Jake Speight
{{short description|English footballer and agent}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jake Speight
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Jake Carl Speight{{Hugman|25396|accessdate=9 March 2017}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|9|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sheffield, England
| position = Forward
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Sheffield United
| years1 = 2002–2005| clubs1 = Sheffield United | caps1 = 0| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2005 | clubs2 = → Leigh RMI (loan) | caps2 = | goals2 =
| years3 = 2005 | clubs3 = Scarborough | caps3 = 8| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2005–2007| clubs4 = Bury | caps4 = 29| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2007–2008| clubs5 = Northwich Victoria| caps5 = 4| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2008–2009| clubs6 = Farsley Celtic | caps6 = | goals6 =
| years7 = 2009 | clubs7 = Droylsden | caps7 = 16| goals7 = 5
| years8 = 2009–2010| clubs8 = Mansfield Town | caps8 = 33| goals8 = 17
| years9 = 2010–2011| clubs9 = Bradford City | caps9 = 28| goals9 = 4
| years10 = 2010 | clubs10 = → Port Vale (loan) | caps10 = 4| goals10 = 1
| years11 = 2011–2012| clubs11 = Wrexham | caps11 = 38| goals11 = 21
| years12 = 2012–2014| clubs12 = Mansfield Town | caps12 = 29| goals12 = 7
| years13 = 2013–2014| clubs13 = → Alfreton Town (loan) | caps13 = 4| goals13 = 3
| years14 = 2014–2015| clubs14 = Harrogate Town | caps14 = 22| goals14 = 2
| years15 = 2015 | clubs15 = → Alfreton Town (loan) | caps15 = 8| goals15 = 0
| years16 = 2015 | clubs16 = King's Lynn Town | caps16 = 9| goals16 = 0
| totalcaps = 232 | totalgoals = 64
}}
Jake Carl Speight (born 28 September 1985) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a football agent.
Starting his career working through the Sheffield United youth team, in 2005, he signed with Scarborough, and later Bury. He dropped down to Conference football between 2007 and 2010, playing for Northwich Victoria, Farsley Celtic, Droylsden, and Mansfield Town. In 2010, he was signed by Bradford City and was quickly sent out on loan to Port Vale before signing permanently for Wrexham the following year. He returned to Mansfield Town in July 2012 and helped the club to the Conference Premier title in 2012–13. He was loaned to Alfreton Town in October 2013. He signed with Harrogate Town in July 2014 and returned to Alfreton Town on loan in March 2015 before he was transferred to King's Lynn Town in August 2015.
Career
=Early career=
Speight began his career at Sheffield United, and was loaned out to Conference Premier side Leigh RMI in March 2005 to gain experience, along with Colin Marrison.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leigh_rmi/4341587.stm|title=Leigh snap up trio of youngsters|date=11 March 2005|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 October 2010}} He joined Scarborough on work experience in August 2005,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scarborough/4166932.stm|title=Seasiders sign Blades midfielder|date=19 August 2005|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 October 2010}} scoring in both his first two appearances for the club, and impressing manager Nick Henry.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scarborough/4198034.stm|title=Seasiders hope to tie up Speight|date=30 August 2005|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 October 2010}} He was allowed to join the "Seadogs" permanently, and therefore never made an appearance for the "Blades".{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scarborough/4200478.stm|title=Speight earns deal with Seadogs|date=31 August 2005|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 October 2010}} Three months later he switched to Bury, of League Two.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scarborough/4466136.stm|title=Boro's Speight makes Bury switch|date=24 November 2005|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 October 2010}} On 13 January 2006, he scored his first and second league goals, in a 3–2 victory over Torquay United.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/4590320.stm|title=Bury 3-2 Torquay|date=13 January 2006|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 October 2010}} He finished the season with two goals in 17 appearances. He made another 17 appearances for Bury in 2006–07, mostly as a substitute, and failed to find the net all season. The club released him in June 2007.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}
Following his release from Bury, Speight dropped back into non-League football, signing for Northwich Victoria.{{cite news| title = Northwich snap up ex-Bury striker| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/northwich_victoria/6244704.stm| work = BBC Sport| date = 27 June 2007| accessdate = 1 July 2007}} He joined Conference North club Farsley Celtic in the summer of 2008, and then moved to Droylsden in March 2009. In May 2009, Speight joined Mansfield Town.{{cite news| title = Holdsworth rebuilds for new term| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/mansfield_town/8043910.stm| work = BBC Sport| date = 11 May 2009| accessdate = 11 May 2009}} He played 33 games, and scored 17 goals, becoming the club's top scorer despite having made most of his appearances as a substitute.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/mansfield_town/8691447.stm|title=Mansfield Town offer new contract to Jake Speight|date=19 May 2010|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 October 2010}}
=Bradford City=
In June 2010, Bradford City bought Speight for £25,000, offering the player a two-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/8777099.stm|title=Bradford City sign Mansfield Town striker Jake Speight|date=30 June 2010|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 October 2010}} "Stags" fans were disappointed at the fee, many had expected it to be much higher.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/sold-Jake-Speight-163-25-000-8211-Stags-chairman/article-2369957-detail/article.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505075312/http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/sold-Jake-Speight-163-25-000-8211-Stags-chairman/article-2369957-detail/article.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|title=Stags chairman explains reasons for £25,000 sale of striker Speight|date=2 July 2010|work=Nottingham Post|accessdate=29 October 2010}} He started his spell with his new club by receiving a jail sentence for assault – without having informed the club beforehand that he had a court case.{{cite web|url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2090255,00.html|title=Jake Speight|date=13 July 2010|work=bradfordcityfc.co.uk|accessdate=29 October 2010}} His work rate on the pitch made him popular with supporters,{{cite web|url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2200735,00.html|title=Speight loaned to Port Vale|date=29 October 2010|work=bradfordcityfc.co.uk|accessdate=29 October 2010}} but he found just one goal in twelve appearances.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/sport/Breaking-News-Port-Vale-sign-Jake-Speight-loan/article-2815965-detail/article.html|title=Breaking News: Port Vale sign Jake Speight on loan|date=29 October 2010|work=The Sentinel|accessdate=29 October 2010}} On 29 October 2010 he joined League Two promotion chasers Port Vale on a one-month loan.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/9140345.stm|title=Bradford City's Jake Speight joins Port Vale on loan|date=29 October 2010|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 October 2010}} Manager Micky Adams had looked to sign the player permanently before he went to Bradford.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Port-Vale-Adams-captures-striker-second-attempt/article-2817356-detail/article.html|title=Port Vale: Adams captures Jake Speight at second attempt|last=Shaw|first=Steve|first2=Martin |last2=Spinks|date=30 October 2010|work=The Sentinel|accessdate=30 October 2010}} His appearance in a goalless draw at the Pirelli Stadium with Burton Albion on 2 November 2010 earned Speight the honour of being the 1,000th player to play for Port Vale in the Football League.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Port-Vale-Adams-happy-away-day-point/article-2830805-detail/article.html|title=Port Vale: Boss Micky Adams happy with away-day point at Burton|last=Shaw|first=Steve|date=3 November 2010|work=The Sentinel|accessdate=3 November 2010}} After scoring in a 5–0 win over Stockport County, Speight's loan spell was extended for a second month.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Port-Vale-s-sub-standard-team-says-Adams/article-2935687-detail/article.html|title=Port Vale: There's nothing sub-standard about my team, says Adams|last=Owen|first=Jon|date=25 November 2010|work=The Sentinel|accessdate=25 November 2010}} He returned to Bradford in the new year.{{cite web|url=http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10381~2227329,00.html|title=Jake Speight Departs |date=4 January 2011|work=port-vale.co.uk|accessdate=5 January 2011}}
=Wrexham=
In June 2011, he signed a two-year contract with Conference side Wrexham for an undisclosed fee.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13706048.stm|title=Jake Speight joins Wrexham from Bradford City|date=9 June 2011|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=14 June 2011}} Manager Dean Saunders hoped he would prove an adequate replacement for outgoing striker Andy Mangan.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13710370.stm|title=Wrexham's Dean Saunders backs Jake Speight goal touch|date=9 June 2011|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=14 June 2011}} After failing to score in his first four games, he opened his goal account for the "Reds" with a hat-trick over Alfreton Town in a 4–1 win at North Street.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14672141.stm|title=Alfreton Town 1-4 Wrexham|date=27 August 2011|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 August 2011}} From 30 November to 18 February he scored in seven out of eight league appearances, and from 10 March to 14 April he hit seven goals in six games. He ended the season with 21 goals in 38 Conference games to become Wrexham's top scorer and the sixth most prolific scorer in the Conference. Wrexham picked up 98 points and finished second but failed to win promotion after losing to Luton Town in the play-offs. His record led to him becoming a target of Lincoln City manager David Holdsworth.{{cite news|title=David Holdsworth targets Lincoln City move for Wrexham striker Jake Speight|url=http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/David-Holdsworth-targets-Lincoln-City-Wrexham/story-15849962-detail/story.html|accessdate=15 May 2012|newspaper=Lincolnshire Echo|date=19 April 2012|archive-date=27 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427164427/http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/David-Holdsworth-targets-Lincoln-City-Wrexham/story-15849962-detail/story.html|url-status=dead}}
=Mansfield Town=
Speight re-joined former club Mansfield Town in July 2012 for an undisclosed fee.{{cite news|title=Jake Speight re-joins Mansfield Town from Wrexham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18704236|accessdate=12 July 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=5 July 2012}} He was reported to have requested the transferred so as to be closer to his Sheffield home.{{cite news|title=Striker Jake Speight requests transfer from Wrexham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18698834|accessdate=12 July 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=3 July 2012}} Though Speight said that claims he handed in a transfer request were "a complete lie".{{cite news|last1=Griffiths|first1=Rob|title=I had to leave Wrexham FC for my family says Jake Speight|url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leave-wrexham-fc-family-says-2655657|accessdate=10 October 2015|work=Daily Post|date=5 July 2012}} He scored twice in his first game back at Field Mill, in a 4–3 defeat to Newport County.{{cite news|title=Newport County got the new season off to a flying start with a win at promotion hopefuls Mansfield Town|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19123976|accessdate=11 August 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=11 August 2012}} Mansfield won promotion into the Football League as Conference champions in 2012–13, though Speight missed the second half of the campaign after damaging cartilage in his knee.{{cite news|title=Stags striker Jake Speight is ruled out for the season|url=http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags-striker-jake-speight-is-ruled-out-for-the-season-1-5327610|accessdate=22 April 2013|newspaper=Mansfield and Ashfield Chad|date=17 January 2013|archive-date=3 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403112702/http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags-striker-jake-speight-is-ruled-out-for-the-season-1-5327610|url-status=dead}}
In October 2013, he joined Alfreton Town on a one-month loan deal.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24497540 |title=Jake Speight: Mansfield Town striker joins Alfreton on loan |work=BBC Sport |date=11 October 2013 |accessdate=11 October 2013}} He scored four goals in five games for the "Reds", and manager Nicky Law was disappointed when his loan spell at North Street was cut short by Mansfield the following month.{{cite news|title=Alfreton Town: Nicky Law says Jake Speight recall is a blow|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24993201|accessdate=16 January 2014|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=19 November 2013}} However, he picked up a serious knee injury midway through the 2013–14 season and was ruled out of action until late March.{{cite news|title=Mansfield Town hoping on double striker injury boost|url=http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-hoping-on-double-striker-injury-boost-1-5518414|accessdate=5 May 2014|newspaper=Chad|date=22 March 2013|archive-date=5 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505162128/http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-hoping-on-double-striker-injury-boost-1-5518414|url-status=dead}} Speight was released by Mansfield manager Paul Cox at the end of the 2013–14 season.{{cite web|title=Six players offered new deals at One Call Stadium…|work=mansfieldtown.net}}
=Non-League=
In July 2014, Speight dropped down two divisions to the Conference North to join Harrogate Town in a move that reunited him with the manager Simon Weaver, his former teammate at Scarborough.{{cite news|last1=White|first1=Ed|title=Harrogate Town agree terms with Mansfield Town's Jake Speight|url=http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/conference-north-harrogate-town-agree-terms-with-mansfield-town-s-jake-speight-1-6702807|accessdate=2 July 2014|work=Harrogate Advertiser|date=1 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714180302/http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/conference-north-harrogate-town-agree-terms-with-mansfield-town-s-jake-speight-1-6702807|url-status=dead}} He was unable to take part in pre-season training due to injury.{{cite news|last1=White|first1=Ed|title=Harrogate Town striker Jake Speight joins Alfreton Town on loan|url=http://www.northyorkshirenews.com/sport/local-sport/harrogate-town-striker-jake-speight-joins-alfreton-town-on-loan-1-7167524|accessdate=21 March 2015|date=20 March 2015}} On 20 March 2015, Speight re-joined Alfreton Town on a loan deal keeping him at the club until the end of the 2014–15 season.{{cite news|title=Jake Speight: Alfreton Town sign Harrogate striker|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31987776|accessdate=21 March 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=20 March 2015}}
In August 2015, Speight dropped down a division to the Southern League to join Gary Setchell's King's Lynn Town.{{cite web|title=Setchell Adds Striker Jake Speight|url=http://www.kltown.co.uk/2015/08/01/setchell-adds-striker-jake-speight/|website=kltown.co.uk|accessdate=1 August 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304142328/http://www.kltown.co.uk/2015/08/01/setchell-adds-striker-jake-speight/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Jack Speight signs for Kings Lynn Town|url=http://www.harrogatetownafc.com/news/news-room/news-item/jack-speight-signs-for-kings-lynn-town/|website=harrogatetownafc.com|accessdate=6 August 2015}} Setchell said that Speight would prove to be a "very, very valuable acquisition".{{cite news|title=King's Lynn expect Speight of goals from new signing|url=http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/sport/football/king-s-lynn-expect-speight-of-goals-from-new-signing-1-6884554|accessdate=6 August 2015|work=Lynn News|date=4 August 2015|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013426/http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/sport/football/king-s-lynn-expect-speight-of-goals-from-new-signing-1-6884554|url-status=dead}} He left King's Lynn in October 2015; manager Gary Setchell stated that "he will probably retire now and he is also putting a lot of time into a new business venture".{{cite news|title=King's Lynn Town in fitness battle for the visit of high-flying Bluebirds|url=http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/sport/football/king-s-lynn-town-in-fitness-battle-for-the-visit-of-high-flying-bluebirds-1-6989809|accessdate=10 October 2015|work=Lynn News|date=2 October 2015}}
Personal life
In July 2010, Speight was jailed for 12 weeks after pleading guilty to assault.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/8813534.stm |title=Bradford City striker Jake Speight jailed for 12 weeks|date=13 July 2010|accessdate=2 August 2015|work=BBC Sport}} Speight appealed his sentence a week later and he was released from prison; a Crown Court judge ordered his sentence to be suspended for 18 months and that Speight conduct 100 hours of community work.{{cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/17072010/63/speight-return-training.html|title=Speight to return to training|date=17 July 2010|work=Yahoo Sport|accessdate=29 October 2010}}
In 2015, he became a sports agent, licensed by The Football Association.{{cite web|title=FA Registered Intermediaries|url=http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/more/intermediaries/fa-registered-intermediaries-list|website=thefa.com|accessdate=2 August 2015}}
Career statistics
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Speight, Jake}}
Category:Footballers from Sheffield
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Sheffield United F.C. players
Category:Leigh Genesis F.C. players
Category:Scarborough F.C. players
Category:Northwich Victoria F.C. players
Category:Farsley Celtic F.C. players
Category:Droylsden F.C. players
Category:Mansfield Town F.C. players
Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players
Category:Port Vale F.C. players
Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players
Category:Alfreton Town F.C. players
Category:Harrogate Town A.F.C. players
Category:King's Lynn Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Southern Football League players
Category:English people convicted of assault