johnson.
Also, with players such as Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Jamie Carragher and Ledley King having come to the end of their involvement with the England set-up in the last few years: there is a vacancy to be filled in the centre of the English back line in the long term.
With the 2014 World Cup in Brazil looming on the horizon and Euro 2016 taking place in France two years later, Caulker has certainly placed himself firmly in Roy Hodgson’s future thoughts.
