Pickford wasn’t picked as goalie for school team

JORDAN PICKFORD may be England’s goalkeeping hero who helped the nation win its first ever World Cup penalty shoot-out, but he wasn’t even the best goalkeeper in his school team, his former head teacher has disclosed.

Pickford, 24, who now earns £90,000 a week as Everton’s goalkeeper, used to play in midfield for St Robert of Newminster Catholic School in Washington, Tyne and Wear.

Dean Juric, his former head teacher, said: “Jordan excelled at all sports. He was an excellent athlete and tennis player as well as a footballer.

“When he played for our school team he played outfield. Our other keeper was pretty good at the time.

“He was playing as a keeper for a club outside school but really enjoyed playing outfield and I think that shows in him now as a goalkeeper.”

Mr Juric said the school had a knack of producing goalies, including one student who played for England under-18 girls and a current pupil who was goalkeeper for England under-15 boys.

“Jordan has been a great inspiration to them and to our other pupils,” said Mr Juric. “His family have a long association with the school, with both his mum and grandmother working here. He’s unassuming but very confident and self -assured in a good, positive way.”