One England star will always cherish his time spent at Preston North End. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who is preparing to be the primary shot-stopper for the Three Lions at another major tournament, fondly recalls his loan spell with the club. Now 30, Pickford has been a formidable presence in goal for manager Gareth Southgate.
Pickford has played the last eight-and-a-half seasons in the Premier League, having been signed by Everton from Sunderland in the summer of 2017. His impressive career trajectory was evident during his 2015 loan spell at Preston North End from Sunderland.
Preston North End needed a new goalkeeper after Sam Johnstone returned to Manchester United following their promotion from League One. Manager Simon Grayson brought in Pickford, and it quickly became apparent that PNE had acquired a talented shot-stopper. During his loan, Pickford was recalled by Sunderland on January 1, after keeping an extraordinary 14 clean sheets in 17 Championship games. Prior to his stint at Preston, Pickford had been on loan at Bradford City and Carlisle United, with the Premier League and international stage beckoning following his final appearance for the Lilywhites.
Many England squad members have spent crucial periods in the English Football League early in their careers, and Pickford is no exception. Reflecting on his time at Preston a couple of years ago, Pickford emphasized the significant impact it had on his development.
“I finished off in the EFL with Preston North End,” said Pickford. “Going to Preston was the final bridge I needed to cross in the Championship. That was my best loan move – as a 21-year-old, playing in the Championship and keeping loads of clean sheets. That experience prepared me for the Premier League.
“The goalkeeper coaches were fantastic, and all the staff were brilliant. But beyond that, playing in men’s football as a young lad from Sunderland was crucial. You’ve got to seize the opportunity, and I felt I did, learning a lot from experienced players, managers, and staff.
“That period was a significant learning curve for me, helping me improve as a person and a footballer. One of my best spells was at Preston. I believe I might have equaled the club record for clean sheets – I think it was a seven-game clean sheet streak. Alan Kelly, my goalkeeper coach at Preston, is now my coach at Everton.
“The EFL is a great environment for young players. Playing for Sunderland, Everton, and England has been incredible, but I wouldn’t have achieved it without those loan spells. Each club played a vital role in my development, and those experiences were invaluable.”
Pickford’s time at Preston North End not only honed his skills but also laid the foundation for his successful career in the Premier League and on the international stage. The lessons learned and experiences gained during his loan spell at Deepdale remain a pivotal part of his journey to becoming one of England’s top goalkeepers.
