| Jack Blake | |
| Fullname: | Jack James Blake[1] |
| Birth Date: | 22 September 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Nottingham, England |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Indy Eleven |
| Clubnumber: | 8 |
| Youthyears1: | 2002–2004 |
| Youthclubs1: | Notts County |
| Youthyears2: | 2004–2013 |
| Youthclubs2: | Nottingham Forest |
| Years1: | 2013–2015 |
| Clubs1: | Nottingham Forest |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2013 |
| Clubs2: | → Mansfield Town (loan) |
| Caps2: | 3 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2016 |
| Clubs3: | Minnesota United |
| Caps3: | 11 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2017 |
| Clubs4: | Jacksonville Armada |
| Caps4: | 27 |
| Goals4: | 10 |
| Years5: | 2018 |
| Clubs5: | Tampa Bay Rowdies |
| Caps5: | 6 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 2018 |
| Clubs6: | → Real Monarchs (loan) |
| Caps6: | 17 |
| Goals6: | 1 |
| Years7: | 2019–2020 |
| Clubs7: | Real Monarchs |
| Caps7: | 38 |
| Goals7: | 9 |
| Years8: | 2021–2022 |
| Clubs8: | San Diego Loyal |
| Caps8: | 51 |
| Goals8: | 8 |
| Years9: | 2023– |
| Clubs9: | Indy Eleven |
| Caps9: | 47 |
| Goals9: | 11 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2011–2012 |
| Nationalteam1: | Scotland U19 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 1 |
| Club-Update: | 7 August 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 28 October 2019 |
Jack James Blake (born 22 September 1994) is a professional footballer who plays for USL Championship side Indy Eleven. Born in England, he has represented Scotland at youth level.
Blake started his football career at the Notts County youth level before joining neighbours Nottingham Forest at youth level from the under-10's team through to the club's academy. In May 2012, Blake was awarded his first professional contract with the club.[2] Blake then made a first team breakthrough when he was included in the bench for the senior team for the club's home game against Peterborough United on 12 January 2013.[3]
Blake was loaned for a month to county rivals, Mansfield Town on 19 October 2013.[4] He made his professional debut on 22 October 2013 during a 0–0 draw against Bury.[5] After making his professional debut, Blake expressed his happiness to make his debut.[6] After making three appearances for the club, Blake made his return to his parent club.[7] Despite rumors that Blake may returned to Mansfield Town on loan for the second time,[8] this was played down by manager Paul Cox.[9]
After his loan spell at Mansfield Town came to an end, Blake continued playing in the club's reserve until being released by the club at the end of the 2014–15 season.[10]
On 26 May 2016, Minnesota United announced that Blake had signed with the North American Soccer League club.[11] Seven days later on 2 June 2016, Blake scored his first Minnesota United debut (and his first professional goal) in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup, winning 3–0 against Saint Louis.[12]
On 18 January 2017, it was reported that the Jacksonville Armada had signed Blake ahead of the NASL's 2017 season.[13] Blake was named the NASL's Young Player of the Year after recording nine goals and four assists with the Armada.[14]
On 8 February 2018, the Tampa Bay Rowdies announced they had received Blake on a season-long loan from Jacksonville.[15] A little over a month later, on 15 March 2018, he terminated his Armada FC contact, and joined the Rowdies on a permanent basis.[16]
On 19 June 2018, Blake moved on loan to Utah-based USL side Real Monarchs.[17]
Blake's moved to Salt Lake permanently ahead of their 2019 season, going on to captain Real Monarchs during their 2019 season.[18] He re-signed with the club on 18 December 2019 for the 2020 season.[19] He announced his departure from the club in December 2020.[20]
On 14 December 2019, Blake signed with USL Championship side San Diego Loyal.[21]
After two seasons in San Diego, Blake moved to USL Championship club Indy Eleven on 6 January 2023.[22] Blake scored the first goal for Indy Eleven in the 2024 USL Championship season in a 2–1 defeat at Oakland Roots on 9 March 2024.[23] Blake scored two goals for Indy Eleven in their 5–3 defeat away to rivals Louisville City, a penalty kick in the 34th minute and the team's second goal of the game in the 60th minute, assisted by Sebastian Guenzatti.[24] He scored a second brace in a 2–1 home victory over Phoenix Rising on 25 May, leading the team to an 8 game winning streak in all competitions.[25] [26] Blake was named to the USL Championship team of the week five times in the first 12 weeks of the 2024 season, notably leading the Eleven to a 9-game undefeated streak in all competitions and a perfect month of May with no draws or losses.[27] Blake led the team with 4 league goals and one U.S. Open Cup goal in that May 2024.[28] Blake scored his eleventh league goal for Indy Eleven, and 8th goal of the season, on 9 June 2024, converting a penalty in the team's 1–0 away victory over Birmingham Legion FC.[29]
Though he was born in Nottingham, England, Blake is eligible to play for Scotland through his Scottish grandfather. In September 2011, Blake was called up by Scotland U19 and went on to make five appearances for the team.[30]
Blake earned his U.S. green card in 2019.[31] His status also qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Nottingham Forest | 2012–13 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2014–15 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Mansfield Town (loan) | 2013–14 | EFL League Two | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||||
| Minnesota United | 2016 | NASL | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 12 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 1 | |||||
| Jacksonville Armada | 2017 | NASL | 27 | 10 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 29 | 11 | ||||
| Total | 27 | 10 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 29 | 11 | ||||||
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | 2018 | USL | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | ||||||
| Real Monarchs (loan) | 2018 | USL | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 1 | |||||
| Real Monarchs | 2019 | USL Championship | 25 | 8 | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 29 | 11 | ||||
| 2020 | USL Championship | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 55 | 10 | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 59 | 13 | ||||||
| San Diego Loyal | 2021 | USL Championship | 25 | 5 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | — | — | — | 25 | 5 | |||||
| 2022 | USL Championship | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 27 | 3 | |||||
| Total | 51 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 52 | 8 | ||||||
| Indy Eleven | 2023 | USL Championship | 30 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 32 | 3 | ||||
| 2024 | USL Championship | 17 | 8 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 20 | 9 | |||||
| Total | 47 | 11 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 52 | 12 | |||||
| Career total | 200 | 40 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 3 | 214 | 46 | |||