Jordan Pickford is Britain’s most-expensive keeper… and it’s no shock to his old boss
Everton's record-breaking signing was always destined to reach the top, say the men who first spotted his talents
JUST five years ago he was letting in five at Lincoln.
Now Jordan Pickford is the most expensive British goalkeeper of all time.
But nobody who has worked with the £30million Everton stopper is surprised by his rapid rise.
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In fact, he has been tipped for the top from the moment he first walked through Sunderland’s doors.
Mark Prudhoe, who is a keeper coach in the Black Cats’ academy, said: “I worked with Jordan when he first came to the club at the age of eight.
“When you look at an eight-year-old you’re assessing height, athleticism, speed and build - and Jordan had all those things.
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“You could see from very early on that he had the ability to go as far as he wanted.”
Prudhoe played a huge part in Pickford’s development, as did former Sunderland skipper Kevin Ball, who managed him at Under-18 and Under-21 level.
Ball was actually Pickford’s favourite player as a kid, and there is a picture of him getting his autograph at the club’s old training ground.
Ball, 52, grinned: “He obviously knew a good player when he saw one - but maybe it’s reciprocated because I knew a good player when I saw him as well.”
Indeed, Ball sensed he had something special on his hands as soon as he started working with Pickford, who has represented England at every age group from Under-16s.
He admitted: “You know when someone has got a good chance and I knew from when he came in that, ability-wise, he was absolutely fantastic.
“At times you had to explain to him that you can’t run before you can walk because he knew how good he was, without being big-headed.
WHO IS JORDAN PICKFORD?
Club: Everton
Full name: Jordan Lee Pickford
Date of birth: March 7, 1994 (Age 23)
Place of birth: Washington, Tyne and Wear
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous clubs: Sunderland, Darlington (loan), Alfreton Town (loan), Burton Albion (loan), Carlisle (loan), Bradford (loan), Preston (loan)
International: England U16, U17, U18, U19, U20, U21
“But while he knew he had the ability, he also had the drive and desire to want to do it.
“He was very focused from a very young age. He always knew what he wanted to do.”
Ball was instrumental in ensuring Pickford did not get stuck playing age-group football and gained first-team experience as quickly as he good.
He said: “As a goalkeeper, if you have ability, it’s paramount you play. You must be pushed all the time.
“Jordan’s best pathway was to go out on loan and it helped his development massively.”
Pickford’s first move was as a 17-year-old to nearby Darlington, who were then playing in the Conference, but were on the brink of financial ruin and would go out of business a few months later.
He did not win a single one of his 17 matches with the Quakers, with his heaviest defeat being that drubbing at Lincoln.
But he still made a lasting impression as Craig Liddle, who bossed him at Darlo having previously worked with him with Sunderland Under-12s, explained.
Liddle said: “We had a transfer embargo, so I had to sign an Under-19 keeper, but I knew Jordan and thought he would be able to handle it.
“His first game was against Fleetwood in front of 6,000 spectators, which is a lot for someone that age.
“Early in the game he came and took a cross which just settled the crowd down and all his team-mates.
“From then he just grew in belief and stature - 99 per cent of the time he was outstanding.
“He showed in those few games exactly what potential he had. For me, he will be one of the best keepers in the world.”
After his stint at Darlington, Pickford went to Alfreton in the same division, before spells at Burton in League Two, Carlisle and Bradford in League One, then Preston in the Championship in 2015-16.
North End manager Simon Grayson said: “The lad was exceptional for us during his loan spell.
"His distribution is second to none. He could play outfield with the feet that he has got.
"Whether it is off the deck or out of his hands, he can suddenly turn defence into attack. His shot-stopping is up there with the best as well. He is hard-working lad and really down to earth.
“I texted him the other day about my charity bike ride and straight away he donated to my JustGiving page.
"The move to Everton will inspire him. The lad loves the attention – he will thrive on that without being big-time. I think he will eventually get to be England's No 1."
Grayson is just one of many to tip Pickford, who won his first senior England call-up in October but remains uncapped, to displace current No1 Joe Hart.
And if he does, it will not be the first time he has taken Hart’s shirt off him.
In his first national newspaper interview in November, Pickford told SunSport: “When I was in the Under-18s, I remember helping out with the kit after Sunderland beat Man City 1-0.
“I asked for Hart’s shirt and I asked him to sign it. He wrote, ‘To Jordan’. I’ve got it framed in my house.”
Pickford will find it a wrench to leave Sunderland, who he made his first-team debut for in January 2016, having dreamed of representing them since he was that autograph-hunting kid.
But the likes of his hero and mentor Ball have nothing but pride in his progress.
And Ball added: “He’s done brilliantly to get where he has got so far.
“But for me, and he knows because I will tell him to his face, there is so much more to come.”