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Aztattooedfootballfan
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I will always remember his wonderful goal in helping knock out Man U last year in the Cup match.
Saying all the right things is Jermaine, apparently hes out of the Sydney match, and Joleen Lescott is an Everton groupie!
JERMAINE Beckford has a perspective on ordinary life which is increasingly rare among many modern Premier League footballers.
While most of his peers were graduating from the academy systems of top clubs, or on the fringe of Premier League football biding their time until stardom, Beckford was mired in a variety of low-paid day jobs while turning out for various teams in the mud and bluster of a London Sunday league.
After a schoolboy move to Chelsea fizzled out, the Ealing-born striker was forced to roll up his sleeves and find employment where he could; in restaurants, sport shops and even slogging it out in a warehouse.
Meanwhile, he spent his weekends playing in front of paltry crowds in that local semi-professional league, his only ray of hope a consistent and prolific habit of scoring goals.
Indeed, it was that in-built ability which finally proved his saviour. Well, that and having the bottle to take a pivotal sick day.
“I’ve certainly seen the highs and lows. It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride,” says a relaxed Beckford in the lobby of Everton’s plush hotel near Sydney’s Hyde Park, a million miles from his early days in the less glamorous parts of West London
“I worked all over the place. I worked in warehouses, restaurants, sport shops. I even worked for the RAC (as a window fitter). I was playing non-league football during all those jobs.
“It was when I was working at the RAC that Leeds showed an interest. That was interesting because I asked my manager at the time for some time off, but she didn’t give me it, so I decided to take a sick day and I didn’t look back.”
Indeed, Beckford took Leeds United by storm, becoming a hero for the Yorkshire club’s supporters and ultimately firing them to promotion last season.
However, when Everton came calling, the 26-year-old saw his opportunity and was not about to sit still and let the chance pass him by.
“It was time for me to move on,” he says of the free transfer which saw him become David Moyes’ first summer signing in June.
“I felt like I learned a lot from everyone at Leeds.
“From the ground staff, to players, to fans but I felt like the time was right. I wanted to play at the highest level, and for me to go out as the captain, and scoring one of the goals that won a game which got us promoted was the perfect way to go out.
“I had an amazing time there and hopefully I’ll be able to bring that success onto Everton. I know I’ve now got to carry on working hard, carry on learning and keep my eyes and ears open. Hopefully soon I’ll get my chance. It’s another big step up and I’m just grateful I’ve got an opportunity to work with the management and players we have here.
“Hopefully the gaffer will see I can bring something different to the team and he’ll be able to use that in some way.
“There were one or two other clubs floating about when Everton came in for me, but I thought they were the club I could learn the most from with the squad they have. Everything I’ve heard back about the management and the players was positive.”
Beckford insists he can handle the change in pressure of suddenly being asked to play against some of Europe’s best defenders, especially because he has already experienced taking giant strides all at once in his career.
“It was a huge difference for me when I went pro,” he says. “One week I was playing football in front of just under 100 people, and the following weekend I was coming off the bench in front of 35,000 people.
“At first I found it quite difficult because I’d only been training once or twice a week and playing a game a week as well and now it’s a lot more intense but I love it. I take it in my stride now my body is used to it.
“When I play football my aim is just to score goals. That’s what I get paid to do. Playing against teams like Man U when you’re from a lower league team you have nothing to lose and nothing to prove to anybody so you just go for it. To score goals is instinctive for me.
“ I’ve always been a striker. You come from having no pressure in non-league, then to Leeds where nobody was expecting anything, so I can make the transition.
“The guys around me now are internationals and some of them I used to watch when I was younger and pretend I was them in the playground. It’s an amazing place and an amazing feeling.
“I really like Liverpool. I’ve had a look around Liverpool One, and the reception I’ve had has been amazing. Not just Everton fans but Liverpool fans as well. I’m looking forward to every single game, every single training session, and just taking each day as it comes.”
JERMAINE BECKFORD wants to emulate his boyhood hero Ian Wright by taking the step from the lower leagues to top flight goal machine.
The 26-year-old striker only started playing league football four years ago, after Leeds United plucked him from obscurity at semi-professional outfit Wealdstone.
Like Arsenal legend Wright, who also made the step-up from non-league football aged 22, Beckford continued his habit of hitting the back of the net in the Championship and earned his shot at the big time by helping Leeds win promotion.
Now he hopes to be as prolific as the England international, but is focussed first on breaking into the star-studded Everton team.
He said: “Ian Wright was one of my favourite players because he came into the game quite late and he managed to achieve a lot in the relatively short time he was playing.
“I was 15 when I went to Chelsea and was there for about a year. Then I went to non-league and playing for Sunday league clubs. I went to Wealdstone and scored quite a few goals and I was noticed. Then Leeds took an opportunity, they took a chance.
“I know I’ve now got to carry on working hard, carry on learning and keep my eyes and ears open. Hopefully soon I’ll get my chance. It’s another big step up and I’m just grateful I’ve got an opportunity to work with the management and players we have here.”
Beckford has already provided evidence he can rub shoulders with the best, by scoring against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in Leeds’ dramatic FA Cup run last season.
He said: “When I play football my aim is just to score goals. That’s what I get paid to do. Playing against teams like Man U when you’re from a lower league team you have nothing to lose and nothing to prove to anybody so you just go for it. To score goals is instinctive for me.”
Meanwhile, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is raring to get his second season in blue underway.
The midfielder’s switch to Goodison 12 months ago meant he joined the Toffees directly from the Russian league, which runs in the summer - meaning he has effectively played back-to-back seasons.
But after six weeks off and a long holiday he feels refreshed and excited about the coming season. He said: “I had a nice holiday. I had just over two weeks back at home then I went to Dubai for a few weeks.
“Bainesy, Joleon Lescott and (Karim) Benzema were all in the same hotel”
“I had a big season, and I have never had a break in the summer before, that was my first time.
“I feel refreshed; six weeks off is enough. I want to work hard to go into next season with a great start.”
The winger is desperate to help fire the Blues back into Europe. He said: “We want to get back into Europe quickly.
“I feel more comfortable, my teammates have helped me and I am looking forward to next season. I think it will be harder than last season.”
JERMAINE Beckford has a perspective on ordinary life which is increasingly rare among many modern Premier League footballers.
While most of his peers were graduating from the academy systems of top clubs, or on the fringe of Premier League football biding their time until stardom, Beckford was mired in a variety of low-paid day jobs while turning out for various teams in the mud and bluster of a London Sunday league.
After a schoolboy move to Chelsea fizzled out, the Ealing-born striker was forced to roll up his sleeves and find employment where he could; in restaurants, sport shops and even slogging it out in a warehouse.
Meanwhile, he spent his weekends playing in front of paltry crowds in that local semi-professional league, his only ray of hope a consistent and prolific habit of scoring goals.
Indeed, it was that in-built ability which finally proved his saviour. Well, that and having the bottle to take a pivotal sick day.
“I’ve certainly seen the highs and lows. It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride,” says a relaxed Beckford in the lobby of Everton’s plush hotel near Sydney’s Hyde Park, a million miles from his early days in the less glamorous parts of West London
“I worked all over the place. I worked in warehouses, restaurants, sport shops. I even worked for the RAC (as a window fitter). I was playing non-league football during all those jobs.
“It was when I was working at the RAC that Leeds showed an interest. That was interesting because I asked my manager at the time for some time off, but she didn’t give me it, so I decided to take a sick day and I didn’t look back.”
Indeed, Beckford took Leeds United by storm, becoming a hero for the Yorkshire club’s supporters and ultimately firing them to promotion last season.
However, when Everton came calling, the 26-year-old saw his opportunity and was not about to sit still and let the chance pass him by.
“It was time for me to move on,” he says of the free transfer which saw him become David Moyes’ first summer signing in June.
“I felt like I learned a lot from everyone at Leeds.
“From the ground staff, to players, to fans but I felt like the time was right. I wanted to play at the highest level, and for me to go out as the captain, and scoring one of the goals that won a game which got us promoted was the perfect way to go out.
“I had an amazing time there and hopefully I’ll be able to bring that success onto Everton. I know I’ve now got to carry on working hard, carry on learning and keep my eyes and ears open. Hopefully soon I’ll get my chance. It’s another big step up and I’m just grateful I’ve got an opportunity to work with the management and players we have here.
“Hopefully the gaffer will see I can bring something different to the team and he’ll be able to use that in some way.
“There were one or two other clubs floating about when Everton came in for me, but I thought they were the club I could learn the most from with the squad they have. Everything I’ve heard back about the management and the players was positive.”
Beckford insists he can handle the change in pressure of suddenly being asked to play against some of Europe’s best defenders, especially because he has already experienced taking giant strides all at once in his career.
“It was a huge difference for me when I went pro,” he says. “One week I was playing football in front of just under 100 people, and the following weekend I was coming off the bench in front of 35,000 people.
“At first I found it quite difficult because I’d only been training once or twice a week and playing a game a week as well and now it’s a lot more intense but I love it. I take it in my stride now my body is used to it.
“When I play football my aim is just to score goals. That’s what I get paid to do. Playing against teams like Man U when you’re from a lower league team you have nothing to lose and nothing to prove to anybody so you just go for it. To score goals is instinctive for me.
“ I’ve always been a striker. You come from having no pressure in non-league, then to Leeds where nobody was expecting anything, so I can make the transition.
“The guys around me now are internationals and some of them I used to watch when I was younger and pretend I was them in the playground. It’s an amazing place and an amazing feeling.
“I really like Liverpool. I’ve had a look around Liverpool One, and the reception I’ve had has been amazing. Not just Everton fans but Liverpool fans as well. I’m looking forward to every single game, every single training session, and just taking each day as it comes.”
JERMAINE BECKFORD wants to emulate his boyhood hero Ian Wright by taking the step from the lower leagues to top flight goal machine.
The 26-year-old striker only started playing league football four years ago, after Leeds United plucked him from obscurity at semi-professional outfit Wealdstone.
Like Arsenal legend Wright, who also made the step-up from non-league football aged 22, Beckford continued his habit of hitting the back of the net in the Championship and earned his shot at the big time by helping Leeds win promotion.
Now he hopes to be as prolific as the England international, but is focussed first on breaking into the star-studded Everton team.
He said: “Ian Wright was one of my favourite players because he came into the game quite late and he managed to achieve a lot in the relatively short time he was playing.
“I was 15 when I went to Chelsea and was there for about a year. Then I went to non-league and playing for Sunday league clubs. I went to Wealdstone and scored quite a few goals and I was noticed. Then Leeds took an opportunity, they took a chance.
“I know I’ve now got to carry on working hard, carry on learning and keep my eyes and ears open. Hopefully soon I’ll get my chance. It’s another big step up and I’m just grateful I’ve got an opportunity to work with the management and players we have here.”
Beckford has already provided evidence he can rub shoulders with the best, by scoring against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in Leeds’ dramatic FA Cup run last season.
He said: “When I play football my aim is just to score goals. That’s what I get paid to do. Playing against teams like Man U when you’re from a lower league team you have nothing to lose and nothing to prove to anybody so you just go for it. To score goals is instinctive for me.”
Meanwhile, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is raring to get his second season in blue underway.
The midfielder’s switch to Goodison 12 months ago meant he joined the Toffees directly from the Russian league, which runs in the summer - meaning he has effectively played back-to-back seasons.
But after six weeks off and a long holiday he feels refreshed and excited about the coming season. He said: “I had a nice holiday. I had just over two weeks back at home then I went to Dubai for a few weeks.
“Bainesy, Joleon Lescott and (Karim) Benzema were all in the same hotel”
“I had a big season, and I have never had a break in the summer before, that was my first time.
“I feel refreshed; six weeks off is enough. I want to work hard to go into next season with a great start.”
The winger is desperate to help fire the Blues back into Europe. He said: “We want to get back into Europe quickly.
“I feel more comfortable, my teammates have helped me and I am looking forward to next season. I think it will be harder than last season.”
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David Moyes admits he may have asked too much of summer signing Jermaine Beckford too soon.
The Everton manager intends now to slowly bring the former Leeds United hot-shot up to speed with the rigours of the Premier League.
“What I wanted to happen was him coming off the bench for 20 minutes or so but I ended up starting with him in the early season and I don’t think that helped,” he added.
“He has seen the level to what he has to get to.”
The Everton manager intends now to slowly bring the former Leeds United hot-shot up to speed with the rigours of the Premier League.
“What I wanted to happen was him coming off the bench for 20 minutes or so but I ended up starting with him in the early season and I don’t think that helped,” he added.
“He has seen the level to what he has to get to.”
jamesc
Player Valuation: £6m
We didn't have a choice. He was our only fit stricker for a good while.
Robert Jarvis
Player Valuation: £35m
If at his age too much is aked of him then I wonder if he will ever come round.
Toffees_USA
Player Valuation: £2.5m
shoulda put cahill up there. oh well
Phil Neville Superstar
Player Valuation: £35m
Fantastic goal.
DionDublin
Player Valuation: £1.5m
Agreed, was about to walk out when he hit it.
Made me smile after a poor second half
evilwebby
Player Valuation: £50m
That's a GOTM contender. Cracking way to break your duck. He's understanably taken some time to adjust to life in the PL but let's hope he can get a few more goals and give us the cutting edge up front that we've been missing. He is potentially the most natural finisher we have.
Finishling like that is timeless - this lad will do well at this level- its innate.
kenada_blue
Welcome to Barcelonaton FC
Bilya scored 5 of those type of goals last season and hes [Poor language removed].
Just saying....
Rugby Toffee
Player Valuation: £60m
One goal doesn't make a..........
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