Jermaine Beckford

Jermaine Beckford

Beckford playing for Leicester City in 2012
Personal information
Full nameJermaine Paul Alexander Beckford[1]
Date of birth9 December 1983
Place of birthEaling, London, England
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Preston North End
(on loan from Bolton Wanderers)
Number10
Youth career
2000–2003Chelsea
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2003–2006Wealdstone82(54)
2003–2004→ Uxbridge (loan)8(2)
2006–2010Leeds United126(72)
2006→ Carlisle United (loan)4(1)
2007→ Scunthorpe United (loan)18(8)
2010–2011Everton34(8)
2011–2013Leicester City43(9)
2012–2013→ Huddersfield Town (loan)21(8)
2013–Bolton Wanderers46(7)
2014–→ Preston North End (loan)21(12)
National team‡
2013–Jamaica6(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:16, 21 April 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 September 2014

Jermaine Paul Alexander Beckford (born 9 December 1983) is an English-born Jamaican international footballer who plays for Preston North End on loan from Bolton Wanderers. He started his career as a trainee at Chelsea. Beckford has also played for Wealdstone, Uxbridge, Carlisle United, Scunthorpe United, Leeds United and Everton. He has also received international caps for Jamaica.

Club career

Early career

Beckford originally began his career in the Chelsea youth team, coming through the ranks at the same time as Carlton Cole. Rejected by Chelsea, he was signed up by Isthmian Premier League side Wealdstone and played part-time whilst also working as a windscreen fitter for the RAC. His very impressive goal scoring record attracted a lot of attention from Football League sides and reportedly more than 30 clubs showed an interest in the prolific striker, with many sending scouts to watch him play for Wealdstone.[3] He had a trial with Championship side Crystal Palace,[4] before signing for Leeds United in March 2006 for an undisclosed fee, having scored 35 goals in 40 games for Wealdstone that season.[5]

Leeds United

Loan moves

Beckford as a Leeds United player

He first featured the following week at Elland Road, when he made his debut as a substitute in a home draw against Crystal Palace on 21 March. He played on four more occasions for Leeds' first team that season. He joined Carlisle United on a month's loan in October,[6] scoring against Millwall on his debut.[7] After completing his loan spell, he returned to Leeds before being loaned out again to League One promotion challengers Scunthorpe United until the end of the season.[8] He played in every single game after his arrival, scoring eight goals, and Scunthorpe finished as champions.[9]

2007–08 season

Beckford returned to Leeds for the 2007–08 season and scored his first league goal for the club in a 4–1 victory against Southend United in August 2007. In October he signed a new three-year deal with Leeds,[10] and was awarded League One Fans' Player of the Month.[11] In March 2008, Beckford won two awards at the third annual Football League Awards: League One Player of the Year[12] and Football League Goal of the Year for his strike against Rotherham United during his loan spell with Scunthorpe United.[13]

2008–09 season

Beckford started the 2008–09 season well, scoring ten goals in eight starts. His first professional hat-trick was scored against League Two side Chester City in the first round of the League Cup. He would go on to score three hat-tricks in all competitions that season, and more than 30 goals in total. Beckford was offered a new contract by Leeds United[14] but the player rejected it and spent some time on the club's transfer list,[15][16] with Leeds rejecting two bids to buy him.[17]

2009–10 season

Beckford started the 2009–10 season by scoring 11 goals in 14 matches, and had reached 19 goals by the end of 2009. In December 2009, following interest from Newcastle United,[18] Beckford handed in a transfer request on 30 December, which was accepted by Leeds.[19] Beckford's first game after the request was in the FA Cup 3rd Round, away to Leeds' great rivals Manchester United who were two divisions above the Yorkshire club. Leeds caused an upset by winning 1–0, with Beckford scoring the only goal.[20] This was the first time that Manchester United had been knocked out of a cup competition at the third round stage under the management of Alex Ferguson.[21] Beckford also scored both goals in the Fourth Round tie against another Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur, to earn Leeds United a replay at Elland Road.[22]

Leeds finished the league season in second place and gained automatic promotion to the Football League Championship, with Beckford scoring the promotion clinching goal against Bristol Rovers on the final day of the season.[23] Beckford scored 31 goals in all competitions, 25 in the league. He won Leeds United's goal of the season at Leeds' annual Player of the Season awards for his goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Following the end of the season, in May 2010, Leeds cancelled Beckford's contract a month early to enable him to find a new club.[24]

Everton

Beckford playing for Everton

In May 2010, Beckford signed for Everton on a four-year contract on a free transfer[25] and was given squad number 16. After playing and scoring in pre-season friendlies Beckford made his Everton debut as a second-half substitute against Blackburn Rovers and his full debut a week later at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers. He scored his first goal for the club, a penalty, against Huddersfield Town in the Football League Cup in August 2010[26] and an injury-time equaliser at home against his future employers Bolton Wanderers in November 2010 was Beckford's first league goal for the Toffees.[27] He also scored at Anfield against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. At the end of his debut season for Everton he had scored 8 goals in the league and 10 goals in all competitions.

Leicester City

On 31 August 2011, Everton accepted a £2.5 million bid for Beckford from Championship side Leicester City.[28] Beckford arrived at the King Power Stadium just 40 minutes before the transfer window closed to sign a four-year contract, making him Leicester City's 12th signing of the summer. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 win over Watford on 19 October 2011. On 17 January, Beckford scored his first hat-trick for Leicester, in a 4–0 FA Cup win over rivals Nottingham Forest.[29] He scored a brace against Swindon Town in the FA Cup,[30] and scored two more braces in March 2012, in a 3–1 win against Birmingham City,[31] and a 3–3 draw against Blackpool.[32]

Huddersfield Town (loan)

On 28 September 2012, it was announced that Jermaine Beckford had joined Huddersfield Town on a 93-day emergency loan until 29 December, following a week training with the under 21 squad at his parent club Leicester City and a failed loan bid from the same club on 31 August. He made his debut the following day in the 3–2 loss to Watford at the John Smith's Stadium. He scored his first goal for the club in the 1–0 win over Birmingham City at St. Andrew's on 6 October 2012.

Bolton Wanderers

On 17 July 2013, he moved to Bolton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year contract.[33] He made his debut for Bolton in their 1–1 draw with Lancashire rivals Burnley on 3 August 2013, playing eighty minutes before being replaced by Craig Davies.[34] His first goal came in the League Cup second round, as he scored against Tranmere Rovers. He also scored one of the penalties as the match went to penalties but ultimately Bolton ended up losing the shoot out 4–2. The game itself finished 1–1.[35]

He scored his first league goal for Bolton in their 2–1 win away at Birmingham City which coincided with the club's first league win of the new season. Whilst not getting off to the best start, goals started to come with him scoring 5 in 6 in matches against Sheffield Wednesday, Bournemouth, Millwall and Watford and the aforementioned Birmingham. Striker Joe Mason joined Bolton on the 11th November 2013, on a short term loan deal. This saw Beckford dropped to the bench for a while, until returning to the starting line up and scoring against his former club Leicester City on the 30th December 2013. Bolton went on to lose the game 5–3.

Preston North End (loan)

On 20 November 2014 he signed for Preston North End on loan until the end of the season.

International career

Beckford was approached by Grenada's coach Tommy Taylor with a view to playing for the Grenada national football team in May 2009.[36] In May 2011, former Jamaican international Romel Wallen stated that Beckford was close to finalising an agreement to play for Jamaica.[37]

In November 2012, the Jamaican Football Federation reported that Beckford had shown interest playing for the Reggae Boyz and was in the pool of players eligible to be called up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[38]

On 31 January 2013, Beckford was called up to the Jamaica squad for Jamaica's fixture against Mexico but pulled out of the squad a day later with an injury.[39]

He received a call-up in March 2013 for their qualifiers against Panama and Costa Rica and made his début in the 1–1 draw against Panama at Independence Park, Kingston on 22 March 2013. He then got his second cap four days later in the 2–0 defeat against Costa Rica at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José.

International goals

Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first.
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 8 June 2013 Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica  United States 1–1 1–2 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 17 April 2015.
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leeds United 2005–06[40] Championship 50——0050
2006–07[41] Championship 500010—60
2007–08[42] League One 402020203[lower-alpha 1]04720
2008–09[43] League One 342613443[lower-alpha 2]04233
2009–10[44] League One 422565202[lower-alpha 3]15231
Total 1267198948115284
Carlisle United (loan) 2006–07[41] League One 41——1[lower-alpha 3]051
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2006–07[41] League One 188———188
Everton 2010–11[45] Premier League 3284121—3810
2011–12[46] Premier League 20———20
Total 3484121—4010
Leicester City 2011–12[46] Championship 3995600—4415
2012–13[47] Championship 40—10—50
Total 4395610—4915
Huddersfield Town (loan) 2012–13[47] Championship 21811——229
Bolton Wanderers 2013–14[48] Championship 3371111—359
2014–15[49] Championship 130—32—162
Total 4671143—5111
Preston North End (loan) 2014–15[49] League One 191020—3[lower-alpha 3]02410
Career total 3111222217168121361148
  1. ↑ Appearances in League One play-offs
  2. ↑ One appearance in Football League Trophy, two in League One play-offs
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Appearances in Football League Trophy

International

As of match played 10 September 2013.[50]
International statistics
National team Year Apps Goals
Jamaica 2013 6 1
Total 6 1

Honours

Club

Scunthorpe United

Leeds United

Personal

Personal life

Beckford's younger brother, Travis Beckford, won the first series of Wayne Rooney's Street Striker on Sky TV.[52] Due to having a Jamaican father and Grenadian family on his mother's side Beckford is eligible to play for Jamaica, Grenada and England.[53]

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League clubs submit squad lists". Premier League. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  2. ↑ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  3. ↑ "Latest Club News". Wealdstone F.C. 15 March 2006. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  4. ↑ "Palace trial for Wealdstone star". BBC Sport. 10 March 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  5. ↑ "Leeds win race to sign Beckford". BBC Sport. 15 March 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  6. ↑ "snap up Beckford on loan". BBC Sport. 5 October 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  7. ↑ "Carlisle 1–2 Millwall". BBC Sport. 7 October 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  8. ↑ "Scunthorpe land striker Beckford". BBC Sport. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  9. ↑ "Scunthorpe 2–0 Huddersfield". BBC Sport. 14 April 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  10. ↑ "Beckford pens new Leeds contract". BBC Sport. 11 October 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  11. ↑ "More Awards". Leeds United F.C. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Jermaine Beckford Named Top Coca-Cola League 1 Player At 2008 Football League Awards". The Football League. 2 March 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
  13. ↑ "Jermaine Beckford Wins Goal Of The Year Award At 2008 Football League Awards". The Football League. 2 March 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
  14. ↑ BECKFORD TO BE OFFERED NEW DEAL, Leeds United F.C., 20 May 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  15. ↑ "Beckford Transfer Listed". Leedsunited.com. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  16. ↑ BECKFORD OFF TRANSFER LIST, Leeds United F.C., 17 July 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  17. ↑ Leeds United Reject Beckford Bids, BBC Sport, 9 July 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  18. ↑ "Hughton admits interest in Beckford". Sunderland Echo. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  19. ↑ "Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford puts in transfer request". BBC Sport. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  20. ↑ Winter, Henry (3 January 2010). "Manchester United 0 Leeds United 1: match report". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  21. ↑ "Sir Alex Ferguson furious at Manchester United's dismal display". The Guardian (London). 3 January 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  22. ↑ White, Duncan (23 January 2010). "Tottenham Hotspur 2 Leeds United 2: match report". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  23. ↑ "Leeds United 2 – 1 Bristol Rovers: match report". BBC Sport. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
  24. ↑ "BBC Sport – Football – Leeds United cancel Jermaine Beckford's contract early". BBC News. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  25. ↑ "Everton sign former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford". BBC Sport. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  26. ↑ "Everton 5–1 Huddersfield: Daily Mirror match report". Daily Mirror. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  27. ↑ "Everton's Jermaine Beckford saves day with late leveller against Bolton". Guardian. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  28. ↑ Jones, Rob (1 September 2011). "Beckford Makes Leicester Move". evertonfc.com (Everton F.C.). Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  29. ↑ Phillips, Owen (17 January 2012). "Leicester 4–0 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  30. ↑ "Leicester 2–0 Swindon". BBC Sport. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  31. ↑ "Leicester 3–1 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  32. ↑ "Blackpool 3–3 Leicester". BBC Sport. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  33. ↑ "Bolton sign Leicester's Beckford". BBC Sport. 2013-07-17. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
  34. ↑ "Burnley 1 Bolton 1". BBC Sport. 2013-08-03. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  35. ↑ http://www.bwfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/match-report/?matchid=3662862&tcmuri=1005152
  36. ↑ "As Spice Boyz prep for CONCACAF....". 26 May 2010.
  37. ↑ Lowe, Andre (21 May 2011). "Reggae Boyz eye Beckford". Jamaica Star. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  38. ↑ "JFF announces list of overseas players available". JFF. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  39. ↑ Watson replaces Beckford – Sport – JamaicaObserver.com
  40. ↑ "Games played by Jermaine Beckford in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 "Games played by Jermaine Beckford in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  42. ↑ "Games played by Jermaine Beckford in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  43. ↑ "Games played by Jermaine Beckford in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Jermaine Beckford in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  45. ↑ "Games played by Jermaine Beckford in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "Games played by Jermaine Beckford in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 "Games played by Jermaine Beckford in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  48. ↑ "Games played by Jermaine Beckford in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 "Games played by Jermaine Beckford in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  50. ↑ "Jermaine Beckford". National Football Teams. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  51. ↑ "Football League Awards 2010: Every winner". FourFourTwo. 14 March 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  52. ↑ "Wayne Rooney's Street Striker". Sky Sports. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  53. ↑ "Jermaine Beckford Webchat". evertonfc.com. 5 July 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jermaine Beckford.