England Goalkeeper Pickford Overcame Childhood Bullying Over Surname

England's number one goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, has a past marred by childhood bullying stemming from his original family name, "Pigford." The 32-year-old shot-stopper, who has been England's first-choice keeper since 2018, endured relentless teasing from classmates who mockingly called him "piggy" or "little pig."

This persistent torment prompted his father to make a significant decision: changing the family surname to "Pickford." Had the name remained unchanged, the jersey of one of England's most prominent footballers would have borne the name "Pigford" during major tournaments like the World Cup.

Pickford's resilience is evident in his current standing. According to Opta statistics, he has conceded only 59 goals in 89 appearances for England, keeping 44 clean sheets. Crucially, only two of those goals were attributed to his own errors. At club level with Everton, he has recorded 23 clean sheets in the past two Premier League seasons, a figure surpassed only by Arsenal's David Raya in the league.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has lauded Pickford's abilities, stating that they are often underestimated. Robinson described him as an outstanding and mature goalkeeper with unparalleled passing skills, who has continuously improved his short-range passing. He added that unlike previous England goalkeepers like Shilton, Seaman, or James, Pickford faces little public debate about his position, a testament to his consistent performance and reliability.

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I think the biggest compliment you can give Pickford is that those voices simply don't exist anymore.