Nick Pickering
Nicholas Pickering is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Sunderland, Coventry City, Derby County, Darlington and Burnley. He was capped once for the England national team, against Australia in 1983, and remains one of only two players of modern times to have been discarded by England while still in his teens.
He was part of the England U21 team that won the 1984 European under-21 championships and reached the semi-final two years later. As a Coventry City player he was on the winning side in the 1987 FA Cup Final.
Since retiring as a player he has been involved in youth coaching, and working on the radio in the North East.
In his first season in Sunderland's first team he had the honour of being voted both the club's young player of the year and player of the year by the fans.
He is married with two sons.
