Kelvin Jack Explained

Kelvin Jack
CM
Fullname:Kelvin Kyron Jack
Birth Date:29 April 1976
Birth Place:Trincity, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago
Height:1.93 m
Currentclub:Dover Athletic (Goalkeeping coach)
Position:Goalkeeper
College1:Holy Cross College
Collegeyears2:1997–1998
College2:Yavapai Roughriders
Years1:1994–1996
Clubs1:Trincity United
Years2:1997
Clubs2:Joe Public
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:1997–1998
Clubs3:Yavapai Roughriders
Years4:1999
Clubs4:VCU Rams
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:1999–2000
Clubs5:Doc's Khelwalaas
Caps5:40
Goals5:0
Years6:2000
Clubs6:W Connection
Caps6:6
Goals6:0
Years7:2001–2003
Clubs7:San Juan Jabloteh
Caps7:49
Goals7:0
Years8:2004
Clubs8:Reading
Caps8:0
Goals8:0
Years9:2004–2006
Clubs9:Dundee
Caps9:16
Goals9:0
Years10:2006–2008
Clubs10:Gillingham
Caps10:9
Goals10:0
Years11:2010
Clubs11:Southend United
Caps11:0
Goals11:0
Years12:2010–2011
Clubs12:Darlington
Caps12:0
Goals12:0
Years13:2010–2011
Clubs13:Kettering Town (loan)
Caps13:9
Goals13:0
Years14:2011
Clubs14:AFC Hornchurch
Caps14:1
Goals14:0
Years15:2011
Clubs15:Maidstone United
Caps15:3
Goals15:0
Years16:2012
Clubs16:Kettering Town
Caps16:3
Goals16:0
Manageryears1:2020–
Managerclubs1:Dover Athletic (goalkeeping coach)
Totalcaps:138
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:1997–2006
Nationalteam1:Trinidad and Tobago
Nationalcaps1:33
Nationalgoals1:0

Kelvin Kyron Jack CM (born 29 April 1976) is a Trinidadian former professional football goalkeeper who is goalkeeping coach at Dover Athletic. He earned 33 caps for Trinidad and Tobago between 1997 and 2006, playing for his country in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Playing career

Kelvin Jack started his career playing in Trinidad and Tobago with hometown club Trincity United and Joe Public before earning a scholarship to join Yavapai College in Arizona. While a student there he helped the Roughriders win the NJCAA title in his first year and reach the 3rd position the following year. After finishing college he went to Norway for trials before returning to Trinidad, playing most notably with San Juan Jabloteh for two seasons.

Jack started his career in English football with Reading in 2004, but did not make any appearances for the club. Jack was later sold to Scottish Premier League team Dundee, where he stayed despite their relegation to the Scottish First Division.

Jack was a regular member of the Trinidad and Tobago national football team during the qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and travelled to Germany as coach Leo Beenhakker's first-choice goalkeeper. He was expected to play in their first game against Sweden but sustained a calf injury in the warm up, enabling Shaka Hislop to step in. Jack, who would later describe the experience as 'the saddest day of his life',[1] also missed out on playing in the team's second match against England.

Jack did go on to play in the Soca Warriors' final group game against Paraguay, which ended in a 2–0 defeat in which Brent Sancho scored an own goal. The Paraguay match was his final international match.

Following the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Jack signed for Gillingham and made his debut in a 2–1 home win over Huddersfield Town on 5 August. However, in part due to injuries, he made only eleven appearances for the Gills.

In February 2008, Jack joined Barnsley on trial but broke his leg in what was described as a "freak training ground accident".[2] It was announced on 7 May 2008 that he had been released by Gillingham. He had since been training with English lower league clubs Aldershot Town and Southend United in a bid to regain his fitness.[3]

In February 2010, Jack joined Southend United on a short-term contract to act as back-up whilst regular reserve goalkeeper Ian Joyce left on trial with an American club.[4] Without making any appearances he was released at the end of the season on 11 May,[5] and was signed to a one-year contract by Darlington manager Simon Davey for the 2010–11 season.[6] In October, unable to secure a first team place, he joined Kettering Town on a three-month loan.[7] He was released by Darlington in January 2011.[8]

In a bid to keep up his fitness, Jack spent the 2011 pre-season training with Isthmian League Division One South side Maidstone United and appeared in two of the club's pre-season friendlies. Shortly after, on 31 August 2011, Jack made a one-off appearance for Isthmian League Premier Division side AFC Hornchurch, playing in a 2–1 loss away to Lowestoft Town after first-team goalkeeper Darren Behcet picked up an injury. On 11 November 2011, it was announced Jack had again joined up with Maidstone United to cover first-team goalkeeper Charlie Mitten after he suffered a hip injury. He made his debut a day later in a 4–1 win against Ramsgate and made a total of three appearances for the club.

He returned to his former club Kettering Town in March 2012 to provide cover for the injured Laurie Walker, making his debut in their 1–3 defeat to Stockport County on 31 March.

Coaching career

Jack joined the coaching staff of National League side Dover Athletic in the summer of 2020, although he worked behind the scenes until it was announced in early January 2021. He joined a coaching setup consisting of manager Andy Hessenthaler assisted by Jack's former Gillingham teammate Nicky Southall as well as Liam Ridgewell.[9]

Personal life

As a member of the squad that competed at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Jack was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold Class), the second highest state decoration of Trinidad and Tobago.[10]

He married his longtime girlfriend Shellie-Ann Auguste on 7 June 2007.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yorke comes up smiling as Swedes falter . The Scotsman . 12 June 2006.
  2. Web site: Shock as trialist breaks leg at Oakwell . Barnsley F.C. . 9 February 2008 . 11 February 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080209153316/http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10309~1236364%2C00.html . 9 February 2008 .
  3. Web site: Kelvin Jack near fitness. Inshan "Flex". Mohammed.
  4. News: Jack joins Shrimpers. Sky Sports .
  5. Web site: Southend United | News | Latest | Latest | JACK DEPARTS . 14 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120319045647/http://www.southendunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~2049319,00.html . 19 March 2012 . dead .
  6. News: Darlington sign Jack and Senior . BBC News . 15 May 2010.
  7. News: Darlington loan keeper Kelvin Jack to Kettering Town. BBC Sport . 3 October 2010. 5 October 2010.
  8. Web site: Verma Completes Move . Martin . Walker . Darlington F.C . 1 February 2011 . 11 February 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120313121008/http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10339~2281832,00.html . 13 March 2012 . dead .
  9. Web site: Former Gillingham and Trinidad & Tobago World Cup goalkeeper Kelvin Jack is coaching at Dover Athletic. www.kentonline.co.uk. 5 January 2021.
  10. Web site: Birchall and Bell up for award . . 6 September 2021.
  11. Web site: thewarriornation.com. 11 April 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217010513/http://www.thewarriornation.com/component/option,com_gallery2/Itemid,40/?g2_itemId=5373. 17 February 2012. dead.