CONCORD Rangers midfielder Alex Woodyard says it was a dream making his international debut last week…but admits now he has a taste he wants to experience it all over again.

Woodyard, 21, came on at half-time in England Cs 2-1 defeat against Cyprus under-21s last Tuesday.

As well as making his international bow, it was the first time a Beach Boys player had ever represented England.

And Woodyard, who joined the club in the summer, said it was a great moment considering he was a late call-up to the 16-man squad.

“I was on the way back from Boreham Wood (Saturday, February 14) with Matt Fry when I got the call,” he said. “I spoke to the coach Mike Appleby and he told me I as in the squad and it was brilliant.

“It came as a nice surprise as I hadn’t expected to be involved at all. But I got picked up that night and spent the night at a hotel bonding with the boys before we left for Cyprus the next day.

“I recognised a few of them but I didn’t know many of them that well. But they were really easy going and I was made to feel part of the group straight away, even though a lot of them had played for the team before.

“My room-mate (Elliott Frear – Forest Green Rovers) had played for the team before so he filled me in about what to wear down to breakfast and meetings and other stuff.”

The former Southend United man, known for his tough tackling and hard-working approach, says he wasn’t phased when it came to the first training session despite playing with a number of full-time players.

“The training was intense but nothing I hadn’t done at Concord. Obviously a lot of the boys were full-time players so they had that sharpness but I felt I did well among them.”

Woodyard said he knew he would be making his debut the evening before the match after manager Paul Fairclough told the squad everyone would be getting at least 45 minutes.

And the midfielder said it was a great feeling to know he would be pulling on the England jersey the following day.

“It was great,” he said. “It gave me time to prepare that night although I tend to just take each game as it comes so as not to put pressure on myself.

“And it was a good game. The tempo was higher than I experience in the Conference South and it was hot so it was a good workout for me. We conceded two goals really quickly and couldn’t get the equaliser, which was disappointing.

“But I feel I did myself justice. I played well and I got some positive words from the coaches at the end, which was nice.

“Now I have experienced it once I would love to be involved again,” he said. “I just need to focus on me and play well for Concord. Hopefully I will get another chance.”

Woodyard admits he had been inundated with messages from well-wishers at home, and said he was pleased to give something back to manager Danny Cowley and Concord.

“Everyone at Concord is really pleased for me,” he said. “I have had a lot of nice messages and at the same time it is a great moment for the club as it shows how well we are doing.

“To be honest the whole thing happened so quickly it still hasn’t properly sunk in.”

Woodyard and the rest of the squad visited the Pascal International School in Larnaca the day after the match, another experience the Kent-based player said he thoroughly enjoyed.

And although he was not a winner against Cyprus he, and three England teammates, did lead the English youngsters to success in a mini tournament between the children – something he was particularly pleased with.

“We went to an English-speaking school to meet some of the children there and answered some questions which was really nice. You could see how much it meant to them and they were really excited to have pictures with us,” Woodyard said.

“We did a mini-tournament afterwards and the team I was coaching won! It was a good feeling before we left and flew home.”

Woodyard had a weekend off on Saturday but will return to action with Concord tonight against AFC Hornchurch in the Essex Senior Cup.

“It is a big game for us,” he said. “I look forward to it and hope we can get to the final again.”