Jamie Pollock

Jamie Pollock (born 16 February 1974 in Stockton-on-Tees) became a football player in the FA Premier League for Middlesbrough FC. He played 155 games and scored 17 goals from a defensive midfielder position. He left Middlesbrough in 1996 joining Spanish side CA Osasuna. After failing to make an impression in Spain he returned to England, signing for Bolton Wanderers FC. He later played for Manchester City F.C., a team which then fell into what was then Division Two. Pollock scored an own goal that condemned Manchester City to relegation to the third tier for the first time, whilst keeping Queens Park Rangers in the division. As a result, a group of QPR fans hijacked an Internet poll to find the "most influential man of the past 2,000 years", which he won, beating Jesus and Sir Alex Ferguson in the process.

He captained the team for a while but failed to hold down a place in the team which ultimately returned to the Premiership. He was succeeded as captain of the team by Andy Morrison and transferred to Crystal Palace F.C., later spent a spell on loan to Birmingham City F.C. On March 1 2002 Jamie Pollock announced his retirement from professional football. Pollock, 28, had been without a club since he left Crystal Palace by mutual consent. He was training with Grimsby Town FC but opted instead to play non-league football and become a director in his family's glass-making business.

He is currently the manager of non-league Spennymoor United FC, this being his second spell as manager following his successful reign in 2003, which saw the club promoted to the UniBond Premier Division. He also coaches a Nunthorpe Junior team that plays in the Teesside Junior Alliance - North Riding League.

As well as being a football manager, he is co-owner of a Glass and Glazing company based in Middlesbrough near the Transporter Bridge called Polton Glass. He is a co-owner with his Father-in-law. Among his employees is Matthew Hyson, who once played for Hartlepool United as a striker, but unfortunately never scored, and was eventually dropped.

External links

* [http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=6401 Soccerbase profile]