Kevin Jeffrey

Kevin Jeffrey

Personal information
Date of birth	(1974-10-04) 4 October 1974
Place of birth	Trincity, Trinidad and Tobago
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Forward
Youth career
1996–1997	Yavapai Roughriders
1998–1999	VCU Rams
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000	Bay Area Seals	24	(12)
2001–2005	Richmond Kickers	124	(40)
2006	Toronto Lynx	22	(9)
2007	Carolina RailHawks	14	(0)
Total		184	(61)
National team
2000	Trinidad and Tobago	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Kevin Jeffrey (born 10 October 1974 in Trincity, Trinidad and Tobago) is a former professional football (soccer) forward who spent eight season in the USL First Division. On 7 December 2009 he was appointed Director of Football for the North East Stars in the TT Pro League.^[1]

After a successful experience at the college level he was drafted first overall by the San Francisco Bay Seals, making his professional debut in 2000. Good form led to an international call-up in 2000, after he was signed by Richmond Kickers. It was at Richmond where Jeffrey was able to establish himself as a consistent striker with a proven track record. Receiving several Team of the Week, and Player of the Week selections; as well as leading Richmond to claim their second Conference title. Once the Kickers were relegated, Jeffrey finished off his career with stints in Toronto, and Carolina.

Youth level

He started playing amateur soccer with Yavapai Junior College in 1997, where he led Yavapai to a National Junior College Athletic Association championship, earning himself first team Junior College All-American honours, and being named Junior College Player of the Year. Later on he would go and play NCAA soccer with Virginia Commonwealth University for two years, being named to the first team All-Colonial Athletic Association team both years. And winning the Virginia State Player of the Year in 1999 and third team NSCAA All-American. He tallied 29 goals and 7 assists in 38 games for the Rams and hold their school record for most goals in a season with 18, a mark that was once held by John Dugan with 17 in 1987.

Playing career

He was the first overall pick in the 2000 A-League Draft by the San Francisco Bay Seals where he recorded 12 goals and 3 assists as a rookie.^[2] In 2001 he signed for the Richmond Kickers, where in his first season with the club he led the Kickers in goals and points. Scoring 20 goals, and adding 9 assists, and was named Team of the Week twice. He was the Kicker's leading goal scorer again in 2003 with 10 goals, and 9 assists, and 29 points. He was selected two times as a A-League Player of the Week, and he was honoured as the League's Player of the Week after he recorded two goals and an assist in a win and tie against the Charlotte Eagles in June. Following Jeffrey's successful season he was named to the All A-League Second Team. In 2005 he helped the Kickers reach the USL Championship final where his team lost in a penalty shoot-out to the Seattle Sounders.

After the 2005 season the Kickers were relegated to the USL Second Division. Jeffrey opted against re-signing with the Kicker, and instead signed a contract with the Toronto Lynx. Jeffrey made his Lynx debut on 4 June 2006 coming on as a substitute for Damien Pottinger in a match against Virginia Beach Mariners. Initially he struggled to find his form and had a six game goal drought. Soon after he would record his first goal on 21 July 2006 in a 1–1 draw against rivals Rochester Rhinos. He became an instant impact where he would score crucial match winning goals for the Lynx. His achievements were being selected to the USL First Division First All-League team three times, as well as being named USL Player of the Week. He managed to concluded the season as team's leading goal scorer with nine goals. His efforts led the Lynx to a team-record undefeated streak at home to 10 games, and helped the Toronto club reached the finals of the Open Canada Cup in their debut season in the tournament. After the 2006 season the Lynx franchise dropped two divisions down to the USL Premier Development League, thus releasing Jeffrey from his Toronto contract. He would sign on with the newly expansion Carolina RailHawks as a free agent. Jeffrey's tenure with Carolina was rather a disappointment, where he failed to re-capture his goal scoring legacy which was known throughout his time in the USL First Division. He appeared in fourteen league games for the RailHawks without recording a single goal, which resulted in him being waved from the team.^[3]

International career

He has also earned one cap with the Trinidad and Tobago national team in 2000.^[4]

References