Avery John
Encyclopedia
Avery John is a Trinidadian
soccer player.
for Yavapai College
in Arizona
and American University
in Washington, DC. In his four seasons with American, John was named First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association and Second Team All-South Atlantic Region in his second year. In that same year, he helped win the CAA Championship and bring the team into the NCAA Quarterfinals.
of the USISL. In 2000, upon graduating, John played briefly in the American A-League
, with the Steve Nicol
-coached Boston Bulldogs
. John spent much of his early professional career playing in the League of Ireland
. John is perhaps best known in Ireland for playing for Bohemians
, with whom he spent two spells and worked under three different managers. John was a fan favourite with Bohemians, where he became a cult figure who had several songs in his honour. John also had a brief spell with Shelbourne
, and Longford Town
after having been denied a work permit in order to sign for Colchester United following a successful pre season in 2002.
John moved to the United States to play for New England Revolution
, and his old coach Steve Nicol
, in Major League Soccer
in 2004. With the Revolution, John was a regular member of the starting lineup in all his four years with the team, and despite with injuries, international duty, and occasional loss of form, never appeared in fewer than 10 games in a season.
On May 1, 2008, John signed with Miami FC
of the USL First Division
, and played 15 games for the side. On April 23, 2009, he signed with D.C. United
, after the team completed a trade for his rights. The Revolution, which had retained his MLS rights, traded those rights, in exchange for a conditional draft pick in either the 2010 or 2011 MLS SuperDraft. John was released by D.C. United on January 20, 2010.
. In his first match at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
, he was dismissed with his second yellow card for a rash tackle on Sweden
's Christian Wilhelmsson, making John the first player to be sent off in the tournament and causing him to miss Trinidad and Tobago's high profile game with England
.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
soccer player.
Youth and College
John attended Vessigny [Antilles] Government Secondary School and then Presentation College, and played college soccerCollege soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
for Yavapai College
Yavapai College
Yavapai College is a community college located in Yavapai County, Arizona. The main Campus is in Prescott, with locations in Clarkdale, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Sedona.-History:...
in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington, DC. In his four seasons with American, John was named First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association and Second Team All-South Atlantic Region in his second year. In that same year, he helped win the CAA Championship and bring the team into the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Professional
In July 1998, John joined the New Orleans StormNew Orleans Storm
The New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers was an American soccer club that competed in the USISL from 1993 to 1999. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, the club was renamed the New Orleans Storm in 1998. The team folded after the 1999 season.-History:...
of the USISL. In 2000, upon graduating, John played briefly in the American A-League
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
, with the Steve Nicol
Steve Nicol
Stephen "Steve" Nicol is a Scottish former professional footballer. A utility player who played in the all-conquering Liverpool team of the 1980s, he was most recently coach of New England Revolution, and was the longest-tenured head coach in MLS to coach a single club.As a player, Nicol was a...
-coached Boston Bulldogs
Boston Bulldogs (soccer)
The Boston Bulldogs were a soccer club originally founded in 1996 as the Worcester Wildfire. The team debuted in the USISL and would play in the A-League from 1997 to 2000...
. John spent much of his early professional career playing in the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
. John is perhaps best known in Ireland for playing for Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
, with whom he spent two spells and worked under three different managers. John was a fan favourite with Bohemians, where he became a cult figure who had several songs in his honour. John also had a brief spell with Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
, and Longford Town
Longford Town F.C.
Longford Town F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the League of Ireland First Division. The club, founded in 1924 and elected to the league in 1984, hails from Longford, County Longford and play their home matches at Flancare Park...
after having been denied a work permit in order to sign for Colchester United following a successful pre season in 2002.
John moved to the United States to play for New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
, and his old coach Steve Nicol
Steve Nicol
Stephen "Steve" Nicol is a Scottish former professional footballer. A utility player who played in the all-conquering Liverpool team of the 1980s, he was most recently coach of New England Revolution, and was the longest-tenured head coach in MLS to coach a single club.As a player, Nicol was a...
, in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
in 2004. With the Revolution, John was a regular member of the starting lineup in all his four years with the team, and despite with injuries, international duty, and occasional loss of form, never appeared in fewer than 10 games in a season.
On May 1, 2008, John signed with Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
, and played 15 games for the side. On April 23, 2009, he signed with D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
, after the team completed a trade for his rights. The Revolution, which had retained his MLS rights, traded those rights, in exchange for a conditional draft pick in either the 2010 or 2011 MLS SuperDraft. John was released by D.C. United on January 20, 2010.
International
John has appeared in over 50 matches with the Trinidad and Tobago national teamTrinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
. In his first match at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, he was dismissed with his second yellow card for a rash tackle on Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
's Christian Wilhelmsson, making John the first player to be sent off in the tournament and causing him to miss Trinidad and Tobago's high profile game with England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.