Jermaine Beckford

Football player infobox
playername = Jermaine Beckford


fullname = Jermaine Paul A. Beckford
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|12|9|df=y
cityofbirth = London
countryofbirth = England
height = height|meters=1.88
currentclub = Leeds United
clubnumber = 9
position = Striker
youthyears = 2000–2003
youthclubs = Chelsea
years = 2003–2006
2003–2004
2006–
2006
2007
clubs = Wealdstone
→ Uxbridge (loan)
Leeds United
→ Carlisle United (loan)
→ Scunthorpe United (loan)
caps(goals) = 98 (51)
07 0(2)
60 (29)
04 0(1)
18 0(8)
pcupdate = 11:49, 4 October 2008 (UTC)

Jermaine Paul A. Beckford (born 9 December 1983 in Ealing, London) is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Leeds United in League One of the English Football League.

Career

Early years

Beckford began his career at Chelsea with his best friend Robert Dent and Bobby Fotherby, where he was part of the youth set-up until he was released in 2003. [cite web |url=http://www.glorygloryleedsunited.com/2007/11/beckford-wipes-off-chelseas-grin.html |title=Beckford wipes off Chelsea's grin |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=23 November 2007 |work= Glory Glory Leeds United] He later joined Isthmian Premier League side Wealdstone, where he scored 35 goals in 40 games. This form attracted a lot of attention from league sides and there were reportedly over thirty clubs showing an interest in the prolific striker, with many sending scouts to see him play both at home and away. [cite web |url=http://www.come-to-wealdstonefc.co.uk/newsapr06jul06.html |title=Latest Club News |accessdate=2008-01-17 |date=15 March 2006 |work= Wealdstone FC] He had a trial with Championship side Crystal Palace and on 9 March 2006, he appeared in a reserve team fixture against Premier League side Arsenal. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crystal_palace/4793420.stm |title=Palace trial for Wealdstone star |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=10 March 2006 |work= BBC Sport] The multitude of interested parties from other clubs in attendance included Sunderland, Charlton Athletic, Southampton, Watford, Bristol City, Swindon Town and even Chelsea. However, on 13 March, Leeds came in for Beckford and confirmed their interest with a bid the following day. This was soon accepted by the Wealdstone board, with some modifications, and he joined the club on 15 March for £45,000. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/4810094.stm |title=Leeds win race to sign Beckford |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=15 March 2006 |work= BBC Sport]

Leeds United

He first featured the following week at Elland Road, when he came on as a substitute in the 1–0 home defeat to Crystal Palace on 21 March. He scored his first goal for the club in his second reserve match, helping the side beat Birmingham City reserves 2–0. He now plays an important key role in Leeds's ambitious promotion. In the 2005–06 season Leeds were chasing promotion, so his appearances were limited and he only played on four more occasions that season. Following his lack of opportunities, he joined Carlisle United on a month's loan on 5 October. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/5410490.stm |title=Carlisle snap up Beckford on loan |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=5 October 2006 |work= BBC Sport] It was an eventful first match for Beckford, as he was booked and also found himself on the score sheet inside the first half of the game. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/5394662.stm |title=Carlisle 1-2 Millwall |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=7 October 2006 |work= BBC Sport] After completing his loan spell, he returned to Leeds, where he was awarded with a place in the starting line-up against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. However, he was soon loaned out again, this time to League One promotion challengers Scunthorpe United until the end of the season. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scunthorpe_utd/6279525.stm |title=Scunthorpe land striker Beckford |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=19 January 2007 |work= BBC Sport] He played in every single game after his arrival, scoring eight goals, and Scunthorpe were ultimately promoted with three games to spare, before going on to finish as champions. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6534681.stm |title=Scunthorpe 2-0 Huddersfield |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=14 April 2007 |work= BBC Sport]

Due to the major role he played in guiding them to promotion, he was linked with a permanent move to Glanford Park in the close season, but Leeds manager Dennis Wise rejected the approach and kept him at the club to add to Leeds' attack. Beckford scored his first goal for the senior side in a pre-season fixture against League Two side Darlington on 31 July. He followed this up with another goal against Premiership outfit Wigan Athletic four days later. This form continued into the 2007–08 season and Beckford netted his first league goal for the club in a 4–1 victory against Southend United on 18 August. His goalscoring exploits continued when he bagged a late winner at the City Ground as Leeds beat Nottingham Forest 2–1 to continue their 100% winning record in the league, following their 15-point deduction. He gambled at the back post to tap in the winner after some great work from Seb Carole. Beckford was also instrumental in Leeds' opener, laying the ball into the path of fellow striker Tresor Kandol to net stylishly. In Leeds' fifth successive league win, he scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Hartlepool United with a pacey run and an exquisite chip into the net. In the next game, he scored a further two goals against Bristol Rovers, the second with a wonderful overhead kick. By this time he and Kandol had already scored over 10 goals between them and they developed a trademark celebration that they share, in which the pair raise to their tiptoes and demonstrate a basketball shooting action in each other's direction.

On 11 October, Beckford signed a new three-year deal with Leeds, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2009–10 season. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/7040046.stm |title=Beckford pens new Leeds contract |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=11 October 2007 |work= BBC Sport] After continuing to impress over the course of the month, he was awarded Coca-Cola League One Fans' Player of the Month. [cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/page/NewsroomDetail/0,,10273~1158308,00.html |title=More Awards |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=2 November 2007 |work= Leeds United] In addition to his performances, this media coverage naturally led to growing speculation surrounding suggested interest in the striker in the January transfer window, with Premiership side Derby County supposedly the club looking for his signature. However, a Leeds United spokesman confirmed that "Jermaine Beckford is not for sale" on 8 January 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/page/NewsroomDetail/0,,10273~1209490,00.html |title=Jermaine Beckford |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=8 January 2008 |work= Leeds United] Dennis Wise also moved to quash the rumours, stating four days later, among other things, that "Derby haven't put in any enquiries". [cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/page/NewsroomDetail/0,,10273~1213234,00.html |title=The Future's Bright |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=12 January 2008 |work= Leeds United] On 14 January, Leeds' match against Crewe Alexandra was shown live on Sky and they ultimately won the tie 1–0, once again Beckford scoring the decisive goal. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7184809.stm |title=Crewe 0-1 Leeds |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=14 January 2008 |work= BBC Sport] Derby manager Paul Jewell was spotted in the crowd, leading to even more speculation. This time both Wise and Leeds chairman Ken Bates reinforced the fact that they had no intention of letting Beckford leave, with wise verifying "I've no intentions of selling the kid". [cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/page/NewsroomDetail/0,,10273~1215722,00.html |title=He's Staying Put |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=15 January 2008 |work= Leeds United] Jewell himself stated "I've got no interest in Jermaine" after the game, thereby putting an end to the uncertainty. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/7188856.stm |title=Jewell denies move for Beckford |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=16 January 2008 |work= BBC Sport]

In his post-match interview, Beckford won the hearts of Leeds fans by declaring that he had no intentions of leaving the club. When posed the question "Where do you see your own future?", he replied "What shirt am I wearing, bruv? You bein' serious?". [cite web |url=http://www.rivals.net/news/pgArticle.aspx?artid=2483_3048888 |title=He Aint Heavy, He's My Bruv... |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=15 January 2008 |work= Rivals.net] The phrase has since been well publicised and T-shirts bearing the quotation can be purchased in the official club store. [cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/page/NewsroomDetail/0,,10273~1224091,00.html |title=Wot's New Becks?|accessdate=2008-02-07 |date=24 January 2008 |work= Leeds United]

On March 2 2008, Beckford won two awards at the third annual Football League Awards at Grosvenor House Hotel in London. He received the award for League One Player of the Year [cite web |url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10794~1255004,00.html |title=Jermaine Beckford Named Top Coca-Cola League 1 Player At 2008 Football League Awards|accessdate=2008-03-03 |date=2 March 2008 |work= The Football League] and the Football League Goal of the Year for his strike against Rotherham United during his loan spell with Scunthorpe United. [cite web |url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10794~1255098,00.html |title=Jermaine Beckford Wins Goal Of The Year Award At 2008 Football League Awards|accessdate=2008-03-03 |date=2 March 2008 |work= The Football League]

2008/09 Season

Beckford started the 08-09 season in fine form bagging ten goals in eight starts. The first of these goals came with a win against his former club that he went on loan to, Scunthorpe United. Two days later, Jermaine scored his first Leeds United hat-trick against League Two side Chester City in the first round of the Carling Cup. He scored all three goals in the first half, the third of which was an extravagant chip from long-range. The performance led Leeds manager Gary McAllister to once again state that Beckford was not for sale. After failing to hit the net against both Yeovil Town and Oldham Athletic, he hit the second goal in a 4–0 win over Championship side Crystal Palace in the second round of the Carling Cup. Beckford was played out wide in a tactical change which worked well for Gary McAllister's side. He then scored both goals in a 2–2 draw with Bristol Rovers on the August 30 2008, and another against Crewe the following week. The week after, Beckford scored twice for Leeds United in a 3-1 victory, away at Swindon. He followed that the following Saturday with his eleventh of the season - the second goal in Leeds 2-0 win away at his former club Carlisle. Towards the end of the transfer window he was linked with moves to Charlton Athletic, Norwich City and Newcastle United however no negotiations took place.

Career stats

Honours

Club

*Football League One: Winner: 2007

Individual

*Football League Awards 2008: League One Player of the Year, Football League Goal of the Year
*Leeds United A.F.C. Player of the Year Awards 2008: Fans' Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year, Goal of the Year

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=43629|name=Jermaine Beckford
* [http://www.leedsunited.com/page/PlayerProfilesDetail/0,,10273~36340,00.html leedsunited.com Player Profile]
* [http://www.football.co.uk/leeds/players/jermaine_beckford_107691.shtml football.co.uk Player Profile]
* [http://www.jermainebeckford.co.uk Official Jermaine Beckford Fan Site]