Jermaine Beckford

Wealdstone

Beckford originally began his career in the Chelsea youth team, coming through the schoolboy ranks at the same time as Carlton Cole. Rejected by Chelsea in 2003, he was signed up by Wealdstone, then in the Isthmian Premier League, and played as a semi-professional for three years whilst also working as a windscreen fitter for the RAC. His very impressive goal scoring record for Wealdstone attracted a lot of attention from Football League sides and reportedly more than 30 professional clubs showed an interest in the prolific striker, with many sending scouts to watch him play for Wealdstone. He had a trial with Championship side Crystal Palace, before signing for Leeds United in March 2006 for an undisclosed fee, having scored 35 goals in 40 games for Wealdstone that season.

Leeds United

Beckford made his debut for Championship side Leeds coming on as a substitute in a home defeat against Crystal Palace on 21 March. He only made four more first team appearances. He joined Carlisle United on a month's loan on 5 October 2006 and scored on his debut for the club in a game against Millwall. After completing his loan spell, he returned to Leeds, made a single appearance, and was loaned out again, this time to League One promotion challengers Scunthorpe United until the end of the season. He played in every single game after his arrival, scoring eight goals, as Scunthorpe went on to finish as champions. Returning to Leeds for the 2007–08 season (their…

Due to having a Jamaican father and Grenadian mother Beckford was eligible under FIFA regulations to play for either Jamaica, Grenada or England. Beckford was approached by Grenada's coach Tommy Taylor with a view to playing for the Grenada national football team in May 2009. In May 2011, the Jamaica Star reported that Beckford was close to finalising an agreement to play for Jamaica. In November 2012, the Jamaican Football Federation reported that Beckford had shown interest playing for the Reggae Boyz and was in the pool of players eligible to be called up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. On 31 January 2013, Beckford was called up to the Jamaica squad for the first time for Jamaica's fixture against Mexico, but had to pull out of the squad a day later with an injury. Beckford made a total of six appearances for Jamaica, scoring one goal in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the United States in June 2013.

Club

International

Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Beckford goal.

Since retiring, Beckford has made numerous television appearances as a football pundit. His younger brother, Travis, won the first series of Wayne Rooney's Street Striker on Sky1. Before signing a contract at Leeds United, Beckford worked for the RAC.