Hard Work Meets Talent

Jordan Pickford knows what it takes to work his way to the top, having put in the hard graft in the lower leagues before sealing his record move to Everton this summer. Now the highly-rated keeper is embracing a new challenge to keep on moving up with the Blues.

- Adam Clark

At the age of 23, most goalkeepers are still learning their trade; understudies who live in the shadows of a more experienced number one - watching, scrutinising and preparing to pounce when that opportunity of ‘real’ football comes their way. Not Jordan Pickford.

By the time Pickford arrived at Everton from Sunderland in June, the Washington born starlet had not only racked up 35 senior appearances for the Black Cats but benefitted from as many as 121 matches out on loan at six different clubs in four different tiers of the English game.

It was to prove a successful grounding for a player who, having striven to put his gargantuan talent on display, eventually convinced the Blues to part with what was a record fee for a British goalkeeper.

“Having all those games out on loan was great,” says Pickford. “I always go back to it when people ask me about my career because they were the times when I learned the most.

“I think it’s the perfect way to do it, as well, especially as a keeper, because you’re playing against men when you’re young, and it’s ideal getting battered week in, week out, getting crosses in and coming for them. As a goalkeeper you’ve got to be brave.

“Another thing is the upbringing - growing up when you’re going on loans. I wasn’t staying at my mam and dad’s house, I was having to stay away from home at times and that’s obviously helped me with where I am today.” 

At the age of just 17, Pickford’s first stop was Darlington, then of the National League.

He couldn’t prevent the Quakers from slipping to relegation and subsequently going out of business but did enough in 17 outings between the sticks to convince Alfreton Town to give him a chance the following season, when Pickford kept five clean sheets in a dozen first-team appearances.