Jordan Pickford, the England and Everton goalkeeper, carries a different surname than his father originally did. His father, Lee Pigford, legally changed his name by deed poll to protect his son from the bullying he experienced as a youngster. The change was made to prevent any future children from facing similar taunts.
Lee Pigford was reportedly mocked with the nickname ‘Piggy’ during his school years due to his original surname. This experience led him to make the decision to alter the family name, establishing the Pickford name as it is known today. Jordan Pickford’s grandfather, Barrie, still uses the Pigford surname and has expressed pride in his grandson’s achievements.
Family Legacy and International Career
The goalkeeper’s family history reveals that he was initially born Jordan Lee Logan, taking his mother’s surname, before it was changed to Pickford five years later. This detail adds another layer to the story of his family name. Pickford’s grandfather, Barrie, has spoken about his grandson’s journey, noting his move from Sunderland to Everton as a positive step for his career.
Pickford has been a prominent figure for England, serving as the first-choice goalkeeper in five consecutive major international tournaments. He has accumulated 89 caps for England, conceding 59 goals and achieving 44 clean sheets. According to Opta statistics, he has made only two errors that directly led to goals during these appearances.
In the Premier League, Pickford’s performance in the last two seasons includes 23 clean sheets, a record second only to David Raya of Arsenal, who has 32. His international career highlights include playing in a European Championship final twice and a World Cup semi-final. He recently helped England secure a quarter-final spot in the World Cup by overcoming Mexico with a 3-2 victory.
Record-Breaking Appearances and Current Form
Pickford is set to achieve a significant milestone in his career. He will become England’s most-capped player at the World Cup when he makes his appearance, surpassing the previous record held by Peter Shilton. This achievement underscores his consistent presence and importance to the national team.
The England squad is currently preparing for a World Cup Quarter-Final match against Norway. Norway’s striker, Erling Haaland, is expected to be a significant threat, having scored in each of his last 14 competitive outings for Norway, with 27 goals in total during this period. Haaland has also found the back of the net in all four of his appearances at the current World Cup.
Pickford has expressed confidence in the current England squad, citing a strong belief and togetherness within the team. He believes that the manager has instilled a winning mentality, preparing the players for critical matches. The goalkeeper feels that the squad is in good spirits and that the players are experiencing positive moments in their careers as they pursue their collective goal.
The team’s focus remains on achieving success, with Pickford highlighting the tactical meetings and the manager’s ability to motivate the players. He feels that the squad is ready for the challenges ahead, aiming to triumph in the tournament for the first time in 60 years.
Pickford’s journey began at the Sunderland academy, and after six loan spells, he made a £25 million move to Everton in 2017, which coincided with the start of his international career.
His grandfather, Barrie, noted in 2018 that he never thought Jordan would play for England.
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Source: toffeeweb.com
George Hartwell is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB.org, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with twelve years of reporting experience. He reported on West Country football before national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of the West of England and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Bristol, he watches grassroots football and writes a tactics column. “Tactics tell you more than any scoreline.”