Fred Pickering
Encyclopedia
Frederick "Fred" Pickering (born January 19, 1941 in Blackburn, Lancashire
) is an English
former professional footballer. He played as a forward
.
, in 1959, signing professional forms on his 17th birthday. In four years at Ewood Park
, he made 123 league appearances and scored 59 goals.
In 1963, Pickering signed for Everton
. He went on to make 97 league appearances and score 56 goals in his four years on Merseyside
.
In 1967, Pickering joined Birmingham City
. He spent two years in the Midlands, making 74 league appearances and netting 27 goals.
In June 1969, Blackpool
, then in Division Two
and under the managership of Les Shannon
, came in for Pickering's services. He made his debut for the Seasiders in the opening game of the 1969–70
league campaign, a 2–1 victory over Portsmouth
at Bloomfield Road
on August 9, 1969. He partnered Alan Suddick
in the forward line, as he did for the majority of the season. He scored his first goal for the club in the next game, a 3–1 league defeat at Norwich City
on August 16.
On April 13, 1970, in the penultimate league game of the season, Pickering scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 victory at arch-rivals Preston North End
in the West Lancashire derby
. The result sealed Blackpool's promotion to Division One
while also putting another nail in Preston's coffin: the Lilywhites were relegated to Division Three
for the first time in their history shortly thereafter.
In all, Pickering scored eighteen goals in his first season with Blackpool and finished as the club's top scorer.
The following season, 1970–71
, Pickering scored seven goals in fourteen starts for Blackpool, but it wasn't enough to save the club from relegation back to Division Two at the end of the season. Pickering played his final game for the club on February 20, 1971, a single-goal defeat at Derby County
. New manager Bob Stokoe
, who succeeded Les Shannon around Christmastime, allowed Pickering to return to Blackburn Rovers; however, after a disagreement with Rovers manager Ken Furphy
, he left for Brighton
, where he finished his career.
and scored five goals for England
in 1964 during his Everton career. He made his international debut on May 27, 1964, against the USA
, and scored a hat-trick in a 10–0 victory for Alf Ramsey
's team.
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer. He played as a forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Domestic career
Pickering began his career with his hometown club, Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, in 1959, signing professional forms on his 17th birthday. In four years at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
, he made 123 league appearances and scored 59 goals.
In 1963, Pickering signed for Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. He went on to make 97 league appearances and score 56 goals in his four years on Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
.
In 1967, Pickering joined Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. He spent two years in the Midlands, making 74 league appearances and netting 27 goals.
In June 1969, Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, then in Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
and under the managership of Les Shannon
Les Shannon
Leslie "Les" Shannon was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Shannon was born in Liverpool; a centre-forward, he started his playing career with his hometown club of Liverpool in November 1944...
, came in for Pickering's services. He made his debut for the Seasiders in the opening game of the 1969–70
Blackpool F.C. season 1969-70
The 1969-70 season was Blackpool F.C.s 63rd season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing second...
league campaign, a 2–1 victory over Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
on August 9, 1969. He partnered Alan Suddick
Alan Suddick
Alan Suddick was an English professional footballer who played at inside-right. He was known for his "banana" free-kicks.-Newcastle United:...
in the forward line, as he did for the majority of the season. He scored his first goal for the club in the next game, a 3–1 league defeat at Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
on August 16.
On April 13, 1970, in the penultimate league game of the season, Pickering scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 victory at arch-rivals Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in the West Lancashire derby
West Lancashire derby
The West Lancashire derby is a local derby in English football, between Lancashire neighbours Blackpool F.C. and Preston North End F.C. The derby has taken place across all four tiers of the Football League, but not yet in the Premier League...
. The result sealed Blackpool's promotion to Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
while also putting another nail in Preston's coffin: the Lilywhites were relegated to Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
for the first time in their history shortly thereafter.
In all, Pickering scored eighteen goals in his first season with Blackpool and finished as the club's top scorer.
The following season, 1970–71
Blackpool F.C. season 1970-71
The 1970–71 season was Blackpool F.C.s 64th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing bottom...
, Pickering scored seven goals in fourteen starts for Blackpool, but it wasn't enough to save the club from relegation back to Division Two at the end of the season. Pickering played his final game for the club on February 20, 1971, a single-goal defeat at Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
. New manager Bob Stokoe
Bob Stokoe
Robert "Bob" Stokoe was an English footballer and manager who was able, almost uniquely, to transcend the traditional north-east rivalry between the region's footballing giants, Newcastle United and Sunderland....
, who succeeded Les Shannon around Christmastime, allowed Pickering to return to Blackburn Rovers; however, after a disagreement with Rovers manager Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy is an English former football player and manager.Despite being on the books at Everton between 1950–1951, Furphy was a lower league player with Runcorn Darlington and then Workington...
, he left for Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, where he finished his career.
International career
Pickering won three capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
and scored five goals for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1964 during his Everton career. He made his international debut on May 27, 1964, against the USA
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, and scored a hat-trick in a 10–0 victory for Alf Ramsey
Alf Ramsey
Sir Alfred Ernest "Alf" Ramsey was an English footballer and manager of the English national football team from 1963 to 1974. His greatest achievement was winning the 1966 World Cup with England on 30 July 1966...
's team.