Jordan Pickford: The Everton goalkeeper talks about his career, World Cup dream and love of motocross

Kelly: What was it like growing up in your household?

Jordan: crazy. That was crazy. My parents raised me and my brother well. They were strict but not too strict. They allowed us to do a lot of what we wanted to do. Times have changed now, you don’t see kids on the streets as much anymore, and I feel like we’ve lost that approach a little bit. I was in the street and my mother was shouting: “Go to Jordan, you have school tomorrow.” I wanted to be outside all the time,

Kelly: Were you a bit of a naughty child, perhaps?

Jordan: I think so. My mother describes me as something else!

Kelly: I read a quote from you a few days ago that even when you get called up to the England national team, your mother still sends you a congratulatory message, so obviously you’re very close.

Jordan: I would call her every morning and on my way home from training every day. She’ll text me before every call-up and text me saying good luck before every game and she’ll text me after saying ‘well done’ whether I played a good game or a bad one.

Kelly: Tell me one thing about yourself that might surprise me.

Jordan: I’m not allowed to do that as a football player, but I would love to be able to do motocross. I grew up watching it every week with my mates, and my best mate is now competing in the British Championships. If I could go every week to watch as much as I could. I would if I could but there are strict rules in our contracts where we are not allowed to do activities like this. This is probably one thing in my life that I would like to do.

Kelly: Is this your big passion?

Jordan: Yes, I’ve been going since I was young and we used to stay in motorhomes and caravans at the racecourse when we were kids and it was good. The adrenaline I get from watching my teammates on the starting line and the gate drop, then getting into the first corner… the adrenaline I get if they get a good start and I tend to them right and cheer them on.

Kelly: Are you being spotted there?

Jordan: Yes I have been spotted but it doesn’t bother me, I lean on the fence to push them to try to do better. It gives me the right adrenaline and is one of my favorite things.

Kelly: If you could only achieve one thing for the rest of your career, what would it be?

Jordan: Winning the World Cup.

Kelly: Next summer?

Jordan: Yes. That would do it for me. This is what the entire nation has been waiting for.

Kelly: Do you feel you have the best chance now?

Jordan: Yes we have had some great opportunities. The more you experience in football tournaments and watch players win cups and the Champions League, you can count on that. I think, for me, lifting the World Cup or a big trophy for England would be number one, and if I could get silverware at Everton that would be number two. It’s been a long time since England have won something and it will be amazing to be part of that. We have to believe in ourselves, we have this opportunity and we have to seize it with both hands, but you are facing the best team in the world and you have to play your best in every game, and that is what takes you this far.

Kelly: What are you proud of?

Jordan: When I was a young kid, I got this opportunity to become a footballer, you might make your debut for Sunderland and that might become a dream, but the sustainability of doing that for so many years and continuing to progress and continuing to improve is what I think I’m proudest of myself for – continuing to put in the dedication that I do.