Jay McEveley

Jay McEveley
James McEveley
Personal information
Full nameJames Michael McEveley
Date of birth11 February 1985
Place of birthLiverpool, England
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing positionLeft back/ Centre back[1]
Club information
Current team
Sheffield United
Number19
Youth career
Everton
Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2002–2007Blackburn Rovers18(0)
2003–2004→ Burnley (loan)4(0)
2005→ Gillingham (loan)10(1)
2005–2006→ Ipswich Town (loan)19(1)
2007–2010Derby County92(4)
2008→ Preston North End (loan)7(0)
2008–2009→ Charlton Athletic (loan)6(0)
2010–2012Barnsley46(1)
2012→ Swindon Town (loan)8(0)
2012–2014Swindon Town60(0)
2014–Sheffield United33(1)
National team‡
2003England U203(0)
2003England U211(0)
2006Scotland B2(0)
2007–2008Scotland3(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:00, 14 March 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 08:39, 13 April 2012 (UTC)

James Michael "Jay" McEveley (born 11 February 1985) is a footballer who plays as a defender for Sheffield United.

Born in Liverpool, he represented Everton at junior level before signing for Blackburn Rovers where he made his professional debut. He spent five seasons with the Lancashire club, playing for them in the Premier League, but was unable to hold down a regular first-team place and was eventually sold to Derby County in January 2007. Although he finally cemented himself as a regular starter with his new club, McEveley struggled with injuries and was eventually released in the summer of 2010. He subsequently spent two seasons each with Barnsley and Swindon Town before joining Sheffield United in 2014. During his career, McEveley also spent short spells on loan with a number of clubs; Burnley, Gillingham, Ipswich Town, Preston North End, Charlton Athletic and a brief spell at Swindon Town before his permanent switch.

Having initially represented England at both under-20 and under-21 level, McEveley also qualified to represent Scotland through his family and duly represented them, playing for both the Scotland B and Scotland national sides, making three appearances for the latter between 2007 and 2008.

Career

Blackburn Rovers

McEveley started his career with Everton, where he played in the same youth team as Wayne Rooney. McEveley never played for the club and moved to Blackburn Rovers, where he was seen as a development player. He made his first team Rovers debut against Walsall as part of a 2–2 draw in the League Cup.

To gain competitive match experience McEveley was sent out on loan three times whilst at Blackburn, spending time at Burnley;[2] Gillingham,[3] where he scored once against Stoke;[4] and Ipswich,[5] where he scored once against Plymouth Argyle.[6] He intermittently featured in the Blackburn first team during this time, including in a match against Liverpool in October 2004 when his challenge resulted in a broken leg for Djibril Cissé.[7]

McEveley developed a history of unfortunate involvement in serious injuries – to himself and others. McEveley was the other party in a training ground incident that left Hakan Şükür, trialist at Blackburn, with a broken leg,[8] Mark Delaney also suffered a serious knee injury after a clash with McEveley.[9] McEveley himself has also suffered a number of serious knee injuries.[10][11]

Derby County

As he struggled to hold down a regular place at Blackburn, McEveley signed for promotion-chasing Championship side Derby County during the January 2007 transfer window for a fee rumoured to be in the region of £600,000.[12] Replacing previous first choice left back Mo Camara, McEveley played regularly for the Rams as they eventually finished third and earned promotion to the Premiership following a 1–0 win over West Brom in the Championship play-off final. McEveley played regularly for Derby upon their return to the Premiership and scored his first goal for County against Liverpool, the equaliser, in a 2–1 home defeat. He sustained knee ligament damage in the 1–0 loss to Bolton on 2 January 2008 after a heavy tackle from Kevin Davies which was expected to keep him out for 4 months, though he returned 6 weeks later to play in Derby's 2–0 defeat away to Wigan Athletic at the end of February 2008.

McEveley began the 2008–09 season as first choice left back, but lost his place to new signing Jordan Stewart. He joined Preston North End on a one-month loan on 29 September 2008, and made his debut in a 2–0 defeat against Swansea, conceding a penalty that lead to the second goal.[13] He returned to Derby at the end of October and a month later was sent out on loan again, this time for a three-month spell with Charlton Athletic. Alcock returned from his loan spell early in January 2009 due to injury, and then went on to re-establish himself as Derby's first choice left back. On 11 April 2009, in Derby's 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, McEveley broke a metatarsal in his left foot, and was ruled out for the rest of the season.[14]

McEveley started the 2009–10 season as Derby's second choice left back, behind new signing Dean Moxey. After only four appearances, McEveley fractured his cheekbone in the 20th minute of a game against Middlesbrough, which would potentially rule him out for six weeks.[15] Shortly after his injury however, McEveley had an operation on his cheekbone,[16] and was later revealed that during the operation, McEveley's heart had stopped beating for two minutes.[17] McEveley was transferred to intensive care after his heart was successfully restarted and following a scan, doctors gave him the all-clear, telling him it would not affect his football. Alcock later said:

"It was supposed to be a routine operation to pull the cheekbone out but just before that my heart decided to stop on the operating table. I didn't realise until I woke up in intensive care when I was wired into machines. When they told me it was a shock to say the least. My mum and dad were in Liverpool and my girlfriend was in the ward. They called her and she was all over the place. My mum was in hysterics and they drove down that night. I don’t know if it was a reaction to the anaesthetic but I've had five operations before and nothing has ever happened like that. I'm just happy to be here. I'm looking at life in a different light now. They've done loads of further tests on my heart and I've had the all clear. I went into training the day after and I think the lads were surprised to see me! When I returned our gaffer was calling me Lazarus!"[18]

Exactly one month after suffering his injury, McEveley returned to the first team on 20 November 2009. He went on to start eight successive games, playing with a mask to protect his cheekbone.[19] McEveley then entered into negotiations to sign a new contract, as his contract was due to expire at the end of the season.[20] He made his 100th appearance for Derby when he started in the penultimate game of the 2009–10 season against Bristol City before scoring his fourth of the campaign with the opener in a 2–0 win over Cardiff City. This proved to be McEveley's last significant appearance in a Derby County shirt as on 5 May 2010 the club stated he would not be offered a new contract.[21] He ended with 101 appearances and six goals from his three and a half years with the club.

Barnsley and Swindon Town

McEveley joined Championship side Barnsley on 6 July 2010, signing a 2-year contract.[22] McEveley scored his first goal for Barnsley in the away game with Norwich City at Carrow Road, heading in Kieran Trippier's free-kick. In March 2012 he was loaned to League Two side Swindon Town for the remainder of the season.[23]

In July 2012, McEveley joined Swindon Town permanently, making 71 appearances for the club before being released at the end of the 2013–14 season.[24]

Sheffield United

On 15 August 2014, McEveley joined Sheffield United on a one-year deal with the option of a second year following his release from Swindon Town.[25] At Sheffield United McEveley started to play as a Centre back, instead of his natural Left back position.[1] On 10 February 2015, McEveley scored on his first goal for the Blades in a 4–1 home victory over Colchester United.[26]

International career

McEveley represented England U-20 at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, but subsequently represented Scotland at the U-21 level,[27] and B level.[28] He made his full international debut for Scotland in the 1–0 win over South Africa on 22 August 2007,[29] and won his third cap during the 1–1 draw with Croatia at Hampden Park, significant as manager George Burley's first match with the side.[30] McEveley's next appearance in a Scotland squad was not until Craig Levein's first competitive match in charge, as he was called up as a late replacement for the match against Lithuania in September 2010.[30]

Honours

Swindon Town
Individual

Personal life

Born in Liverpool, McEveley is engaged to his fiancée, Carla, with whom he has a baby boy called Harlow James, born 30 November 2009.[31]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Jay McEveley – centre-half". Sheffield United F.C. Official Website. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "Burnley borrow McEveley". BBC Sport. 11 December 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  3. ↑ "Ternent targets more new signings". BBC Sport. 23 March 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  4. ↑ "Gillingham 2–1 Stoke". BBC Sport. 15 March 2005. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  5. ↑ "McEveley makes Blackburn return". BBC Sport. 2 December 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  6. ↑ "Ipswich 3–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 5 November 2005. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  7. ↑ "Cisse 'faces anxious injury wait'". BBC Sport. 1 November 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  8. ↑ "Şükür breaks leg". Sky Sports. 22 December 2002. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "Barnsley: Jay McEveley interview". Yorkshire Evening Post. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "McEveley out for season". BBC Sport. 5 February 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  11. ↑ "McEveley poised for speedy return". BBC Sport. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  12. ↑ "Rams sign McEveley from Blackburn". BBC Sport. 29 January 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  13. ↑ "North End sign McEveley on loan". BBC Sport. 29 September 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  14. ↑ "McEveley ruled out for the season". BBC Sport. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  15. ↑ "McEveley ruled out for six weeks". BBC Sport. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  16. ↑ "Rams defender McEveley has operation". Derby Evening Telegraph. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "McEvely's heart stopped during op". BBC Sport. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  18. ↑ Simon Jones (5 November 2009). "It's a heart-stopper for 'Lazarus' Jay McEveley as he prepares to play for Derby again". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "McEveley looking to climb table over festive period". The Derby Evening Telegraph. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "McEveley says Rams will be more positive on travels". The Derby Evening Telegraph. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "McEveley and Teale to move on". Derby County F.C. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  22. ↑ "Barnsley sign former Derby County defender Jay McEveley". BBC Sport. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  23. ↑ "Swindon sign Jay McEveley and John Bostock on loan". BBC Sport. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  24. ↑ "Swindon Town: Jay McEveley one of 10 players to be released". BBC Sport. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  25. ↑ "Sheffield United sign Jay McEveley and Iain Turner". BBC Sport. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  26. ↑ "Match Verdict: Sheffield United 4 Colchester United 1 – Baxter hits double as Blades show they have fight". Sheffield Telegraph. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  27. ↑ "Anglo McEveley switches to Scots". BBC Sport. 2 August 2006. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  28. ↑ "Rep of Ireland B 0–0 Scotland B". BBC Sport. 14 November 2006. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  29. ↑ "McEveley retains Scotland place". BBC Sport. 28 August 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Pattullo, Alan (1 September 2010). "Garry O'Connor and Jay McEveley called in to plug the gaps". The Scotsman. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  31. ↑ "McEveley – 'I'll play anywhere'". Burton Mail. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.

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