Former Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has paid tribute to his local grassroots team as he prepares to add to his 81 England caps.
Pickford has been England’s No.1 goalkeeper, picking up 81 caps to date and helping the Three Lions reach two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final. He’s also broken numerous national team records along the way, including for consecutive tournament starts, consecutive clean sheets, and shootout saves. At club level, Pickford has been an absolute stalwart for Everton since joining them in 2017, missing just 12 league games in eight-and-a-half years, and playing a key role in maintaining the Toffees’ top-flight status in recent relegation battles.
Jordan Pickford pays tribute to ‘spotlight’ grassroots opportunity
Of course, it all started in the North East for Pickford. The 32-year-old is Washington-born and came through the Sunderland youth ranks, playing 35 times for his boyhood club in 2016/17 before moving to Merseyside. But even before the Black Cats were in the picture, Pickford wore the gloves for grassroots club Washington Envelopes in Sunderland.
Back then, Pickford was one of many beneficiaries of a unique partnership between the Premier League, FA and British Government to form the Football Foundation. With the help of ongoing support from key partners, that Foundation has invested over £1billion into grassroots facilities and pitches around the country. On Wearside, that funding has reached facilities such as the Beacon of Light Hub (£2 million), the Ford Hub (£4.1 million), the Washington Hub (£4.8 million) and the Downhill Hub (£5.2 million).
Pickford is just one of many youngsters to make use of the facilities provided by Football Foundation funding, and 25 years on from the beginning of the partnership, England’s No.1 has paid tribute to the career pathway it provided him.
“[Washington Envelopes] was the start of the journey for me,” said Pickford. “That put me in the spotlight as a young kid to go and get scouted for Sunderland and that got me the opportunity to go to Sunderland, get a trial, be in the development squad and get my first U9 contract.
“The Football Foundation has made huge investments in Sunderland. You’ve got the opportunity to always play. I think you get a better quality standard of football and I think it’s very well appreciated in the North-East. We want every community to have a great place to play.”
Jordan Pickford with grassroots club Washington Envelopesplaceholder image
Jordan Pickford with grassroots club Washington Envelopes | Matchfit Agency
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, added: “Many of the England men’s team kick-started their journey to the international stage on facilities that have been improved thanks to funding from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.
“Journeys like Jordan’s show just how important grassroots investment is for every player, every pitch, and every community across the country. From grants for 3G pitches and changing facilities, to grass pitch improvements and goalposts, we want to ensure every community has a great place to play.”
Every football journey starts on a first pitch. For Everton shot-stopper Jordan Pickford, that first pitch was at Washington Envelopes. To celebrate 25 years of the Football Foundation, share a photo of where your football journey began using #FirstPitches. Find out more atfootballfoundation.org.ukor follow @footballfoundation on Instagram.
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