Zach Jeacock Explained

Zach Jeacock
Fullname:Zachary Anton John Jeacock
Birth Date:8 May 2001
Birth Place:Birmingham, England
Position:Goalkeeper
Clubnumber:31
Youthyears1:2006–2009
Youthclubs1:West Hagley
Youthyears2:2009–2018
Youthclubs2:Birmingham City
Years1:2018–2024
Clubs1:Birmingham City
Caps1:4
Goals1:0
Years2:2018
Clubs2:→ Stourport Swifts (loan)
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:2019–2020
Clubs3:→ Gloucester City (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:0
Years4:2021–2022
Clubs4:→ Salford City (loan)
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Years5:2023–2024
Clubs5:→ Gloucester City (loan)
Caps5:28
Goals5:0
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:Lincoln City
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2019
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:20:50, 13 August 2024 (UTC)

Zachary Anton John Jeacock (born 8 May 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Lincoln City.

He began his career with Birmingham City, and made his Football League debut for the club in the EFL Championship in 2020. He also spent time on loan at Stourport Swifts of the Midland League Premier Division, National League North club Gloucester City (two spells), and Salford City of League Two. He left Birmingham by mutual consent in January 2024. In international football, he has represented England at under-19 level.

Early life and career

Jeacock was born in Birmingham[1] and lived in Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire, where he attended Winterfold House preparatory school before moving on to nearby Bromsgrove School.[2] [3] He played football as an attacking midfielder or striker for West Hagley F.C. before, a few days after his eighth birthday in May 2009, becoming the then youngest boy to sign for Birmingham City.[2] He went on to compete for Birchfield Harriers as a sprinter,[4] and played football as a defender, only converting to goalkeeper at the age of 14.[3]

Jeacock took up a two-year scholarship with Birmingham City's Academy in July 2017.[5] He went on to make ten appearances for Birmingham's development squad team in the 2018–19 season as they finished as runners-up in the Professional Development League northern section and lost out to Leeds United on penalties for the overall title.[6] He was offered a three-year deal in March 2019,[7] and signed it in May.[8] His apprenticeship went well off the field as well: he achieved top grades in his BTEC course, was selected in League Football Education's Team of the Year, and was described by Birmingham City's Head of Education and Welfare, Mark Sinclair, as "an excellent ambassador for the football club, and somebody who has embraced all aspects of his apprenticeship, with him maximising his opportunities to continually develop himself and others."[9]

Senior career

Birmingham City

2019–2021

In August 2019, Birmingham City loaned Jeacock to National League North club Gloucester City for the season.[10] He went straight into the starting eleven and in his fourth appearance, after his team came back from 2–0 down to lead 3–2 at Kidderminster Harriers, he saved a late penalty and was named man of the match.[11] He started in 10 of the first 12 matches of the league seasonhe was away on international duty for the other twobut then a broken hand kept him out until January 2020. After a couple of games for Birmingham U23s, he rejoined Gloucester City and made three more appearances in January before he was recalled by Birmingham to "explore other loan opportunities".[12] No such opportunities occurred before the season was abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He played in the first team's pre-season friendlies in August 2020 before the arrival of Andrés Prieto,[13] who started the first competitive fixture of the season, in the 2020–21 EFL Cup at home to Cambridge United, with Jeacock on the bench.[14] He was selected ahead of the injured Prieto and the newly arrived Neil Etheridge to start the opening match of the Championship season, at home to Brentford on 12 September.[15] He kept a clean sheet as Birmingham won the match 1–0, after which Etheridge became first choice and Prieto second. Jeacock injured an ankle playing for Birmingham U23s, required surgery, and was out for much of the season. He made another four appearances for the U23s as they went on to win the Professional Development League title, but did not himself play in the final.[16] He started the penultimate Championship match of the season, a 4–0 defeat at home to Cardiff City, in which new manager Lee Bowyer fielded a number of fringe players after relegation had been avoided.[17] In July 2021, his contract was extended to run until 2024.[18]

2021–2024

After Birmingham signed Matija Sarkic on loan to cover Etheridge's recovery from COVID-19,[19] Jeacock was allowed to leave on a season-long loan at League Two club Salford City, whose previous first-choice goalkeeper, Václav Hladký, had left the club.[20] [21] Jeacock began the season as backup to Tom King, and made his debut on 31 August in an EFL Trophy match against Oldham Athletic. He conceded once, to a Carl Piergianni header, and his side lost 1–0.[22] With King away on international duty,[23] Jeacock made his first league appearance four days later in a 2–1 defeat away to Carlisle United. Over the next four months, his only appearances were in the EFL Trophy, and on 11 January 2022, after Sarkic suffered a season-ending injury, Jeacock was recalled by Birmingham.[24]

Jeacock made no appearances in the 2022–23 season, and was on the bench for Birmingham's EFL Cup first-round match in August 2023. He rejoined Gloucester City of the National League North on 15 August on loan until 31 January 2024.[25] He was Gloucester's regular goalkeeper throughout his spell, making 31 appearances in all competitions.

When his loan expired, he returned to Birmingham, and was released by mutual consent on 1 February, with five months of his contract still to run.[26]

Lincoln City

On 3 July 2024, Jeacock joined Lincoln City on a two-year deal plus a one-year club option.[27] He made his debut in the 2–1 defeat in the EFL Cup to Harrogate Town on 13 August 2024.[28]

International career

Jeacock's first inclusion in an England squad came at under-19 level, for friendly matches in September 2019 in preparation for the Euro qualifiers later that year.[29] He made his debut in the starting eleven for a 3–1 win against Greece on 5 September,[30] and remained an unused substitute for the 1–0 defeat to Germany four days later.[31] He was again part of the squad for friendlies against France and Belgium in October, and started in the second game, a 4–2 win in which he was dispossessed in his area for Belgium's first goal.[32] [33] A broken hand prevented him being considered for the qualifiers in November.[34]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Birmingham City2018–19Championship000000—00
2019–20Championship000000—00
2020–21Championship200000—20
2021–22Championship200000—20
2022–23Championship000000—00
2023–24Championship000000—00
Total 400000—40
Stourport Swifts (loan)2018–19[35] Midland League Premier Division2010——30
Gloucester City (loan)2019–20National League North13000—00130
Salford City (loan)2021–22League Two1000003040
Gloucester City (loan)2023–24[36] [37] National League North28010—20310
Lincoln City2024–25League One0000100010
Career total480201050560

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zach Jeacock . Birmingham City F.C. . 12 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200912110705/https://www.bcfc.com/birmingham-city-u23/players/zach-jeacock/ . 12 September 2020.
  2. News: Eight-year-old is singing the Blues . Kidderminster Shuttle . 21 May 2009 . 30 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200912104610/https://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/sport/4381830.eight-year-old-is-singing-the-blues/ . 12 September 2020 . live.
  3. News: Who are the players retained and released by Birmingham City – the lowdowns . Brian . Dick . Birmingham Mail . 20 March 2019 . 30 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200821123154/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-players-retained-released-birmingham-16001980 . 21 August 2020 . live.
  4. News: Impressive B&RAC excel in Worcester . Redditch Advertiser . 24 May 2012 . 30 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200821122959/https://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/sport/9721270.impressive-brac-excel-in-worcester/ . 21 August 2020 . live.
  5. Web site: List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2017 and 31/07/2017 . PDF . The Football Association . 30 August 2019 . 53 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191024154145/http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/july-2017.ashx . 24 October 2019.
  6. Web site: Report: Leeds United Under-23s 0 Blues Under-23s 0 – Leeds win 4–2 on penalties . Birmingham City F.C. . 6 May 2019 . 7 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190506170812/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2019/report-leeds-united-under-23s-0-blues-under-23s-0-leeds-win-4-2-on-penalties/ . 6 May 2019 . live.
  7. Web site: Deals for Blues scholars . Birmingham City F.C. . 20 March 2019 . 29 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190807140837/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2019/deals-for-blues-scholars/ . 7 August 2019 . live.
  8. Web site: First professional contracts for Blues quartet . Birmingham City F.C. . 24 May 2019 . 30 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190527163742/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2019/first-professional-contracts-for-blues-quartet/ . 27 May 2019.
  9. Web site: The 11 – June 2019 (in depth) . Jack . Wylie . League Football Education . 10 June 2019 . 30 August 2019 . https://archive.today/20200821122505/https://www.lfe.org.uk/news/the-11-june-2019-in-depth/ . 21 August 2020 . live.
  10. News: 'Highly rated' Birmingham City goalkeeper signs for Gloucester . Tom . Gibbon . GloucestershireLive . 18 July 2019 . 30 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190719164605/https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/highly-rated-birmingham-city-goalkeeper-3106691 . 19 July 2019 . live.
  11. News: Birmingham City loan keeper praised as Gloucester City defy odds with comeback win at Kidderminster Harriers . John . Townley . GloucestershireLive . 14 August 2019 . 21 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190914162032/https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-loan-keeper-praised-3209822 . 14 September 2019 . live.
  12. Web site: Jeacock returns to Blues . Birmingham City F.C. . 4 February 2020 . 20 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200821093336/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2020/jeacock-returns-to-blues/ . 21 August 2020 . live.
  13. Web site: Blues snap up Prieto . Birmingham City F.C. . 28 August 2020 . 2 September 2022 . https://archive.today/20240202140517/https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/blues-snap-up-prieto . 2 February 2024 . live.
  14. News: 'Rash' – Birmingham City player ratings as Aitor Karanka's men stumble against Cambridge United . Brian . Dick . Birmingham Mail . 5 September 2020 . 3 July 2024 . https://archive.today/20240703193903/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rash-birmingham-city-player-ratings-18884763 . 3 July 2024 . live.
  15. News: Aitor Karanka makes shock goalkeeper selection as Birmingham City take on Brentford . Brian . Dick . Birmingham Mail . 12 September 2020 . 12 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200912112803/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aitor-karanka-makes-shock-goalkeeper-18923229 . 12 September 2020 . live.
  16. News: Blues U23s vs Sheff Utd U23s player ratings: Man City trainee sparkles as George blunts Blades . Brian . Dick . Birmingham Mail . 24 May 2021 . 10 July 2021.
  17. News: Birmingham City player ratings vs Cardiff: Stirk shines but Blues hammered by Liverpool loan star . Brian . Dick . Birmingham Mail . 1 May 2021 . 5 July 2021.
  18. Web site: Zach Jeacock signs new deal . Birmingham City F.C. . 10 July 2021 . 2 September 2022 . https://archive.today/20240202140603/https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/zach-jeacock-signs-new-deal . 2 February 2024 . live.
  19. News: Matija Sarkic: Birmingham City sign Wolves and Montenegro keeper on loan . BBC Sport . 26 July 2021 . 30 July 2021.
  20. Web site: Jeacock heads to Salford . Birmingham City F.C. . 30 July 2021 . 2 September 2022 . https://archive.today/20240202141355/https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/jeacock-heads-to-salford . 2 February 2024 . live.
  21. Web site: Hladky leaves for Ipswich Town . Salford City F.C. . 28 June 2021 . 30 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210629091616/https://www.salfordcityfc.co.uk/hladky-signs-for-ipswich-280621/ . 29 June 2021.
  22. Web site: Latics 1–0 Salford City . Oldham Athletic A.F.C. . 31 August 2021 . 1 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211016063519/https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2021/august2/31082021-match-report-salford-city/ . 16 October 2021 . live .
  23. News: Salford City defender: Carlisle United's Brunton Park "should suit us down to the ground" . Jon . Colman . News & Star . Carlisle . 4 September 2021 . 4 September 2021 . 3 July 2024 . https://archive.today/20240703194117/https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/19559009.salford-city-defender-carlisle-uniteds-brunton-park-suit-us-ground/ . live.
  24. Web site: Zach Jeacock back at Blues . Birmingham City F.C. . 11 January 2022 . 11 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20240202141546/https://www.bcfc.com/news/mens/zach-jeacock-back-at-blues . 2 February 2024 . live.
  25. Web site: Blues' Zach Jeacock loaned to Gloucester City . Birmingham City F.C. . 15 August 2023 . 15 August 2023 . https://archive.today/20240202141829/https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/blues-zach-jeacock-loaned-to-gloucester-city . 2 February 2024 . live.
  26. Web site: Zach Jeacock leaves Blues . Birmingham City F.C. . 1 February 2024 . 2 February 2024 . https://archive.today/20240202141947/https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/zach-jeacock-leaves-blues . 2 February 2024 . live.
  27. Web site: Imps add Jeacock to ranks . Lincoln City FC . 3 July 2024 . 3 July 2024.
  28. Web site: 14 August 2024 . Imps 1–2 Harrogate Town . 13 August 2024 . www.weareimps.com.
  29. Web site: Young Lions begin U19 EURO preparations with games against Greece and Germany . Nicholas . Veevers . The Football Association . 30 August 2019 . 21 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190830184733/http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/aug/30/england-u19s-squad-named-for-greece-and-germany-300819 . 30 August 2019 . live.
  30. Web site: The Young Lions kick-off new season with a win over Greece at St. George's Park . Andy . Walker . The Football Association . 5 September 2019 . 21 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190905175216/http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/sep/05/england-u19s-greece-report-050919 . 5 September 2019 . live.
  31. Web site: Paul Simpson's Young Lions suffer 1–0 defeat against Germany in Haiger . Nicholas . Veevers . The Football Association . 9 September 2019 . 21 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191006204529/http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/sep/09/england-u19s-germany-report-090919 . 6 October 2019 . live.
  32. Web site: England MU19s squad selected for games with France and Belgium in Spain this October . Nicholas . Veevers . The Football Association . 4 October 2019 . 21 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191007142035/http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/oct/04/england-mu19s-marbella-international-cup-squad-named-041019 . 7 October 2019 . live.
  33. Web site: Paul Simpson's side end Spanish trip with a good win over Belgium in Marbella . Nicholas . Veevers . The Football Association . 12 October 2019 . 21 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191013144904/http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/oct/12/england-mu19s-belgium-report-121019 . 13 October 2019 . live.
  34. Web site: Match Preview: Gloucester City v Bradford (Park Avenue) . Gloucester City A.F.C. . 18 October 2019 . 12 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191023131844/http://www.gloucestercityafc.com/match-preview-gloucester-city-v-bradford-park-avenue/ . 23 October 2019.
  35. Web site: Midland Football League: 2018–19: Zachary Jeacock player stats . FA Fulltime . 3 July 2024 . 3 July 2024 . https://archive.today/20240703191720/https://fulltime.thefa.com/statsForPlayer.html?selectedSeasonID=330808647&personID=167236572 . live.
  36. Web site: Z. Jeacock . Soccerway . Perform Group . 29 January 2024.
  37. For FA Cup 2nd qualifying round: Web site: 'Sacked in the morning' – Gloucester City fans let feelings known after slumping out of FA Cup . Severn Sport . 16 September 2023 . 18 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023031904/https://severnsport.co.uk/sacked-in-the-morning-gloucester-city-fans-let-feelings-known-after-slumping-out-of-fa-cup/ . 23 October 2023.

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