Liam Jessop
{{Short description|Gibraltarian footballer (born 2005)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Liam Jessop
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Liam Joseph Jessop
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2005|08|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Gibraltar
| height = 1.76m
| position = Forward, Winger, Right-Back
| currentclub = Chesterfield
| clubnumber = 38
| youthyears1 = 2011–2012 | youthclubs1 = Glacis United
| youthyears2 = 2012–2014 | youthclubs2 = College Europa
| youthyears3 = 2014–2019 | youthclubs3 = Atlético Zabal
| youthyears4 = 2019–2021 | youthclubs4 = San Roque
| youthyears5 = 2021–2023 | youthclubs5 = Fleetwood Town IFA
| youthyears6 = 2023–2024 | youthclubs6 = Chesterfield
| years1 = 2022–2023 | caps1 = 13 | goals1 = 12 | clubs1 = FY Academy
| years2 = 2022–2023 | caps2 = 11 | goals2 = 5 | clubs2 = → Anchorsholme (loan)
| years3 = 2023 | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | clubs3 = FCB Magpies
| years4 = 2023–2024 | caps4 = 11 | goals4 = 3 | clubs4 = Chesterfield Youth
| years5 = 2023– | caps5 = 2 | goals5 = 0 | clubs5 = Chesterfield
| years6 = 2025 | caps6 = 10 | goals6 = 1 | clubs6 = → Worksop Town (loan)
| nationalyears1 = 2019 | nationalteam1 = Gibraltar U15
| nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2021 | nationalteam2 = Gibraltar U17
| nationalcaps2 = 5 | nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2022–2023 | nationalteam3 = Gibraltar U19
| nationalcaps3 = 8 | nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 2021– | nationalteam4 = Gibraltar U21
| nationalcaps4 = 7 | nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2025– | nationalteam5 = Gibraltar
| nationalcaps5 = 4 | nationalgoals5 = 0
| pcupdate = 26 April 2025
| ntupdate = 9 June 2025
}}
Liam Joseph Jessop (born 13 August 2005) is a Gibraltarian footballer who plays for {{English football updater|Chesterf}} club Chesterfield and the Gibraltar national football team at international level. Initially a winger or forward, Jessop converted to a right-back during his time at Chesterfield.
Club career
Jessop began playing youth football with Glacis United, later moving across the border from Gibraltar to play for Linense's youth team Atlético Zabal before moving to San Roque. In April 2021 it was announced that he would move to England for the first time to join the Fleetwood Town International Football Academy at the end of the year.[https://www.facebook.com/ftifauk/posts/735899847097282/ FTIFA INCOMING...] Fleetwood Town International Football Academy. 20 April 2021. Retrieve 5 February 2024. His performances there led to a loan to Kendal Town being announced,[https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2022/july/ftifa-liam-jessop/ FTIFA winger Liam Jessop excels and joins Kendal Town on trial] Fleetwood Town FC. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2024.[https://www.chronicle.gi/liam-jessop-joins-kendal-town-according-to-fleetwood-town-fc/ Liam Jessop joins Kendal Town According to Fleetwood Town] Gibraltar Chronicle. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2024. but registration issues caused the move to collapse. He instead joined Anchorsholme on loan in October 2022.[https://fulltime.thefa.com/displayTeam.html?divisionseason=85960712&teamID=444048582 Anchorsholme FC 2022–23] FA Full-Time. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
=Chesterfield=
After Anchorsholme folded at the end of the season, Jessop returned to Gibraltar to join FCB Magpies. However, after impressing for Gibraltar U19 in a pre-season friendly against the Chesterfield academy, the Spireites signed him that same summer.[https://chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/academy-sign-gibraltar-international Academy sign Gibraltar International] Chesterfield FC. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024. He spent his first season playing for their academy side and their youth team in the eleventh tier Central Midlands Alliance, but made his first team debut on 9 December 2023, scoring twice in a 6–1 win over Southport in the FA Trophy.[https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/from-australia-to-chesterfield-what-we-know-about-six-spireites-youngsters-who-featured-in-fa-trophy-win-against-southport-4441042 From Australia to Chesterfield – what we know about six Spireites youngsters who featured in FA Trophy win against Southport] Derbyshire Times. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024. He made his first start a month later in the next round of the competition, as the Spireites fell to a 2–0 defeat to Welling United.[https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/young-chesterfield-side-lose-narrowly-to-welling-united-in-fa-trophy-how-the-action-unfolded-4477352 Young Chesterfield side lose narrowly to Welling United in FA Trophy – how the action unfolded] Derbyshire Times. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024. He made his league debut on 17 August 2024, in the EFL League Two win against Crewe Alexandra.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c0k4g87010pt Crewe Alexandra vs Chesterfield: League Two] BBC Sport. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
On 31 January 2025, Jessop joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Worksop Town on loan for the remainder of the season. {{cite web|url=https://chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/youngster-moves-out-on-loan|title=Youngster moves out on loan|website=chesterfield-fc.co.uk|date=31 January 2025|accessdate=31 January 2025}} He scored once in 10 league games as the Tigers finished 2nd in the league, ultimately securing promotion via the play-offs.
International career
Jessop first represented Gibraltar at under-15 level, captaining the side in a 2019 UEFA Development Tournament.[https://www.gibraltarfa.com/news/gibraltar-u15s-in-uefa-development-tournament-in-belarus-126 Gibraltar U15's in UEFA Development Tournament in Belarus] Gibraltar Football Association. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2024. In 2021 he stepped up to under-17 level, scoring on his debut in a 2–1 win over the Faroe Islands on 10 September. He made his under-21 debut just 2 months later, making a 3-minute cameo on 12 November 2021 in a 7–0 defeat to Wales.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59148738 Gibraltar U21 0–7 Wales U21] BBC Sport. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2024. He would become a regular fixture in the team 2 years later during the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification campaign, notably registering assists for Dylan Borge in the 3–1 defeat to Moldova on 15 June 2023[https://www.uefa.com/under21/match/2037327/ Gibraltar 1–3 Moldova] UEFA.com. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024. and for Tayler Carrington in the 2–1 victory against the same opponents on 21 November 2023.[https://www.chronicle.gi/gibraltar-u21s-win-in-moldova/ Gibraltar U21s win in Moldova] Gibraltar Chronicle. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024. He made his senior international debut in a 3–1 defeat to Montenegro on 22 March 2025, starting the game and playing 65 minutes.[https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2044169--montenegro-vs-gibraltar/ Match Report: Montenegro vs Gibraltar | European Qualifiers 2026] UEFA.com. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played on 26 April 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Club statistics | |||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | |||||||||||
| rowspan="1"|FY Academy
|2022–23 |Lancashire Sunday Football League |13 | 12 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 12 | ||||
| rowspan="1"|Anchorsholme (loan)
|2022–23 |Mid-Lancashire Football League |11 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Includes Guildhall Cup.}} | 1 | 13 | 6 | |||
| FCB Magpies
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| rowspan="1"|Chesterfield Youth
|11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|Includes Floodlit Cup.}} | 1 | 17 | 5 | |
| rowspan="3"|Chesterfield
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Includes FA Trophy.}} | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25
|2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Includes EFL Trophy.}} | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!2||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3||2||6||2 | |||||||||||
| rowspan="1"|Worksop Town
|10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Includes Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup.}} | 0 | 11 | 1 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!47 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 60 | 26 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|9 June 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan=3|Gibraltar | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 0 |
Honours
Chesterfield Youth
- Abacus Lighting Floodlit Cup: 2023–24
- Northern Premier League Premier Division Play-Off Winner: 2024–25
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jessop, Liam}}
Category:Gibraltarian men's footballers
Category:Gibraltar men's international footballers
Category:Gibraltar men's youth international footballers
Category:Gibraltar men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Gibraltarian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:F.C. Bruno's Magpies players
Category:Chesterfield F.C. players
Category:Worksop Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England