Seaham store undergoes makeover to honour Sunderland-born goalkeeper Jordan Pickford
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The tournament, which started on Friday, June 11, has been a long time coming for football fans after Euro 2020 was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
After the long wait, England finally kicked off their first game of the European Championship yesterday (Sunday, June 13), against Croatia at Wembley Stadium – with Sunderland-born goalkeeper Jordan Pickford starting the game and keeping a clean sheet.
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Hide AdNow to honour the England number one, who rose through the ranks of Sunderland AFC’s academy before signing for Everton in 2017, Shah & Sons Convenience Store in Seaham has been given a makeover.
The shop has become a wall-to-wall shrine to Pickford and features 35 images of the England keeper with entire aisle dedicated to him, as well as life size cut outs and photo opportunities for customers.
Commenting on the store, Jordan, who is from Washington, said: “It’s amazing having a store so close to where I grew up transformed to have my face everywhere – if a little crazy.
“Sunderland means so much to me having grown up and started my career here so the support from people back home means the absolute world and its brilliant knowing they will be cheering us on in coming weeks.
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Hide Ad"It’s going to be such an exciting summer and we would love to be able to bring home the trophy for everyone”.
Shop owner and England fan Saima Arif worked with Bud Light’s BOXHEADS to carry out the transformation and she hopes that it will help the local community get behind the national team this summer.
She added: “We are all so proud of Jordan representing England and being such a talented keeper. It’s so exciting watching a local lad in such an important tournament and the store’s 'faceover’ is our way of showing our support.
“We hope the transformation will help get the local community excited about the prospect of Pickford and the team bringing it home this summer.”