Jordan Pickford Gives Back

Everton keeper Jordan Pickford hasn’t forgotten his days playing for non-league teams. And how could he? He’s only 23!

As a teenager, Pickford played for smaller clubs on loan while he was with Sunderland. He credits those days of playing against tough men in front of fans that talked smack about his grandpa with helping to build his character.

Speaking to evertontv, he said -

“It was just the chance to play men’s football. I learned quite a lot getting battered by fully-grown blokes! You would come for crosses and catch an elbow in the face. But that’s what you want.

“When you are that young, you want that experience. You see lads literally playing for their livelihoods or paying for their mortgages and stuff. It was great to go and learn your trade in that environment.”

To commemorate Non-League day which was celebrated on Saturday 7th October, Pickford kindly purchased new home kits and tracksuits for Washington Arms FC, a team in Sunderland’s fourth division close to his hometown.

Everton have a strong and proud tradition of supporting the community through it’s award-winning charitable activities arm Everton in the Community (EitC), and it’s good to see the Toffees have acquired a player who is not only gifted, but also represents the club’s devotion to those less fortunate.