Yahoo Finance Jordan Pickford’s Scottish PE teacher is mocked by pupils
Jordan Pickford’s former PE teacher spoke of his divided loyalties ahead of tonight’s game — because he’s a Scotland fan.
Alan Fisher knows England goalkeeper Pickford, 27, could stand in the way of his team staying at Euro 2020.
Pickford went to St Robert of Newminster Roman Catholic school in Washington, near Sunderland, where his mother worked.
Pupils there have teased Mr Fisher all week about Scotland’s 2-0 defeat to the Czech Republic on Monday.
The ribbing intensified when they realised it could be Everton star Pickford’s gloves that break Scottish hearts tonight.
Mr Fisher, 49, told the Standard: “They’ve been shouting as I walk down the corridor. But it’s fine.
“I want Jordan to have an outstanding performance in goal.
“But then I hope the Scots are too much for him and one trickles into the back of his net. Even as a Scotsman, I know England are very strong.
“But I think we’ll have more chances than in the Czech Republic game. I’m not going to sit on the fence by saying I wish it was a draw just because of Jordan.”
While at school Pickford, nicknamed Speedy by classmates, was a “great lad and loved football”. His mother Sue worked there in the reception team and she and father Lee helped him through his career. Pickford married his childhood sweetheart Megan Davison whom he met at the school.
Mr Fisher said: “He was as lively as any 11-year-old and we’d already heard about him because of his mum. Jordan was very sporty and an all-rounder. They called him Speedy because he was always going at 100mph. He played tennis, cricket and ran cross-country. As time went on, he focused on his football, initially as an attacking midfielder but then took his position as keeper.
“For a boy from Washington to be playing football at the highest level, people here can only dream about that. It’s very inspirational and the school is proud of him.”
Pickford was a hero for England at World Cup 2018 when he saved a penalty against Colombia to help England win their first shootout since Euro 96. He was then man of the match in the quarter-final win over Sweden.
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