James McEveley
Encyclopedia
James Michael "Jay" McEveley (born 11 February 1985 in Liverpool
, England
) is a professional footballer who currently plays for Barnsley
, as a defender.
, where he played in the same youth team as Wayne Rooney
. McEveley never played for the club and moved to Blackburn Rovers
, where he was seen as a potential star of the future. His bulky build made it seem natural that he would be a centre back but ever since his early professional breakthrough, he has been used by successive managers as a left back.
He made his first team Rovers debut against Walsall
as part of a 2–2 draw in the League Cup
. McEveley hit the headlines after his performance in a League Cup semi-final first leg, where he displayed considerable self-confidence in a 0–0 draw. Much, in particular, was made of his aggressive tackling on Manchester United's David Beckham
and a late goalline save from a Ruud van Nistelrooy
shot.
In order to gain competitive match experience McEveley was sent out on loan three times whilst at Blackburn, spending time at Burnley
; Gillingham
, where he scored once against Stoke; and Ipswich
, where he scored once against Plymouth Argyle. He intermittently featured in the Blackburn first team during this time, including in a match against Liverpool
in October 2004 when his challenge resulted in a broken leg for Djibril Cissé
. Though the challenge was legal and appeared innocuous, the gruesome footage of the incident shocked many.
McEveley has developed a history of unfortunate involvement in serious injuries – to himself and others. McEveley was the other party in a training ground incident that left Hakan Şükür
, trialist at Blackburn, with a broken leg. Mark Delaney suffered a serious knee injury after a clash with McEveley. McEveley himself has suffered a few very serious knee injuries.
during the January 2007 transfer window for a fee rumoured to be in the region of £600,000. Replacing previous first choice left back Mo Camara, McEveley settled in well and played regularly for the Rams as they eventually finished third and earned promotion to the Premiership following a 1–0 win over West Brom
in the Championship Playoff Final at the newly completed Wembley Stadium. McEveley played regularly for Derby upon their return to the Premiership and scored his first goal for Derby County against Liverpool, the equaliser, in a 2–1 home defeat. He sustained knee ligament damage in the 1–0 loss to Bolton on 2 January 2008 after a heavy tackle from Kevin Davies
which was expected to keep him out for 4 months, though he returned 6 weeks later to play in Derby's 2–0 defeat away to Wigan Athletic
at the end of February 2008. McEveley scored his second rams goal against Arsenal
at Pride Park to bring the scores level to 1–1, only for the game to end in a 6–2 defeat.
McEveley began the 2008–09 season as first choice left back, but lost his place to new signing Jordan Stewart
. He joined Preston North End
on a one month loan on the 29th September 2008, and made his debut in the 2–0 defeat against Swansea, conceding the penalty that lead to the second goal. He returned to Derby at the end of October and a month later was sent out on loan again, this time for a three month spell with Charlton
. He returned from his loan spell early in January 2009 due to injury, and then went on to re-establish himself as the club's first choice left back. On 11 April 2009, in Derby's 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday
, McEveley broke a metatarsal in his left foot, and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
McEveley started the 2009–10 season as Derby's second choice left back, behind new signing Dean Moxey
. McEveley's second league start of the season came against Sheffield Wednesday, playing at centre-half and scoring the Rams' second goal in a 3–0 win. Derby manager Nigel Clough
praised McEveley's attitude after the game. However, just two games later, McEveley fractured his cheekbone in the 20th minute of the game against Middlesbrough
, and was initially ruled out for six weeks. Shortly after, he had an operation on his cheekbone. It was later revealed that during the operation, McEveley's heart had stopped beating for two minutes. McEveley was transferred to intensive care after his heart was successfully re-started. His heart was scanned and doctors gave him the all-clear, telling him it would not affect his football. He later said:
Exactly one month after suffering his injury, McEveley returned to the first team on 20 November 2009. He went on to start eight successive games, playing with a mask to protect his cheekbone. McEveley then entered into negotiations to sign a new contract, with his contract expiring at the end of the season. He made his 100th appearance for Derby when he started in the penultimate game of the 2009–10 season against Bristol City
before scoring his fourth of the campaign with the opener in a 2–0 win over Cardiff City
. This proved to be his last significant appearance in a Derby County shirt as on 5 May 2010 the club stated he would not be offered a new contract, formally leaving on the expiration of his contract on 30 June 2010. He ended with 101 appearances and six goals from his three and a half years with the club.
on 6 July 2010, signing a 2-year contract.
McEveley scored his first goal for Barnsley in the away game with Norwich City
at Carrow Road
, heading in Kieran Trippier
's free-kick.
, but has since chosen to represent Scotland at the U-21 level and B level
. McEveley made his full international debut for Scotland
in the 1–0 win over South Africa
on 22 August 2007. He won his third cap during the 1–1 draw with Croatia
at Hampden Park
, significant as manager George Burley
's first match with the side. McEveley was a second half substitute in this match. His next appearance in a Scotland squad wasn't until Craig Levein
's first competitive match in charge, as he was called up as a late replacement for the match against Lithuania
in September 2010.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
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...
) is a professional footballer who currently plays for Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
, as a defender.
Blackburn Rovers
McEveley started his career with EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, where he played in the same youth team as Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
. McEveley never played for the club and moved to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, where he was seen as a potential star of the future. His bulky build made it seem natural that he would be a centre back but ever since his early professional breakthrough, he has been used by successive managers as a left back.
He made his first team Rovers debut against Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
as part of a 2–2 draw in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. McEveley hit the headlines after his performance in a League Cup semi-final first leg, where he displayed considerable self-confidence in a 0–0 draw. Much, in particular, was made of his aggressive tackling on Manchester United's David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
and a late goalline save from a Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Rutgerus Johannes Martinus "Ruud" van Nistelrooy, , is a Dutch footballer who plays as a striker for Málaga CF in Spain's La Liga. He is the second-highest goalscorer in Champions League history with 60 goals...
shot.
In order to gain competitive match experience McEveley was sent out on loan three times whilst at Blackburn, spending time at Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
; Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, where he scored once against Stoke; and Ipswich
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....
, where he scored once against Plymouth Argyle. He intermittently featured in the Blackburn first team during this time, including in a match against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in October 2004 when his challenge resulted in a broken leg for Djibril Cissé
Djibril Cissé
Djibril Aruun Cissé is a French international footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Lazio as a striker. He is noted particularly for his speed and acceleration. Since 2005, he has held the title of Lord of the Manor of Frodsham....
. Though the challenge was legal and appeared innocuous, the gruesome footage of the incident shocked many.
McEveley has developed a history of unfortunate involvement in serious injuries – to himself and others. McEveley was the other party in a training ground incident that left Hakan Şükür
Hakan Sükür
Hakan Şükür is a retired Turkish footballer who played as a striker. He spent the majority of his professional career with Galatasaray, being a three-time Gol Kralı , representing the club in three different spells and winning a total of 14 major titles.Şükür represented Turkey a...
, trialist at Blackburn, with a broken leg. Mark Delaney suffered a serious knee injury after a clash with McEveley. McEveley himself has suffered a few very serious knee injuries.
Derby County
As he struggled to hold down a regular place at Blackburn, McEveley signed for promotion-chasing Championship side Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
during the January 2007 transfer window for a fee rumoured to be in the region of £600,000. Replacing previous first choice left back Mo Camara, McEveley settled in well and played regularly for the Rams as they eventually finished third and earned promotion to the Premiership following a 1–0 win over West Brom
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in the Championship Playoff Final at the newly completed Wembley Stadium. McEveley played regularly for Derby upon their return to the Premiership and scored his first goal for Derby County against Liverpool, the equaliser, in a 2–1 home defeat. He sustained knee ligament damage in the 1–0 loss to Bolton on 2 January 2008 after a heavy tackle from Kevin Davies
Kevin Davies
Kevin Cyril Davies is an English footballer who currently plays for Bolton Wanderers and the England national football team as a striker. He was made Bolton team captain in January 2009....
which was expected to keep him out for 4 months, though he returned 6 weeks later to play in Derby's 2–0 defeat away to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
at the end of February 2008. McEveley scored his second rams goal against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
at Pride Park to bring the scores level to 1–1, only for the game to end in a 6–2 defeat.
McEveley began the 2008–09 season as first choice left back, but lost his place to new signing Jordan Stewart
Jordan Stewart
Jordan Barrington Stewart is an English footballer, who currently plays for Millwall in the Football League Championship. He plays either as a left-back or left-winger, and if required, can play at centre-back....
. He joined Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
on a one month loan on the 29th September 2008, and made his debut in the 2–0 defeat against Swansea, conceding the penalty that lead to the second goal. He returned to Derby at the end of October and a month later was sent out on loan again, this time for a three month spell with Charlton
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
. He returned from his loan spell early in January 2009 due to injury, and then went on to re-establish himself as the club's first choice left back. On 11 April 2009, in Derby's 1–0 win over 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...
, McEveley broke a metatarsal in his left foot, and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
McEveley started the 2009–10 season as Derby's second choice left back, behind new signing Dean Moxey
Dean Moxey
Dean William Moxey is an English professional footballer who plays for Championship side Crystal Palace. He is a left-sided player, comfortable at either left back or on the left side of midfield. He has been capped by England at semi-professional level.-Exeter City:Moxey began his career as a...
. McEveley's second league start of the season came against Sheffield Wednesday, playing at centre-half and scoring the Rams' second goal in a 3–0 win. Derby manager Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
praised McEveley's attitude after the game. However, just two games later, McEveley fractured his cheekbone in the 20th minute of the game against Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, and was initially ruled out for six weeks. Shortly after, he had an operation on his cheekbone. It was later revealed that during the operation, McEveley's heart had stopped beating for two minutes. McEveley was transferred to intensive care after his heart was successfully re-started. His heart was scanned and doctors gave him the all-clear, telling him it would not affect his football. He later said:
"It was supposed to be a routine operation to pull the cheekbone out but just before that my heart decided to stop on the operating table. I didn’t realise until I woke up in intensive care when I was wired into machines. When they told me it was a shock to say the least. My mum and dad were in Liverpool and my girlfriend was in the ward. They called her and she was all over the place. My mum was in hysterics and they drove down that night. I don’t know if it was a reaction to the anaesthetic but I’ve had five operations before and nothing has ever happened like that. I’m just happy to be here. I’m looking at life in a different light now. They’ve done loads of further tests on my heart and I’ve had the all clear. I went into training the day after and I think the lads were surprised to see me! When I returned our gaffer was calling me Lazarus!"
Exactly one month after suffering his injury, McEveley returned to the first team on 20 November 2009. He went on to start eight successive games, playing with a mask to protect his cheekbone. McEveley then entered into negotiations to sign a new contract, with his contract expiring at the end of the season. He made his 100th appearance for Derby when he started in the penultimate game of the 2009–10 season against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
before scoring his fourth of the campaign with the opener in a 2–0 win over Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. This proved to be his last significant appearance in a Derby County shirt as on 5 May 2010 the club stated he would not be offered a new contract, formally leaving on the expiration of his contract on 30 June 2010. He ended with 101 appearances and six goals from his three and a half years with the club.
Barnsley
McEveley joined Championship side BarnsleyBarnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
on 6 July 2010, signing a 2-year contract.
McEveley scored his first goal for Barnsley in the away game with Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
, heading in Kieran Trippier
Kieran Trippier
Kieran John Trippier is a footballer who currently plays for Burnley on loan from Manchester City.-Manchester City:Trippier came through the ranks at Eastlands and signed professional terms for City in 2008...
's free-kick.
International career
He represented England U-20 at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in United Arab Emirates between November 27 and December 19, 2003. The 2003 championship was the 14th contested...
, but has since chosen to represent Scotland at the U-21 level and B level
Scotland B national football team
The Scotland B national football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is a secondary football team of Scotland, run occasionally as support for the Scotland national football team as a second string side to the first team....
. McEveley made his full international debut for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in the 1–0 win over South Africa
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
on 22 August 2007. He won his third cap during the 1–1 draw with Croatia
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
, significant as manager George Burley
George Burley
George Elder Burley is a Scottish football manager and former player and manager, formerly the manager of Crystal Palace Football Club. Burley had a professional career spanning 21 years as a player making 628 appearances and earning 11 Scotland caps...
's first match with the side. McEveley was a second half substitute in this match. His next appearance in a Scotland squad wasn't until Craig Levein
Craig Levein
Craig William Levein is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager of the Scotland national team. During his playing career he played for Cowdenbeath and Heart of Midlothian...
's first competitive match in charge, as he was called up as a late replacement for the match against Lithuania
Lithuania national football team
The national football team of Lithuania is under the auspices of the Lithuanian Football Federation. It played its first match in 1923. In 1940, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union; the country regained its independence in 1990 and played their first match as a new nation against Georgia on...
in September 2010.