J. C. Mack
 J. C. Mack with Ekenäs Sport Club | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Charles Mack III | ||
| Date of birth | August 10, 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Newport News, Virginia, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2006 | Carmel United FC | ||
| 2008 | Chicago Fire Premier | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2008 | Chicago Fire Premier | 1 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | US Tourcoing FC | 19 | (9) |
| 2011–2012 | Charleston Battery | 26 | (3) |
| 2015- | Ekenäs Sport Club | 25 | (3) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 17, 2011. | |||
James "J.C." Mack III (born August 10, 1988 in Newport News, Virginia) is an American soccer player.
Career
Youth and Amateur
JC Mack growing up in Columbus, Ohio began playing for his local club NCSL Eagles winning two Ohio South state championships in 2003 and 2004. In 2004 Mack was spotted by ex U.S. national team goalkeeper Juergen Sommer. Failing to win a 3rd consecutive State championship, Mack left Ohio to play for Sommers' Indianapolis based club Carmel United Cosmos. While playing under Sommer Mack would win an Indiana state championship and catch the eye of Caleb Porter, the newly appointed head coach at The University of Akron. In 2006 Mack committed to The University of Akron, but would forgo university after being given a chance to trial in the professional game. Struggling to catch on in MLS the young striker would spend 2007 trialing abroad, garnering contract offers in Peru and Trinidad respectively before the Chicago Fire Premier gave the 19-year-old striker a development opportunity in the USL Super Y-League. Seizing the opportunity Mack scored 11 goals in 16 games for Chicago, winning a USL Super 20 National Championship in 2008. Mack was also called in to play with Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Premier Development League this same year .[1][2]
Chicago and abroad
After high school graduation in 2007 Mack earned a trial with the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, only to arrive hours after the dismissal of then head coach Dave Sarachan. Amongst the regime change and lack of professional experience Mack would eventually be passed on, spending the next year trialing abroad and developing in the Fire youth program. In 2009 Mack moved to France and went on trial with CS Louhans-Cuiseaux 71 in the French Championnat National. The three month training period at Louhans concluded with 5 preseason matches tallying 2 assists with appearances coming against sides like Dijon FCO and Evian Thonon Gaillard F.C.. Due to non-EU roster restrictions, Louhans would eventually be denied a permit for Mack shortly before the 2009/2010 season. Mack then Joined Union sport Tourcoing Football Club in November 2009. On November 21, 2009 Mack made his debut for Tourcoing at the hour mark in a 2–1 loss to US Marquette FC in the 7th round of the Coupe de France. Playing with Tourcoing the 20-year-old converted midfielder would appear 19 times in the 2009/2010 season finding the net 9 times.
Charleston
In 2011 after impressing head coach Michael Anhaeuser during the 2011 Carolina Challenge Cup, Mack signed with Charleston Battery in the USL Professional Division on March 23, 2011.[3] He made his debut for the club on April 16, 2011 in a game against the Dayton Dutch Lions. In a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against amateur side Regals FC, Mack suffered a season ending foot injury cutting his 2011 campaign short after only 11 appearances. Intense rehabilitation saw him make a full recovery in October 2011, spending November training in Denmark with FC Fyn. In 2012 Mack returned to Charleston but saw very little playing time, primarily used as a secondary midfield option to a veteran Tony Donatelli. With the time Mack was given he showed extremely potent scoring 2 goals after his first 57 minutes of league play. Mack would prove to be an extremely important asset for Charleston when the USL-Pro post season saw the Semi-final match end in penalties. Converting the last penalty of the night Mack secured a spot in the USL-Pro Championship match for the Battery. Charleston would go on to beat the Wilmington Hammerheads 1–0 in the USL Pro Championship Match.[4][5]
Tampa Bay Rowdies
In the winter of 2012/2013, Mack received a trial invitation to the 2012 NASL Champion Tampa Bay Rowdies, which he accepted making an appearance at the Walt Disney Classic against the Montreal Impact. Mack would be the last player released upon the acquisition of veteran striker Georgi Hristov.
New york
Upon Mack's release from Tampa Bay he was given a recommendation, and offered a trial with the New York Cosmos in march of 2013. After a 4 day trial period. Mack was eventually offered an extension with their local partner club until the commencement of the Cosmos’ participation in the NASL fall season, Mack would pass the option to explore football in Asia.
Thailand
In lieu of taking a trial spot on a PDL team, Mack seized upon an opportunity to go on trial with Port FC in Klong Toei, Bangkok, Thailand. After the extended trial in Bangkok, Port F.C. would run out funds for foreign player roster space. After a second extended trial with Pattaya United, the same scenario played out in which the team could not afford a foreign addition to the roster. Mack would tally 2 goals in 3 test matches before the close of the transfer window.
Bridges F.C.
At the end of 2013, Mack signed a management contract with Bridges FC and began training in their program. Under the direction of club founder Brett Hall, a beloved coach and mentor of his, Mack led the program in scoring. Mack would find the net 9 times in test matches against the Dayton Dutch Lions, Charlotte Eagles, Minnesota United, Schwaben AC, Michigan Bucks and scoring a brace against Indy Eleven.
Sweden
Mack transferred his momentum with Bridges into solid form in matches against Scandinavian opposition including HB Köge, Ljungskile SK, Degerfors IF, Lidköpings FK. following performances against the latter two, he accepted a trial with IK Sirius. Mack made his skills known at IK Sirius and earned an extension following his form in training. During a reserve match against Ostersunds FK Mack would come off the field after a productive half with a groin injury. After a 3-1 win Mack was diagnosed with a sports hernia and completed a laparoscopic hernia procedure. In December of 2014 Mack made a full recovery and returned to training at Bridges FC.
Finland
In March 2015, Mack signed a one-year contract with Ekenäs Sport Club, a newly promoted club in Kakkonen . Tallying 3 goals and 11 assists, Mack would help the club to league security for the 2016 season. [6]
Honors
2012 USL Pro Champion
2010 Ligue Nord pas de Calais Promotion
2008 USL Super20 National Champion
References
- ↑ United Soccer Leagues (USL)
- ↑ http://ssl.hammersoccer.com/CarmelNewSite/newsrelease.asp?What=News&ID=96
- ↑ Charleston Battery signs Alex Caskey and JC Mack
- ↑ United Soccer Leagues (USL)
- ↑ Football - club : Tourcoing
- ↑ Sundström, Jonas (April 1, 2015). "ESC får utländsk förstärkning". Yle (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 April 2015.