Derek Jefferson
Encyclopedia
Derek Jefferson is an English
former professional footballer. During his career he made over 150 appearances for Ipswich Town
between 1966 and 1972, where he was nicknamed 'Chopper'.
as a youth trainee, before making his senior debut on 28 January 1967 in a 4-1 win over Shrewsbury Town
in the FA Cup
. Although this was his only appearance in the 1966–67 season
, he broke into the first team in the following campaign and was a regular as the club won the Second Division Championship
.
After a further four full seasons in the top flight at Portman Road
, he moved to fellow Division One
club Wolves
in October 1972. He immediately made his debut in a 1-1 draw at Manchester City
on 7 October and went on to make 24 appearances that season. However, this proved his highest seasonal tally for the Midlanders, as he never became a first choice player, managing 52 appearances in total for the club spread over four years.
Wolves
allowed Jefferson to compete in the North American Soccer League
in the summer of 1976, and later loaned him out to Sheffield Wednesday
during October 1976. The following month, he left Molineux
for good when he joined Hereford United
, playing in the second tier for the only time in their history. (His son Christopher currently plays for the Hereford
-based non-league club Westfields
).
After finishing his playing career, Jefferson became Reserve Team manager at Birmingham City
under Jim Smith. He left after five years at this post to devote himself to Christian
work, which he is still involved with, acting as a sports coach in a church-affiliated program in Solihull
.
Jefferson has done PE work at Queens Bridge School in Birmingham, and currently does Lode Heath as well.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer. During his career he made over 150 appearances for Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
between 1966 and 1972, where he was nicknamed 'Chopper'.
Career
Jefferson joined Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
as a youth trainee, before making his senior debut on 28 January 1967 in a 4-1 win over Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. Although this was his only appearance in the 1966–67 season
1966-67 in English football
The 1966–67 season was the 87th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Queens Park Rangers won the Football League Cup on the first occasion it was played at Wembley, coming from 2-0 down at half-time to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-2....
, he broke into the first team in the following campaign and was a regular as the club won the Second Division Championship
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
.
After a further four full seasons in the top flight at Portman Road
Portman Road
Portman Road is an association football stadium in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. It has been the home ground of Ipswich Town F.C. since 1884. The stadium has also hosted a number of England youth international matches, and one senior England friendly international match, against Croatia in 2003...
, he moved to fellow Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
club Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in October 1972. He immediately made his debut in a 1-1 draw at Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
on 7 October and went on to make 24 appearances that season. However, this proved his highest seasonal tally for the Midlanders, as he never became a first choice player, managing 52 appearances in total for the club spread over four years.
Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
allowed Jefferson to compete in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
in the summer of 1976, and later loaned him out to Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
during October 1976. The following month, he left Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
for good when he joined Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
, playing in the second tier for the only time in their history. (His son Christopher currently plays for the Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
-based non-league club Westfields
Westfields F.C.
Westfields F.C. is a football team from Hereford, England, formed in 1966 and currently playing in the Midland Football Alliance. The club is affiliated to the Herefordshire County FA.-History:...
).
After finishing his playing career, Jefferson became Reserve Team manager at Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
under Jim Smith. He left after five years at this post to devote himself to Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
work, which he is still involved with, acting as a sports coach in a church-affiliated program in Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
.
Jefferson has done PE work at Queens Bridge School in Birmingham, and currently does Lode Heath as well.