Jermaine - The Early Years:

Of course it would be nice for Leeds to claim all of the credit in finding this young fresh superstar in Jermaine beckford. And i for one would be the first to overlook his rise to success before joining Leeds United. Loads of you have requested this so here is a brief section where we wind back time and follow Jermaine through his journey, though to the goal scoring hero we see now:

Previous Jobs

As stated by the wise man himself:

“I've seen the normal, everyday side of life,” said the Leeds United striker. “It does give you a sense of perspective. I've been through times when I've had no money - I've had £40 to last the month and I'm only in the second week. I've had to scrimp and scrape so I know how to deal with things like that. I've done a few different jobs - working for the RAC, in sports shops, in supermarkets, in an office, fitting windscreens - all sorts. Now I've got back into the game I don't want to go back to that so I'm going to give it everything I can. I'll do all that's in my power to make sure that doesn't happen.”

The Fledling Footballer

Beckford as hard as it may be to admit started out his footballing career at a club Leeds United fans will be discusted at: Chelsea! Yes it was on Chelsea's books that the teenager Jermaine emerged, this in the same year as West Ham's Carlton Cole. He was released at 19 but said, “Just being able to play football with guys like Gianfranco Zola was a massive honour. To see how Chelsea are doing now makes me proud and makes me want to be able to get to the Premier League myself even more.”

Jermaine was off-loaded to non-league Wealdstone. Beckford was struggling to make an impact and was forced to play amoungst the reserves for a few seasons during this time he was loaned to Uxbridge where he scored a number of goals. After months of hard work Jermaine got his break making himself a regular on the Wealdstone team sheet. He instantly began scoring prolifically scoring thirty five goals in forty games. Such a record was bound to bring him to the attention of professional sides and indeed many took an interest. Charlton, Sunderland, Southampton and Watford were all rumoured to be interested whilst Crystal Palace went as far as taking him on a trial. Thankfully In March 2006 Leeds beat off a clutch of clubs to sign him for £45,000. However, he struggled to establish himself even when Leeds began to slide down the Championship and asked to go on loan to Carlisle, then Scunthorpe. While at Glanford Park he scored eight goals in 18 appearances including a spectacular strike against Rotherham which won the Football League's 2007 Goal of the Year award. Scunthorpe went up, to the Championship, just as Leeds slid out of it.

Leeds United

He first featured the following week at Elland Road, when he came on as a substitute in the 1–0 home defeat to Crystal Palace on 21 March. He scored his first goal for the club in his second reserve match, helping the side beat Birmingham City reserves 2–0. In the 2005–06 season Leeds were chasing promotion, so his appearances were limited and he only played on four more occasions that season. Following his lack of opportunities, he joined Carlisle United on a month's loan on 5 October. It was an eventful first match for Beckford, as he was booked and also found himself on the score sheet inside the first half of the game. After completing his loan spell, he returned to Leeds, where he was awarded with a place in the starting line-up against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. However, he was soon loaned out again, this time to League One promotion challengers Scunthorpe United until the end of the season. He played in every single game after his arrival, scoring eight goals, and Scunthorpe were ultimately promoted with three games to spare, before going on to finish as champions.

Due to the major role he played in guiding them to promotion, he was linked with a permanent move to Glanford Park in the close season, but Leeds manager Dennis Wise rejected the approach and kept him at the club to add to Leeds' attack. Beckford scored his first goal for the senior side in a pre-season fixture against League Two side Darlington on 31 July. He followed this up with another goal against Premiership outfit Wigan Athletic four days later. This form continued into the 2007–08 season and Beckford netted his first league goal for the club in a 4–1 victory against Southend United on 18 August. His goalscoring exploits continued when he bagged a late winner at the City Ground as Leeds beat Nottingham Forest 2–1 to continue their 100% winning record in the league, following their 15-point deduction. He gambled at the back post to prod in the winner after some great work from Seb Carole. Beckford was also instrumental in Leeds' opener, laying the ball into the path of fellow striker Tresor Kandol to net stylishly. In Leeds' fifth successive league win, he scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Hartlepool United with a pacey run and an exquisite chip into the net. In the next game, he scored a further two goals against Bristol Rovers, the second with a wonderful overhead kick. By this time he and Kandol had already scored over 10 goals between them and they developed a trademark celebration that they share, in which the pair raise to their tiptoes and demonstrate a basketball shooting action in each other's direction.

On 11 October, Beckford signed a new three-year deal with Leeds, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2009–10 season. After continuing to impress over the course of the month, he was awarded Coca-Cola League One Fans' Player of the Month. In addition to his performances, this media coverage naturally led to growing speculation surrounding suggested interest in the striker in the January transfer window, with Premiership side Derby County supposedly the club looking for his signature. However, a Leeds United spokesman confirmed that "Jermaine Beckford is not for sale" on 8 January 2008. Dennis Wise also moved to quash the rumours, stating four days later, among other things, that "Derby haven't put in any enquiries". On 14 January, Leeds' match against Crewe Alexandra was shown live on Sky and they ultimately won the tie 1–0, once again Beckford scoring the decisive goal. Derby manager Paul Jewell was spotted in the crowd, leading to even more speculation. This time both Wise and Leeds chairman Ken Bates reinforced the fact that they had no intention of letting Beckford leave, with wise verifying "I've no intentions of selling the kid".Jewell himself stated "I've got no interest in Jermaine" after the game, thereby putting an end to the uncertainty.

In his post-match interview, Beckford won the hearts of Leeds fans by declaring that he had no intentions of leaving the club. When posed the question "Where do you see your own future?", he replied "What shirt am I wearing, bruv? You bein' serious?". The phrase has since been well publicised and T-shirts bearing the quotation can be purchased in the official club store.

On March 2, 2008, Beckford won two awards at the third annual Football League Awards at Grosvenor House Hotel in London. He received the award for League One Player of the Year and the Football League Goal of the Year for his strike against Rotherham United during his loan spell with Scunthorpe United.

With 12 months remaining on his current contract, Leeds United clarified their intentions of offering Beckford a new contract. However, on 26 May, 2009, Leeds announced Beckford had rejected the contract offer and transfer listed him immediately. After weeks of speculation, Leeds announced on 9 July, 2009, that two bids by unnamed clubs for Beckford had been rejected by the club. On 15 July, 2009, BBC Radio Leeds claimed that three clubs were now in the chase to try and sign Beckford. Leeds United announced on 17 July, 2009, that Beckford had been removed from the transfer list.

Beckford started the 2009-10 season by scoring two goals during the 2–1 home victory over Exeter City. Beckford continued his good start to the season with further goals against Walsall, Tranmere Rovers and Colchester United.

Career statistics

England
Season	Club	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Football League Trophy		Play-Offs		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2005–06	Leeds United	Championship	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
2006–07		Championship	5	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
2006–07	Carlisle United (loan)	League One	4	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	5	1
2006–07	Scunthorpe United (loan)	League One	18	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	18	8
2007–08	Leeds United	League One	40	20	2	0	2	0	0	0	3	0	47	20
2008–09		League One	34	27	1	3	4	4	1	0	2	0	42	34
2009–10		League One	5	5	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	6
Club Total			89	52	3	3	8	4	1	0	5	0	105	59
Career Total			109	60	3	3	8	4	2	0	5	0	129	68