Jordan Pickford - The Football Interview

0:00This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. We focus on the part of the internet that most people don't know about. It's called the dark web. Undercover in the furthest corners of the dark web, US special agents are on a mission to locate and rescue children from abuse. Move in now. Police! From the BBC World Service, World of Secrets, the darkest web follows their shocking investigations. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

0:59This isn't just any interview, this is the Football Interview. This week I'm joined by Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

1:15Well Jordan, let's start with football. What does it mean to you? That's all I know really. As a young kid, I've played since I was five years old. So I grew up being a football fan and having the opportunity to become a footballer, which was like every kid's dream and there's only so many people that can achieve that dream so it's like a massive honour and like I take it with a lot of pride that I've become a footballer. Did you always think you'd be a goalkeeper when you picked up that ball aged five were you picking up with your hands or with your feet? No I was always in goal yeah I was getting goal from a young age so my first memories was being in goal I don't know if I was messing about as a young kid before that but I just remember playing with my brother and his mates on the street and I was in the goal on the concrete.

1:59Then when my brother was playing for the district at the time, there was a team training and we then needed a keeper, so I just went and goal, and that was pretty much the start of me. A keeper playing on concrete as well? You've got to be a daft, aren't I? Who was your hero, your childhood idol? Yeah, when I was watching football, it was Kevin Phillips and Tommy Sorensen in the Watson, Sunderland when I was young but as I started getting older I'd say Wazza and Johart. So you always had the attacking player that you liked but also the goalkeeper too? Yeah Wazza's a legend in me when you're growing up and I was a bit too young for Gazza.

2:41What was it like when you first joined Sunderland because you were a Boyhood Sunderland fan weren't you? That must have been the absolute dream. Yeah so I was at Sunderland from like development squad like 7-8 then got like the first contract under nine so then you had to do well every year to keep getting another year so once I joined and go into the games it was you're playing every Sunday for them it was mint but it was probably when you were getting a bit older like 14, 15 where you get that realisation that you've got an opportunity. Yeah was there ever a moment where you thought I could make this here?

3:14It starts at a younger age now but when I was growing up you used to get day release one day a week on a Tuesday and so you have the full day at training. That's the dream isn't it? Yeah, there's a lot to do in hours work which was horrific like 14-15 I got invited to do like Thursday morning at Sunderland and training with the youth team at like 15 so I used to have like a day and a half off school so that's when I kind of thought I need to start like I was sticking in properly then. You didn't have it easy all the time at Sunderland going on a lot of loans but then you did make it here to Everton.

3:47What was that move like for you? The loans, like I would say now, if any goalkeeper can have an opportunity to go out and loan and play in the leagues or low leagues, it will be more beneficial than playing the youth team football. Why is that? Because you're playing the proper game and it means, I know playing football you want to win every game but there's a lot more pressure that you thrive off and you learn, mature more as a keeper quicker, decision making and stuff. that's probably the best thing that's happened to me going on all them low moves. It feels like there's a lot of excitement around the club but there's also a lot of hype around you, you're often linked to other clubs.

4:22Why was this the right time to sign that new deal? When I first signed we were in Europe and that was the drive of Everton, that's where Everton should be. We had the two or three years where a bit of a rollercoaster ride and weather them storms and now it's all looking positive and the club's getting the right direction and you see with the signings the club's made and the drive we've got this season to improve and it comes from the top of the club. I think you'll see a lot more positive results in us pushing higher up on the table. You want to be playing in the Premier League and I've got that opportunity for everything.

5:00What are the ambitions of Everton this season? I never look at the end of the season and say, I want to do this, I always take game by game, that mentality of winning. When you sign a new contract you must have an idea of where you want Everton to go. I'm not going to let you give me the player answer there. No, I think we all want to be pushing the top half of the table. The manager is driving us to be in that top half, trying to get Europe. This year I think eight clubs are in Europe or maybe nine. So getting in that top half and sustaining that momentum in the top half and not dropping down and keep putting us as players that pressure to go and get more results and keep improving is definitely a drive.

5:40And I feel if we do that with the squad we've got, we can push that Europe side. We never know if it's going to be Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, if we're in that bracket for most of the season and we've had a successful season. As for England, that's not going too badly too. Qualifying for the World Cup and nine successive clean sheets for you as well, surpassing Gordon Banks' record. What does that mean to you? Yeah, I don't take all the credit. It's a great honour to break a record like that because Banksy is an absolute legend of the game. But I always hate the team effort and we win together, we lose together, keep clean sheets together.

6:15I know, I know H.K.A.L.E. He keeps scoring goals week in, week out and that's what the lads are there, they provide service and I'm there to help the lads when they need to make it safe to be called upon and that's what I feel like I do and that shows when I'm always in the moment as a goalkeeper because of them games, I probably have not had that much work to do but when called upon I'm making saves, I'm making the right decisions playing out from the back so there's a lot more to it than just the clean sheets because it's not as if I'm having seven or eight saves to make in a game there's the concentration elements and stuff so I take credit on that for myself with staying in the game, staying in the moment but I'll never take the full credit for the clean sheet How do you stay in the game, stay in the moment when you aren't busy?

6:59Because some of the games England have had recently as you've said you haven't been called upon which is what you want but then you have to stay switched on in case you are needed. Yeah, you've just got to stay mentally prepared. Every goalkeeper's difference. For me, it'll be like if the ball's in the other half of the pitch, being on the right side, always mirroring the pitch. If I'm being on the right side of the ball, making sure I feel if it's breaking down, I'm in the right position to maybe get a through ball in the right position to make a save. And communication as well, I feel like just being connected is probably key.

7:31It's been a remarkable career for you so far and you've still got a fair few years left in you, but when you reflect on it all, has there been a turning point or a moment that you think if that hadn't happened, maybe I wouldn't have achieved what I have? I think I've always had that mentality that I just want to improve myself. I don't want to like, oh I've got 80 caps for England, I've played 330 times for Everton, I've made it. I'm always striving for more for myself. When Arlo was born my son, that was a big change where it was an unknown to the family and it was new to me and Megan and that was a big change.

8:07But that was where I had a bit of dip in form and that's when I started using Psychologist. So, you know, rough off the smooth. There's been some interesting quotes from your teammates where they've kind of talked about your personality. I've heard James Tarkovsky talk about the fact that you bark at him, you've had full-on arguments on the pitch. Kyle Walker's kind of described you in various ways. Declan Rice, I read some of the quotes, but they basically all just say, you're a bit bonkers. Yeah. There's probably a line where sometimes I'll probably go too much that way. And that's something I'm trying to adapt and there's got to be a balance.

8:40When I put a football shirt on, it's like if I'm doing small-sided games outside with the lads in training, I hate losing. So it's just like, it gets me revved right up. I think it shows the passion I have for wanting to win. So we know how your teammates maybe would describe you, how would your best friend or your family members describe you? I think I care, I think they would say I'm caring and I look out for the people, like my mates and I always want the best for everybody, I think that's one thing I'm good at and I go and watch all those footballers as much as I can. What are you like as a football dad?

9:17Do you try and just blend in or are you shouting at your boy? If I'm behind the goal, but the last few times he switched on because I had a little, not a telling off, but a little discussion with him where to say you'll enjoy football a lot more if you're concentrating. Because I went to one game where he wasn't interacting and getting involved as much, but he's only six. He took it so much on board that me and Meg went next week and he was playing against Stokes Academy. It was when that storm was on. It was freezing. That's not a good goalkeeper, what conditions is it? Indy was amazing, so I didn't say anything to him because he took it on board, so it was amazing to see him enjoying it.

9:57I said, did you enjoy that? And he said, I felt it meant. Then he was playing at the weekend and he'd done it again, he was really good. So I wouldn't shout at him. If he's lacking concentration, I'll just give him a little switch on.

10:17We focus on the part of the internet that most people don't know about. It's called the dark web. Undercover in the furthest corners of the dark web, US special agents are on a mission to locate and rescue children from abuse. Move in now. Police! From the BBC World Service, World of Secrets, the darkest web follows their shocking investigations. Listen on bbc.com or wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

10:51From the start of your day to the moment you head home. Join Five Live for the latest news, the stories everyone's sharing and the biggest debates. This is a really important moment. The days of sweeping this under the rug are over. Let's just get up and chip away and make a difference. Whatever the day throws at you will help make sense of it. From the headlines to the details that matter. Wake up with Five Live Breakfast from 6 and go home with 5 Live Drive from 4. Weekdays on BBC Radio 5 Live. The Football Interview on the Football Daily Podcast. What was it like growing up in your house at home when you were a kid?

11:34Mad. That was mad. My parents brought me and my brother up really well. Just the one brother you've got. Yeah, just my brother Richard. They were strict but not too strict, if you know what I mean. and they kind of let us do a lot what we wanted to do. And I think times have changed now. You probably wouldn't see the kids this day and age out on the streets as much, which I feel like we've kind of lost that way a bit and on the iPads and stuff like that. But no, I was out on the street and me mum's shouting in the street, get in, Jordan. You want us to be out all the time? I want to be out all the time.

12:10And she's shouting, get in, you've got school tomorrow. and I'm still messing about. Were you a bit of a naughty kid, maybe? Yeah, I think so. My mum would describe me as something else, but I can't see it in here. You mentioned that your mum, and I read a quote from you the other day where you said that even when you get an England call up now, she still texts you congratulations. So you obviously are incredibly close. Yeah, yeah. I ring her every morning, and I ring her on the way home from June every day. Every day? Yeah, yeah, because you're always waiting for the phone call. But yeah, she'll text me after every call-up, text me before every game, I play and saying good luck, then text me after if I've had a good game or a bad game, saying well done.

12:52So as long as I stick in, she's happy. Tell me one thing about yourself that would surprise me. I'm not allowed to do it as a footballer, but I would love to be able to do motocross. Really? Why? Because I grew up going to watch it every week with my mates, and my best mate now, he rides in the British Championships. So if I can go to that, I'll go every week and watch as much as I can. If I could do it, I would, but there's strict rules in your contract because you're not allowed to do any activities like that. But that's probably one thing in my life I would love to have done. Is that a big passion of yours?

13:27Yeah, because I went from such a young age and was staying in motorhomes, caravans, at the racetrack when we were kids, and it was me. The adrenaline I get from watching my mates on the start line and the gear drops, didn't get the first corner, get the whole shot, it's like, it's not like F1, it's like everyone's like, honestly, the adrenaline I get and if they get a good start and like I'm properly like leaning over, like cheering them on and stuff, like a proper fan, but like it's me. Do you ever get spotted there? Yeah, yeah, I get spotted there, but it doesn't bother me. I'm literally leaning over the fence, like pushing them on to try and do better, But it gives me proper adrenaline.

14:06That's probably one of the things I love. If you could only achieve one more thing for the rest of your career, what would it be? World Cup, win. Next summer? Yeah, that would be the goal I think the whole nation is waiting for. Do you feel like you've got the best opportunity now? You've had some good opportunities. Yeah, we've had some great opportunities. I think the more experiences you have in tournament football and see the lads winning Cups for Champions League so I think you can lean on that. You must want that as well because trophies you've achieved so much and records. I think for me it would be to lift that World Cup.

14:45I'll lift a major trophy for England would be number one and if I could ever get silverware at Everton would be number two. It's been that long since England's won something and to be a part of that would be amazing. I think we've got to believe in ourselves as England and you've got that opportunity and you've got to take it with both hands but you're playing the best nations in the world and it's you've got to be at your best each game and that's what takes you so far. What are you proudest of? As a young kid growing up and getting that opportunity to become a footballer you know you you might make your debut for Sunderland and it might become a dream but it's our sustainability of doing it for so many years and keep progressing and keep getting better I think I'm proud of myself the dedication I put in.

15:33Welcome to the brand new podcast series Rugby League Top 10 with me Mark Chapman. It's where John Wilkin, Brian Noble and Jamie Peacock will discuss, debate and argue over lists of the best players, games, finals, iconic moments and plenty of other categories that will no doubt leave you screaming at your device. The most entertaining parts of that sport are these, the jeopardy, the moments. He made Rugby League look cool. Yeah. I mean, that's a difficult thing to do, I think. It is really, isn't it? Yeah, I know. I think we've all managed to carry that battle. Rugby League top ten. Listen on BBC Sounds.

16:10We focus on the part of the internet that most people don't know about. It's called the dark web. Undercover in the furthest corners of the dark web. US special agents are on a mission to locate and rescue children from abuse. Move in now. From the BBC World Service, World of Secrets, the Darkest Web follows their shocking investigations. Listen on bbc.com or wherever you get your BBC podcasts.