Everton’s recent struggles have not exactly forged many heroes of late, but throughout the misery, there will always emerge at least a few with credit.
And, above all else, is surely Jordan Pickford.
The former Sunderland shot-stopper, signed in 2017, was widely expected to fulfil their goalkeeper role for the next decade given his youth and high potential.
However, few likely predicted he would become quite as integral as he has done, not quite helping them reach Europe regularly, but instead salvaging their Premier League status.
Regardless, he remains one of few heroes created amidst the mire, and has now been rewarded for his exploits.
Jordan Pickford makes Everton history
Although Jarrad Branthwaite won Players’ Player of the Season, there were still other awards to be given out at Everton’s ceremony, held just yesterday at Finch Farm.
One such accolade, and arguably the most prestigious, was the one voted by the fans.
It was hard to look past the aforementioned 21-year-old and Pickford for this trophy, and in the end it was the latter who came out victorious, accepting his award from Sean Dyche with a beaming smile.
This has become synonymous with the 30-year-old, whose bursting personality continues to shine through on every occasion.
However, in claiming this award, he actually made history at the club, having swooped it for the fourth time now despite only being at the club for seven seasons.
When delving back through the club’s archives on the website, which do only go back until 2005, there is no player to have won more than him. Also, he has just become the first man to win it three times on the run, with Mikel Arteta coming the closest, winning it twice between 2005 and 2007.
Jordan Pickford is not far from Everton legend status
Given his long-lasting and consistent success ever since signing for Everton, it would not be ridiculous to suggest that Pickford is far away from earning legendary status at the club.
It is a hugely subjective topic in reality, and for many that kind of monicker can only be attributed to those who have won trophies.
But for others, legends are made by how they react to the climates they are born into, and Pickford has done little wrong to be tarnished by the terrible form of others.
Also, were it not for him, the Toffees would almost certainly be playing Championship football by now.
He is an ever-present and supremely reliable pair of hands in a position that makes all the difference, and currently boasts 279 appearances for the club.
Give it a few more years, and he would well be rivalling some true Everton legends in that regard, with Leighton Baines, Colin Harvey and Dixie Dean all players he could easily surpass on that list before he departs Goodison Park.
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