Boy who once starred in goal ahead of England No1
HIS spectacular goalkeeping displays in the World Cup have made him the hero of a nation.
But England’s Jordan Pickford didn’t even play in goal at school, it has been revealed.
Instead, the boy called ‘Speedy’ was a midfielder while his friend Daniel Douglas was goalie.
Mr Douglas, now a factory worker at the Nissan car plant in Sunderland, said it was hard to believe he played in goal instead of Pickford.
But the 24-year- old, who lives with his partner and baby, admitted Pickford now had the edge.
‘Jordan was an excellent outfield player,’ he said. ‘Everyone knew how good a keeper Jordan was but at the time he preferred to play outfield. So I got picked to play in goals. I was tall and keen and I think I did OK.
‘But it’s a strange thought that I was in the same team as Jordan Pickford and I was the goalie. He was always going to be the star.’
The boys went to St Robert of Newminster Catholic School in Washington, Tyne and Wear.
It is a far cry from Pickford’s current lifestyle, as he earns £90,000 a week playing for Everton.
Pickford, 24, saved a crucial penalty for England in the match against Colombia last Tuesday, helping the team win their first World Cup shoot-out since 1996.