Jordan Pickford spoke to reporters after he helped Everton to a 1-0 win in their final game of the season at Champions League-bound Newcastle United
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NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Everton's Jordan Pickford and Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrate with the fans on the final whistle of the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Everton FC at St James' Park on May 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Jordan Pickford and Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrate beneath the Everton travelling fans after the sweet victory at Newcastle United
(Image: Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Jordan Pickford believes that Everton fans drowning out Newcastle United’s Champions League qualification celebrations by singing their new song for him following the full-time whistle at St James’ Park was the perfect way to end the season. After supporters debuted the chant at Craven Cottage in their previous away game against Fulham, the Blues have now finished the campaign strongly with a hat-trick of victories.The lyrics of the ditty go: “He hates Newcastle, he hates the s***e, Jordan Pickford is dynamite,” and the tune has certainly got the approval of England’s number one.
The 31-year-old, who was captaining the Blues, made a string of impressive saves to thwart Alexander Isak and Co. in the 1-0 victory.
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And asked if he enjoyed the scenes at the end, Pickford said: “Yeah, the fans are brilliant. They know what a passionate lad I am, they know how much I love the club and how much I do my best for the club.
“To repay me with that song, 4,000 Evertonians right up in the gods, it’s a great moment and a great way to end the season.
“It’s a really good song, it’s got a good bounce to it shall we say. Finally as a football fan to have your own chant is mega.
“It’s what football is all about, you’re doing something right if the fans are buzzing off you.”
Pickford’s rapport with Blues fans was demonstrated in a video shared online before kick-off of him speaking on a video call to his friend with a pub full of Evertonians.
He said: “Cole, one of the lads I know, FaceTimed me when I was getting ready in the hotel and I just answered and didn’t know what it was. They’re just singing away in a pub down the road I think.
“They know how much I care and how much passion I show so it’s always nice to get that recognition.”
Unlike trips to Newcastle earlier in his career, when he would let the barracking from the stands get to him, Pickford produced another sparkling and mature display in the St James’ Park cauldron to frustrate his opponents as his combined a string of spectacular stops with a controlled demeanour.
And he said: “I was all right. I made some good saves and I was in the moment. It’s a big game for me and I always step up. That’s the level I set myself and that’s what I drive every day and train to be the best version of myself and I think I showed it today.
“That’s when I’m at my best (when in control) and that’s something I’ve been working on and something I’m improving all the time, maturing as well.
“That’s my standard that I set myself and that’s what I need to continue to do and that’s what will bring a performance out of me.”
In terms of the hot reception that he receives from the Newcastle fans, Pickford added: “It’s another game of football on a big stage in the Premier League and I’ve just got to be at my best. I know I’m going to get the stick, it’s about how you control your emotions.
“I think my mentality is really high, I think one of the strongest mentalities I know in football and that’s what I thrive off, that’s what I put in those performances for.”
Of course, the North East region will have a second team in the Premier League next season with Sunderland returning to the top flight for the first time since Pickford left them to join Everton for £25million in 2017, after coming from behind to defeat Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
The Washington-born player revealed that he watched the match before travelling to Tyneside for this fixture.
Pickford said: “Fortunately our plane was a bit delayed so we just sat in the lounge watching it. It was a great win and all my mates were down there.
“I don’t think the gaffer would have dared let me go down. I wouldn’t have been here today!
“It’s great for a club the size it is and how big it is as a club to see them back in the Premier League is going to be amazing, I can’t wait to get up there and play them at the Stadium of Light, it’s going to be a great moment for me.”
Pickford is now back playing under Moyes, the manager who first elevated him to being a Premier League number one at Sunderland but also the boss who steered Everton to nine top-eight placings, including a highest-ever Premier League position of fourth in 2004/05, during his first spell at the club.
Reflecting upon the second half of the campaign since the Scot’s return to Goodison Park, Pickford said: “It’s been a great end to the season. For me, it’s about next season, it’s about pre-season, getting ready for that and setting that standard early.
“It’s all about setting that standard early and not bouncing back at Christmas time and getting results, it is about sustaining it. You’re going to get knocks, you’re going to get beat, you can’t be invincible.
“We’d love to be invincible as every team in the Premier League would be but it’s about when you take those setbacks, how do you bounce back as a team?
“How do you work hard and train all week to get that performance on a Saturday? I think the manager will drill into us throughout the season and the manager has already said that.”