Simeon Jackson

Simeon Jackson

Simeon Jackson in Gillingham colours
Personal information
Full name Simeon Alexander Jackson
Date of birth (1987-03-28) 28 March 1987
Place of birth Kingston, Jamaica
Height 172 cm (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current team
 Blackburn Rovers
Number 35
Youth career
Sunoco FC
ASPIRE Academy
Dulwich Hamlet
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2004–2008 Rushden & Diamonds 88 (40)
2005 → Raunds Town (loan)
2008–2010 Gillingham 101 (36)
2010–2013 Norwich City 73 (17)
2013–2014 Eintracht Braunschweig 9 (0)
2014 Millwall 14 (2)
2014–2015 Coventry City 28 (3)
2015–2016 Barnsley 10 (0)
2016– Blackburn Rovers 15 (1)
National team‡
2006–2008 Canada U20 7 (0)
2009– Canada 45 (6)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 April 2016 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 March, 2016

Simeon Alexander Jackson (born 28 March 1987) is a Canadian international soccer player who plays for Blackburn Rovers in the English Football League Championship. He has spent the majority of his career playing in England, relocating from Mississauga, Ontario, to South London as a teenager to pursue his interest in soccer. Following a rejection by Gillingham after a trial, he played semi-professionally before making his name with Rushden & Diamonds of the Football Conference. His goalscoring feats for the club earned him a move to Gillingham, then of Football League Two, in 2008. He scored the winning goal for the club in the 2009 Football League Two play-off Final at Wembley Stadium.

In 2010 Jackson was transferred to Norwich City, then of the Football League Championship, and scored the goal that clinched Norwich's promotion to the Premier League the following year. He fell out of favour at the club during the 2012–13 season, however, and opted to join German club Eintracht Braunschweig who were newly promoted to the Bundesliga. Desiring regular playing time, his contract with the German club was mutually terminated in January 2014 and he returned to England.

Jackson has played for the Canadian national team since 2009. During qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup he scored a hat-trick against Saint Lucia.

Club career

Early years

Jackson was born in Kingston, Jamaica. At the age of three, he moved with his parents to Mississauga, Ontario. Jackson played for his local team in Canada, Sunoco FC.[2] He was invited to have trials with Gillingham, but was rejected by the club.[2] At the age of 15, he moved to England and lived with his grandmother in Croydon, South London[2] While playing for Dulwich Hamlet, Jackson worked at McDonald's to sustain his move to England.[3]

Rushden & Diamonds

He joined Rushden & Diamonds in 2004 and was the club's top scorer in the 2006–07 season, scoring 20 goals. The next season he was top scorer for the Diamonds in the league, scoring 16 goals, despite leaving for Gillingham in January. He was joint eighth top scorer in the league that season.[4] In 2005, he had trials with Manchester United and Manchester City.[2][5] Jackson went on a one-month loan to Raunds Town in December 2005.[6] When he left the Diamonds he had established himself as the club's eighth highest goalscorer, scoring 43 goals in just over 100 games in all competitions.

Gillingham

In January 2008, he signed with Gillingham, a club he had a trial with as a youth player,[7] for a transfer fee of £150,000 on a three-and-a-half-year contract.[8] He made his debut against Cheltenham Town on 2 February 2008.

On 4 January 2009, Jackson scored an equalizing goal for Gillingham in their 2–1 FA Cup Third Round defeat by Aston Villa. He scored both goals as Gillingham beat Rochdale in the 2008–09 play-off semi final,[9] and the 90th-minute winner in the 1–0 win against Shrewsbury Town in the final, as Gillingham returned to League One one year after relegation.[10]

Norwich City

Jackson at Carrow Road in August 2012

Jackson signed for Norwich on 15 July 2010, signing a two-year contract with the club, with the option for another year,[11] in a deal which saw striker Cody McDonald move to Gillingham on loan. He was given the number 10 jersey upon his arrival at the club. He made his debut for the club in a 3–2 home loss to Watford on 6 August 2010. He scored his first goal for the club against Swansea City on 21 August. Manager Paul Lambert has been using Jackson as an impact substitute due to the form and partnership of Grant Holt and Chris Martin. Jackson was given a start against Bristol City, and scored a brace, with a goal in each half at Ashton Gate.[12] Jackson started the next four games again, in favour of Martin.[13] He scored his fourth goal of the season in the 1–0 win over Middlesbrough on 23 October. After a few months of mostly coming in as a substitute again, on 2 April 2011, Jackson scored his first hat-trick for Norwich, coming on as a substitute and scoring three times in the last twenty minutes of the match against Scunthorpe United at Carrow Road.[14] He went on to score the goal that clinched Norwich's promotion to the Premier League, a late winner against Portsmouth.

Jackson made his Premier League debut on 21 August 2011, as a second-half substitute for Chris Martin in the second game of the season against Stoke City, the game finished with a Kenwyne Jones stoppage time header which resulted in a 1–1 home draw for Norwich.[15] Following his Premier League debut, Jackson began to struggle finding minutes in the team, he did not play a minute of football in the league until 1 October as a second half sub against Manchester United.[16] Jackson made his first start in the Premier League on 26 November in a 2–1 victory over Queens Park Rangers, this was the first time a Canadian international had started in the Premier League since David Edgar on 24 May 2009 with Burnley.[17] Jackson scored his first Premier League goal on 20 December against Wolverhampton Wanderers when he converted a Steve Morison cross one minute after being subbed on.[18] Jackson came on as a second half sub against Fulham on 31 December and scored the game tying goal in second half injury time to earn a 1–1 home draw.[19] In the fourth round of the FA Cup in late January Norwich was drawn against West Bromwich Albion, Jackson came off the bench in the 65th minute with the game being tied at 1–1 and scored the winning goal in the 85th to take the Canaries into the fifth round.[20] After failing to make an appearance for almost a month Jackson returned to the starting line up in a 3–3 away draw on 5 May against Arsenal.[21] The following week, Jackson was given the start again in the final game of the season against Aston Villa, the game ended in a 2–0 home victory with Jackson and Grant Holt as the scorers.[22] Jackson finished the 2011–12 campaign for Norwich having made 22 appearances, starting in 10 of those. He scored three goals and registered two assists, with 34 shots on goal in his debut Premier League season. The club took up the option to extend Jackson's contract for another year in June 2012, along with David Fox and Elliott Ward. On 25 August 2012 he scored his first goal of the new season in a 1–1 draw at home to Queens Park Rangers.[23] At the end of the season, Jackson was released by Norwich, having struggled to find minutes during his second year in the top flight.[24][25]

Eintracht Braunschweig

On 10 July 2013, Jackson signed for German Bundesliga side Eintracht Braunschweig on a two-year contract.[26] Jackson was previously linked with a move to Championship side Bournemouth.[27] After just nine appearances during the first half of the season, Jackson and Eintracht Braunschweig mutually agreed to terminate his contract on 31 January 2014.[28]

Millwall

On 1 February 2014, a day after his Eintracht Braunschweig contract was terminated, Jackson agreed to join Championship side Millwall on a deal until the end of the season.[28] He made his debut against Brighton & Hove Albion on 1 March 2014. Jackson scored his first goal on 25 March in a 3–2 home defeat to Birmingham City.[29]

Coventry City

On 18 August 2014, Jackson signed for League One team Coventry City on a one-year contract.[30] On 13 September Jackson scored his first goal for the club and the game-winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Yeovil Town.[30]

Barnsley

After leaving Coventry at the end of the 2014–15 season, Jackson went on trial at fellow League One side Barnsley. On 3 September 2015, he signed a short-term contract that would keep him at the club until 3 January 2016.[31]

Blackburn Rovers

Following a successful trial, Jackson signed a short-term deal with Blackburn Rovers on 15 January 2016 to last until the end of the 2015–16 season. He scored his first goal for Blackburn in a 2–1 defeat to Leeds United on 12 March 2016.[32]

International career

Jackson warming up before a match against Ecuador at BMO Field on 1 June 2011

Jackson qualified for Canadian citizenship by virtue of his years of residence there as a child, and currently has 45 caps for Canada, scoring six times. He also has seven caps for the Canadian men's youth (under-20) team. His first game was a friendly against Brazil in May 2006, and he played in all three of Canada's games at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup,[33] his last games at that level. On 14 November 2008, he received his first call up for the Canadian senior squad for a match against his country of birth, Jamaica.

On 30 May 2009, Jackson made his debut for Canada against Cyprus, scoring the winning goal in the 53rd minute of a 1–0 victory.[34] Jackson helped Canada reach the quarter-final stage of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA, playing in all four of Canada's games in the tournament. On 18 December 2009, Jackson was named the 2009 Canadian Player of the Year.

National team coach Stephen Hart decided in the friendly versus Peru to experiment by using Jackson as a right winger. With a solid performance at BMO Field Hart continued to use Jackson out wide for future Canada match ups. On 8 October 2010, Jackson scored his second international goal with a chip in a friendly against Ukraine.[35] On 7 October 2011, Jackson scored a hat-trick against Saint Lucia in a game that finished in a 7–0 away victory for Canada. Jackson became only the second ever Canadian to score a hat-trick in World Cup qualifying joining the former striker Alex Bunbury.[36] In early December, Jackson was shortlisted for the 2011 Canadian Player of the Year along with Dwayne De Rosario and Josh Simpson, it was announced on 14 December that he had finished in second place losing out to De Rosario.[37]

In the summer of 2013, Jackson was selected for his third consecutive Gold Cup,[38] but after playing in the first group stage game against Martinique he left with the team's blessing to join his new German club and was replaced by Kyle Porter for the remainder of the tournament.[39]

Career statistics

Club

As of 6 June 2015[40]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rushden & Diamonds 2004–05 League Two 2000000020
2005–06 League Two 145000000145
2006–07 Conference 44191000104619
2007–08 Conference 28162200103118
Total 88403200209342
Gillingham 2007–08 League One 184000000184
2008–09 League Two 44203110104921
2009–10 League One 42143022114817
Total 1043861322111542
Norwich City 2010–11 Championship 38131010004013
2011–12 Premier League 223321000265
2012–13 Premier League 131214100193
Total 73176372008521
Eintracht Braunschweig 2013–14 Bundesliga 90100000100
Millwall 2013–14 Championship 142000000142
Coventry City 2014–15 League One 283100010303
Barnsley 2015–16 League One 0000000000
Blackburn Rovers 2015–16 Championship 6100000061
Career totals 26010017611451347110
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including substitutes) in the FA Trophy and Football League Trophy.

International

Canada national team
YearAppsGoals
200981
201051
2011124
201280
201360
201430
201530
Total456

Statistics as of 13 October 2015

Honours

Club

Gillingham

Individual

Personal life

Commercial interests

On 1 June 2011, it was announced by Umbro that Jackson had signed an endorsement deal following the new partnership between the English sportswear company and the Canadian Soccer Association, making Jackson one of the few Canadian players to have an endorsement deal.[42] In 2012, Jackson revealed that "he plans to fulfil a long-held dream next year when he sets up his first 'soccer' school in Southern Ontario ... "I want to help kids in Canada improve themselves, and get the opportunity to play in Europe and at the highest level through a soccer school."[43]

Notes

A. ^ Soccerbase's stats for the match between Doncaster Rovers and Norwich City on 14 September 2010 fail to include Jackson's substitute appearance for Norwich.[44][45] Therefore, until and unless they correct it, he should have one more appearance for Norwich than given on his Soccerbase page.

References

  1. ↑ "Simeon Jackson". canadasoccer.com. Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "A word with: Simeon Jackson, Gillingham". FourFourTwo (Haymarket Group). June 2009. p. 115.
  3. ↑ "Simeon Jackson's remarkable rise sums up Norwich City's hunger". The Telegraph. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "English Conference Stats: Top Goal Scorers – 2007–08". ESPN FC. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  5. ↑ Cubas, Jonathan. "Polished Diamond: Simeon Jackson talks to Grassroots North". Grassroots North. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
  6. ↑ "A-Z of Diamonds: Simeon Jackson". Rushden & Diamonds F.C. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  7. ↑ "Simeon Jackson talks to the Gillingham supporters". Gillingham official website. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008.
  8. ↑ "Simeon signs for £150k". Gillingham official website. Archived from the original on 12 April 2008.
  9. ↑ Dawkes, Phil (10 May 2009). "Gillingham 2–1 Rochdale". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  10. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (23 May 2009). "Gillingham 1–0 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  11. ↑ "City confirm Jackson deal". Norwich City F.C. 15 July 2010. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  12. ↑ "Bristol City 0 – 3 Norwich". BBC. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  13. ↑ "Norwich City pair Holt and Jackson happy to join forces". BBC. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  14. ↑ "Norwich City 6, Scunthorpe United 0". Norwich Evening News. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  15. ↑ "Norwich City 1 Stoke City 1 Match Report". Premier League. 21 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  16. ↑ "Manchester United 2 Norwich City 0 Match Report". Premier League. 1 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  17. ↑ "Norwich City 2 QPR 1 Match Report". Premier League. 26 November 2011. Archived from the original on 29 November 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  18. ↑ Rej, Arindam (20 December 2011). "Wolves 2–2 Norwich Report". BBC News. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  19. ↑ "Norwich City 1 Fulham 1: match report". Telegraph. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  20. ↑ "West Brom 1 – 2 Norwich City". BBC. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  21. ↑ Lawrence, Amy (5 May 2012). "Norwich's Steve Morison dents Arsenal's Champions League hopes". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  22. ↑ "Grant Holt and Simeon Jackson give Norwich victory over Aston Villa". The Guardian. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  23. ↑ Osborne, Chris (25 August 2012). "Norwich 1–1 QPR". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  24. ↑ "Norwich City: Simeon Jackson & Elliot Ward among 10 exits". BBC Sport. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  25. ↑ "Norwich City striker Simeon Jackson heads a 10-man list of released players". pinkun.com. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  26. ↑ "Eintracht Braunschweig verpflichtet Simeon Jackson" (in German). eintracht.com. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  27. ↑ O'Rourke, Pete (3 July 2013). "Bournemouth are close to signing former Norwich striker Simeon Jackson". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  28. 1 2 "Simeon agrees Den deal". Millwall FC. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  29. ↑ "Millwall 2 -3 Birmingham: Blues ease relegation fears over drop zone rivals". Daily Mail. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  30. 1 2 "Simeon Jackson: Coventry City sign ex-Norwich and Millwall striker". BBC Sport. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  31. ↑ "Simeon Jackson: Barnsley sign Canada international striker". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 3 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  32. ↑ "Blackburn 1–2 Leeds". BBC Sport (BBC). 12 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  33. ↑ Simeon Jackson – FIFA competition record
  34. ↑ "Canada defeats Cyprus in soccer friendly". CBC. 30 May 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  35. ↑ "Canada give Ukraine a soccer scare before settling for draw". TSN. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  36. ↑ "Canada routs St. Lucia 7–0 in World Cup qualifier". Toronto Star. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  37. ↑ "De Rosario is male selection for 2011 BMO Canadian Player of the Year award". Canadian Soccer Association. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  38. ↑ "Canada finalizes roster for Gold Cup, announces friendly". Canada Soccer. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  39. ↑ "Canada MNT roster update team on the ground in Seattle". Canada Soccer. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  40. ↑ Simeon Jackson career statistics at Soccerbase
  41. ↑ "Jackson is male selection for 2009 Canadian Players of the Year award". canadasoccer.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
  42. ↑ "Umbro Signs Canadian Striker Simeon Jackson". brnd1.blogspot.co. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  43. ↑ "Norwich City striker Simeon Jackson looks ahead to his career after football". Archant. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  44. ↑ "Football League Championship 14-09-2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
  45. ↑ "Doncaster vs Norwich City". Norwich City F.C. 14 September 2010. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2010.

External links

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