Nick Pope

Early career

An Ipswich Town season ticket holder, he began his career at the club's youth set-up at the age of 10 and remained with Ipswich until being released aged 16. Following his release by Ipswich, he joined non-League club Bury Town in 2008. Having challenged and temporarily replaced Marcus Garnham, Pope proved he was capable at that level when he wore the number one shirt for Bury Town for a number of first-team matches after initially debuting for the team at just 16 years of age. Manager Richard Wilkins described Pope as "the most naturally-talented player to progress through the ranks at the West Suffolk Sports Academy and Bury Town" and said "I honestly think Nick Pope can go all the way to the top." Pope was also a member of the West Suffolk College squad and has represented an England Colleges squad.

Charlton Athletic

On 24 May 2011, League One club Charlton Athletic signed Pope after he was spotted by scouts during a 2–1 win over Billericay Town. He was then invited to a trial at Charlton. After impressing staff during a trial, he was signed on a two-year contract after the two clubs agreed a compensation package, which included Charlton taking on the Suffolk outfit in a pre-season friendly ahead of the 2012–13 season (which he was unable to play due to injury). Charlton also paid for Pope to take a degree in sports science at the University of Roehampton alongside other courses which he had planned to take at the University of Nottingham…

Pope was called up to the England national team for the first time on 15 March 2018. He was named in the 23-man England squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Pope made his debut on 7 June 2018 as a 65th-minute substitute as England beat Costa Rica 2–0 in a pre-tournament friendly. He made his first competitive international appearance in a 4–0 win against Kosovo for the final game in UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying on 17 November 2019. In March 2021, after England defeated Albania 2–0, Pope became the first goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in his first six appearances for the country. Pope was selected for England's 2022 FIFA World Cup squad, but was an unused substitute behind Jordan Pickford as the team reached the quarter-finals.

Nicholas David Pope was born on 19 April 1992 in Soham, Cambridgeshire. He attended St Andrew's Primary School in Soham and was in the same class as murdered schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. He later attended King's School in nearby Ely.

Pope's long-term girlfriend is Shannon Horlock, daughter of former footballer Kevin Horlock. They have two children.