PADDY Lane’s elevation to the full Northern Ireland squad represents a footballing fairytale for the 20-year-old, who was still a Hyde United player 12 months ago.
The midfielder, called up for friendlies against Luxembourg and Hungary on March 25 and 28, has gone from playing in the Northern Premier League, the seventh tier of the pyramid, to international football in next to no time.
“I was proud to be called into the full squad and over the moon as I wasn’t expecting it so soon. I have been pinching myself ever since I signed for Fleetwood at the end of last March,” he explained.
Lane, despite signing for the Cod Army in March, did not officially join the League One club until July 1 which makes his achievements even more of a whirlwind nine months.
Northern Ireland’s Patrick Lane with Slovakia’s Matus Vojtko during Tuesday nights U21 Euro Qualifier at Mourneview Park, Lurgan. Photo by William Cherry / Presseye
It was a journey into the unknown for the part-time player who is a regular in the Fleetwood side.
He has so far made 33 first-team appearances, including 26 starts, and scored five goals and provided eight assists.
Lane said: “During the off-season, I trained hard on my own to prepare for a full-time environment as I wanted to make an impression.
“It has snowballed ever since I joined the club. Before Christmas I was top of the assists list for League One.
“The only thing missing were goals which was getting to me. However, I have scored four in my last six starts so the dreams keep coming.”
The scoring spree saw Lane shortlisted for the League One player-of-the-month award and named in the best Under-21 side for the entire EFL.
Lane, a product of Hyde’s development programme which is a partnership with Rochdale AFC, has already received international recognition in the current campaign, already capped six times for Northern Ireland U21.
Two of those were against major footballing powers, Russia in Moscow and away to Spain in the Olympic Stadium, Barcelona.
“It was a great experience playing for the U21s, especially against Russia and Spain, something I loved,” he continued.
Lane qualified to play for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as his mother is Welsh, grandmother was born in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, and grandfather from the Republic.
Northern Ireland’s Patrick Lane with Slovakia’s Peter Pokorny during Tuesday nights U21 Euro Qualifier at Mourneview Park, Lurgan. Photo by William Cherry / Presseye
But he has not forgotten his roots and when he received the international call-up, he immediately telephoned Dave McGurk, the Hyde manager who gave him his big break.
He said: “When Ian Barraclough (Northern Ireland manager) contacted me, I rang Dave straightaway and thanked him. He was the person who gave me my chance in men’s football.
“I have a lot of others at Hyde to thank including Brett Issitt and Mike Allcock who were my coaches in the development squad.”
Lane added his story ought to inspire other about what can be achieved by non-league players.
He said: “There is definitely a way back into the league from non-league as I have mentioned in other interviews.
“There are more and more players going into the EFL and I will fly the flag for non-league as much as I can.”
It has been quite a journey for Halifax-raised Lane, who was released by Blackburn Rovers aged 14 and began playing local football.
Northern Ireland’s Patrick Lane with Slovakia’s Matus Vojtko during Tuesday nights U21 Euro Qualifier at Mourneview Park, Lurgan. Photo by William Cherry / Presseye
He joined Rochdale’s development squad, which has a partnership with Hyde, aged 16 with McGurk promoting him to the first team at 17.
Though Lane was only part-time at Hyde, he went on trial and to train with professional clubs so was aware of the environment at a full-time club. He spent time at Harrogate Town, Halifax Town, Stockport County, Sheffield United and Stoke City and a spell playing at Farsley Celtic after Hyde’s campaign was abandoned through Covid.
Lane was linked with several of the clubs, but it was Fleetwood who struck a deal with Hyde which is understood to be heavily appearance linked with a sell-on clause.
McGurk was delighted by Lane’s phenomenal rise, explaining: “I still speak to Paddy every couple of weeks, and he asks my advice.
“I follow Paddy’s career closely. It was nice to play a part in his development and see a player you have worked with kick on. He is a humble lad and always thanks me, but it is all down to him and the hard work he has put in.
“He was full time at our academy but would come in on his days off to do extra work and I do an extra hour with him before we started our first-team training.
“I am sure it is not the end of the path forward, I am sure he will move up the league, whether with Fleetwood or elsewhere. I would not be surprised if scouts are not already looking at him.”
McGurk believes Lane is a natural and destined for greater things.
He continued: “Whatever level Paddy plays at, he performs the same and does not need a settling in period whereas others need time to adapt.
“You could throw Paddy into a Championship side and he would play the same way as he did for Hyde.”
McGurk recalled the first time he saw Lane in 2018 when he was assistant manager to Darren Kelly.
He said: “There were three players in the youth team who were impressing at the time, and Paddy was probably third as we had heard better things of the other two.
“I watched the FA Youth Cup tie against Salford when we lost 1-0 and Paddy was brilliant.”
McGurk added two or three deals for Lane fell through before the move to Fleetwood was completed.
“In hindsight, it has worked out best for Paddy with Fleetwood the right club for him at the right moment when you look at their record of bringing through young players,” he said.