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Exclusive: How England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's story was nearly so very different

sam elliott
He was Alfreton’s Pick: England keeper Jordan could have signed for the Reds five years ago
He was Alfreton’s Pick: England keeper Jordan could have signed for the Reds five years ago

Jordan Pickford may not have felt he was heading for the top when he was washing the team’s kit at Darlington.

But his World Cup dream could have been even further away and his story changed forever had Alfreton Town got their way.

The England goalkeeper, 24, may be on the brink of national treasure status, but had Sunderland cut their losses on a young keeper who wasn’t progressing as quickly as they wanted to, who knows who would have been between the Three Lions’ posts.

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Wayne Bradley is not a man who minds giving things a go.

The Alfreton chairman tried to make Pickford’s loan stay in the National League North a permanent one.

Grounded: Jordan Pickford could have signed permanently at Alfreton
Grounded: Jordan Pickford could have signed permanently at Alfreton

“It’s not common knowledge, but we tried to buy Jordan a few years ago,” he told us.

“He was Sunderland’s player, but he had been out on loan quite a few times. He went to Darlington, Burton, Carlisle, Preston and Bradford City.

“It was clearly a great grounding for him but it really did take a while for him to get near their team.

“We went in for him, Sunderland considered it, but it didn’t quite happen. Clearly that’s shame – think of our sell-on clause!

“He was only with us for a few months, but he was a top class lad. He was a brilliant goalkeeper too, I thought he could go on and do something.

“But to do what he has done in incredible. We’re all praying he goes on to lift the World Cup. What would have happened if Sunderland accepted our bid! They’ll be rather glad they didn’t after selling him to Everton for £25m.”

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Saving a penalty that helped England advance to the World Cup quarter-finals looked a million miles away when Pickford made his first-team debut in January 2012.

Attending the St Robert of Newminster Catholic School in Washington before, when just 17 years old, turned out for Darlington in a 1-0 defeat to Fleetwood in the Blue Square Premier League.

The shot-stopper made 100 appearances during loan spells – and it proved to be the making of him.