World Cup 2018: Meet Jordan Pickford, the England hero mocked for his height, inspired by brother and cheered on by childhood sweetheart Megan Davison
Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois hit out at Pickford - but England man proved his worth in epic shootout win
JORDAN PICKFORD is England's newest hero.
The Everton goalkeeper produced a stunning save in the shootout as the Three Lions FINALLY won on penalties to advance to the quarter-finals against Colombia.
Pickford's brilliant save - and Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired celebration - were the defining moments for an England team that now face Sweden on Saturday.
The save comes just days after Belgium rival Thibaut Courtois MOCKED him for being too small.
Pickford couldn't keep out Adnan Januzaj's strike in the 1-0 defeat and Chelsea keeper Courtois, who stands at 6ft 6in, said: "Jordan Pickford is 10cm smaller than me. I would have caught it.
"He was too busy throwing his legs in the air."
Pickford, who stands at a relatively small 6ft 1in - or two Cadbury's Creme Eggs smaller than Courtois - has had the last laugh.
But who is Jordan Pickford?
The 24-year-old, known as 'Picky', was born in working-class Washington, just outside of Sunderland, on March 7, 1994.
His dad, Lee, used to be a gamekeeper on a big estate but is now a builder and plasterer, while his mum worked at St Robert of Newminster Catholic school - the school were Pickford was educated - leaving recently.
He told The Times last year: "[Dad] left home as a 16-year-old to work as a game-keeper on Lord Lambton’s estate, a famous one up north [near Chester-le-Street].
My dad’s still working now, he’s got his own business, being a builder, does it all himself, plastering.
"[Mum] helps the kids, looks after the kids.
"My parents made sacrifices for me. That’s why I reward them now playing in front of big crowds and giving everything."
His former PE teacher at St Robert of Newminster, Alan Fisher, revealed that Pickford wasn't actually a goalkeeper at school - he was a forward nicknamed Speedy.
Fisher told the Chronicle: "It was clear from a young age that he was a talented lad and he was equally impressive at running and tennis as he was at football.
"We knew he was being trained as a goalkeeper at Sunderland’s academy but he could play anywhere.
"There were lots of talented footballers in his age group but he stood out as special because of his attitude.
"He had an incredible focus and determination you don’t see very often so it wasn’t remotely shocking when he finally made it, it made sense.
"I still use him as an example with my students to show what hard work and focus can produce."
It was also at the school where Pickford met his childhood sweetheart, Megan Davison, when they were 14.
ENGLAND'S FAMOUS NIGHT
- Pickford the hero as England beat Colombia on penalties
- Wright, Neville and Dixon go mad in the ITV studio
- Fans offer to buy Pickford Sky after old Tweets resurface
- Gary Lineker's son nicks England legend's 1986 World Cup shirt
- Falcao accuses ref of being bias towards England
- Alan Shearer: Colombia were a disgrace - but England showed balls
- England return to training after epic shootout win
The pair are still together, with stunning Megan in Russia at the moment to support the star - posting her contrasting emotions in a brilliant social media post on Tuesday night.
Megan, who recently graduated with a 2:1 from the University of Sunderland, is also from the Sunderland area and moved to Liverpool when Pickford joined Everton in a £25million deal last summer.
They went on holiday just before the World Cup, to Barbados, where Megan was spotted to be wearing an engagement ring on her ring finger, although it's not known if he has proposed.
Video emerged on Wednesday morning of Davison's dad, Gary, jumping around in raucous celebration as Pickford saved the penalty.
Gary could be heard shouting: "me boy's a f***ing hero", "f***ing get in" and "get in you b******" as he hugs family.
Pickford, a Sunderland fan, first joined the Black Cats as an eight-year-old in 2002 - he revealed older brother Richard, six years his senior, helped toughen him up as a kid when they played football together.
Richard would tell him: "Get on the tarmac and dive about lad."
He is massively into boxing, having boxed at Washington Boxing Club between the ages of nine and 11, and is also a big fan of golf and motocross.
Old Tweets that have resurfaced reveal Pickford is also a massive fan of chicken-chain Nando's.
Other social media posts show that Pickford once went without Sky in his room at home, aged 18, because his parents wouldn't pay for it (jubilant fans have now offered to pay).
Pickford revealed he was inspired by watching Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel.
The stopper eventually signed a professional deal with Sunderland in 2011 but it wouldn't be until January 2016 that he would make his first-team debut for the club.
In those five years, he would impress in a string of loan spells in the lower leagues - with Darlington, Alfreton Town, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Bradford City and Preston North End.
His Sunderland debut came in a 3-1 FA Cup loss to Arsenal.
The next season he would start as No 2 to Vito Mannone, but won the starting job when Mannone was injured.
Pickford had an outstanding season, for a desperately poor Sunderland team that would eventually be relegated, and be shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Big-hearted Pickford revealed to the Guardian how upset relegation left him.
"[The impact of relegation] is massive – 40-odd people lost their jobs throughout the season and financially it’s not ideal for the whole club," he said.
“For me, having grown up and been there since I was a kid, seeing people you’ve known for a long time losing their jobs, it’s not nice."
Last summer he made a £25million move to Everton and although the Toffees were not as good as many expected, Pickford had another tremendous season.
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He scooped a treble at the end of season awards, being named the Fans', Players' and Young player of the season for the club.
Pickford also has a long history at junior level for England.
He has caps for England Under-16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U21.
He was part of the team that won the 2016 Toulon Tournament - under Gareth Southgate - the first time an England team had won the competition for 22 years, and helped England reach the semi-final of the U21 Euros in 2017 - he was later named England U21 player of the year.
Pickford was first called up by Gareth Southgate in August 2017, making his debut in the 0-0 friendly draw with Germany in November 2017.
The stopper revealed how his mum didn't believe he'd been called up.
"I was just pulling into my mam and dad’s house when I was told on the phone, 'You have been called up, get down as soon as possible'," he revealed.
"I was buzzing. I said, 'Mam, I’m going away with England, I’m going down now, I’ve just had a phone call'.
"She went, 'No you’re not' — she thought I was winding her up, being a joker again!
"It was only a short period but being away those two nights with the best players in the country was a massive learning experience."
He has won seven England caps - four of them at this World Cup.
After his penalty shootout heroics, Pickford hit back at Courtois.
He said: "I did all my research. I've got power and agility.
"I don't care if I'm not the biggest keeper because it's about being there in the moment and making the save and I was.
"It's all about the set position and I got a hand to it.
"We knew we had this game, even if it had to go to penalties, we knew we were capable of winning."