Jordan Pickford was the standout player for Everton after putting in a sensational performance to keep a clean sheet against Newcastle United. The Blues won 1-0 at St James Park to wrap up the 2024/25 season.
Pickford’s performance resonated so well with the travelling Toffees that the celebration of Newcastle’s Champions League qualification on home ground was drowned out by songs of England’s number 1. The 31-year-old, who captained the Blues yesterday, made six saves to deny Alexander Isak and co, leading to chants of “Jordan Pickford is dynamite” from the fans.
When asked if he enjoyed the scenes at the end of the game, Pickford said, “Yeah, the fans are brilliant. They know what a passionate lad I am, they know how much I love the club and how much I do my best for the club.
“To repay me with that song, 4,000 Evertonians right up in the gods, it’s a great moment and a great way to end the season.
“It’s a really good song, it’s got a good bounce to it, shall we say. Finally, as a football fan, to have your own chant is mega. It’s what football is all about, you’re doing something right if the fans are buzzing off you.”
It is believed that the song made its debut at Craven Cottage, where the Blues recorded their last away win over Fulham. David Moyes’ side finished the campaign on hot form and recorded three wins on the bounce to finish on 48 points – their highest league tally in four years.
It is a clear sign of progress for the club, which was just one point above the relegation zone when Moyes returned for a second spell. It was Moyes who gave Pickford his first start in the English top flight during their time together at Sunderland.
Asked about the second half of the season, Pickford said, “It’s been a great end to the season. For me, it’s about next season, it’s about pre-season, getting ready for that and setting that standard early.
“It’s all about setting that standard early and not bouncing back at Christmas time and getting results, it is about sustaining it. You’re going to get knocks, you’re going to get beat, you can’t be invincible.
“We’d love to be invincible as every team in the Premier League would be but it’s about when you take those setbacks, how do you bounce back as a team? How do you work hard and train all week to get that performance on a Saturday? I think the manager will drill into us throughout the season and the manager has already said that.