Jean-Michel Sigere
Encyclopedia
Jean-Michel Sigere is a French footballer who plays as a striker. He currently plays for Grays Athletic
of the Isthmian League Division One North, having signed for the club in June 2011. In the 2001–02 season
, he played seven games for Rushden & Diamonds
in the Football League
.
. He began his football career in metropolitan France
with Bordeaux
, playing for the club's reserve team
in the Championnat de France Amateurs (CFA)
, the fourth tier of French football, from 1997 to 1999. While with Bordeaux he was called up to the French under-20 team
, making one substitute
appearance at the 1997 Jeux de la Francophonie
. In 1999 he joined US Lusitanos Saint-Maur, making 16 starts for the club and helping them to second place in Group D of the CFA.
In March 2000, Sigere came to England to further his career. He joined Rushden & Diamonds
of the Football Conference
on loan
until the end of the 1999–2000 season
; for the second time that season he contributed to his club reaching to runners-up spot in their league. The following season he played his part in Rushden winning the Conference championship, and thereby promotion
to the Football League
. He played seven games for Rushden in Division Three
, and scored the goal which gave them their first home win in the Football League, but shortly afterwards manager Brian Talbot
sold Sigere and Simon Wormull
to Conference club Stevenage Borough
for "a five-figure sum".
That season Stevenage reached the final of the FA Trophy
. Though Sigere was actively involved in the match from its outset, putting in a first-minute cross for Kirk Jackson
's header to draw a "superb save" from Yeovil Town
's goalkeeper, his team lost 2–0. Despite not joining the club until October, he finished the season with more shots on target than any other Stevenage player. Early in the 2002–03 season
, Stevenage rejected a five-figure bid for him from Conference rivals Margate
. No longer guaranteed a place in the starting eleven, the player submitted a transfer request. He marked his last game for Stevenage with a consolation goal in a 3–1 home defeat by Margate, and four days later signed for the Kent
club for a fee of £7,500.
Margate manager Chris Kinnear described Sigere as "a strong and skillful striker capable of scoring a lot of goals", but his 18 months at the club produced only nine goals from 49 appearances. In July 2004 he moved down a division, joining Hornchurch
of the Conference South
– referred to as "the non-league
Chelsea
", because they had a well-paid full-time professional squad despite playing in the sixth tier of English football – initially for three months, but with a view to a two-year deal. In November 2004 the club's owner's business collapsed, and the players' pay cheques were stopped; most players left for other clubs, though Sigere remained until January 2005, when the club was restructured and all remaining contracted players were released.
Sigere played six games for Heybridge Swifts
of the Isthmian League Premier Division, scoring twice on his debut, before becoming Liam Daish
's first signing for Conference club Gravesend & Northfleet. Again, and despite not being fully fit, he scored on debut. At the end of the season, Sigere failed to agree terms on a new full-time contract and left the club.
Sigere went on to sign for Lewes
of the Conference South. In his first season he finished as the club's leading scorer, with 23 league goals from 41 starts, helping the club win the Sussex Senior Cup
and reach fourth place in the league, though the ground's inadequacies meant they could not take their place in the play-offs. His 2006–07 season was disrupted by knee problems and illness, leaving him requiring knee surgery which kept him out of the game for several months. Loaned to Isthmian League Premier Division club Horsham
for a month to regain match fitness, his first game for the club saw him score from long distance. On his return to Lewes his appearances were sporadic, though a winning goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time against Thurrock
in March 2008 put his club four points clear at the top of the table. In April, his late goal against Dorchester Town
confirmed Lewes as Conference South champions.
Following the dismissal of manager Steve King, many Lewes players left the club. Though the club wanted them to stay, Sigere and team-mate Simon Wormull joined local rivals Eastbourne Borough
. The pair made their debuts in the opening-day defeat to former club Rushden & Diamonds, making Eastbourne the fifth club (following Rushden, Stevenage, Hornchurch and Lewes) where the two played alongside each other. Injuries restricted Sigere's Eastbourne career: by the beginning of October he had played only five matches and been placed on the transfer list. He rejoined Horsham on loan for three months, to regain form and fitness with a view to a permanent deal. Yet again he scored on debut, this time converting a penalty
to put Horsham through to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup
. He scored and provided an assist
in the next round against former club Stevenage Borough but, with a place in the First Round Proper in sight, Horsham conceded a late equaliser and went on to lose heavily in the replay
. Although both player and manager hoped to extend his stay at the club, it was not financially viable, and Sigere returned to Eastbourne having scored nine goals in all competitions for Horsham.
Told he had no future with Eastbourne Borough, Sigere was released by the club in January 2009. He signed a contract with Southern League Premier Division team Farnborough until the end of the 2008–09 season, and made his debut as a second-half substitute in a 2–2 home draw with Brackley Town
. A reunion with new Farnborough manager Steve King saw him initially retained for the 2009–10 season, but on 16 June the club announced that Sigere would be leaving the club after all. Following his departure from Cherrywood Road, Sigere signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Tonbridge Angels
in July 2009. After scoring four goals from 25 appearances in all competitions, mostly as a substitute, Sigere left Tonbridge to return to Lewes. He contributed to Lewes retaining their Conference South status, but was released at the end of the season when budgetary constraints forced manager Steve Ibbitson to choose between Sigere and the younger Rob Gradwell. Sigere returned to former club Margate
for the 2010–11 Isthmian League Premier Division season, but after only one game budgetary considerations again came into play and he was released. A few days later he returned to the Conference South with St Albans City
, where he stayed for a couple of months before moving on to Walton & Hersham
of the Isthmian League Division One South.
In June 2011, Sigere signed for Isthmian League Division One North club Grays Athletic
.
Rushden & Diamonds
Stevenage Borough
Lewes
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
of the Isthmian League Division One North, having signed for the club in June 2011. In the 2001–02 season
2001-02 in English football
The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
, he played seven games for Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
Playing career
Sigere was born in MartiniqueMartinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
. He began his football career in metropolitan France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
, playing for the club's reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
in the Championnat de France Amateurs (CFA)
Championnat de France Amateurs
The Championnat de France amateur, commonly referred to as simply CFA and formerly known as National 2, is a football league competition. The league serves as the fourth division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and the Championnat National...
, the fourth tier of French football, from 1997 to 1999. While with Bordeaux he was called up to the French under-20 team
France national youth football team
The France national youth football team are the national under-20, under-19, under-18, under-17 and under-16 football teams of France and are controlled by the Fédération Française de Football. The youth teams of France participate in tournaments sanctioned by both FIFA and UEFA and also...
, making one substitute
Substitute (football)
In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is not performing well; there may also be tactical reasons such as...
appearance at the 1997 Jeux de la Francophonie
Jeux de la Francophonie
The Jeux de la Francophonie are a combination of artistic and sporting events for the Francophonie, mostly French speaking nations, held every four years since 1989, partly as a counterweight to the Commonwealth Games.-Editions:-Sports:There were four sports...
. In 1999 he joined US Lusitanos Saint-Maur, making 16 starts for the club and helping them to second place in Group D of the CFA.
In March 2000, Sigere came to England to further his career. He joined Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
of the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
on loan
Loan (football)
In sports, a loan involves a particular player being allowed to temporarily play for a club other than the one he is currently contracted to. Loan deals may last from a few weeks to all season-long....
until the end of the 1999–2000 season
Football Conference 1999-2000
The Football Conference season of 1999–2000 was the twenty-first season of the Football Conference, also known as the Nationwide Conference for sponsorship reasons.-Changes since the previous season:* Altrincham...
; for the second time that season he contributed to his club reaching to runners-up spot in their league. The following season he played his part in Rushden winning the Conference championship, and thereby promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. He played seven games for Rushden in Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, and scored the goal which gave them their first home win in the Football League, but shortly afterwards manager Brian Talbot
Brian Talbot
Brian Ernest Talbot is an English football manager and former player. His son is Daniel Talbot.-Playing career:...
sold Sigere and Simon Wormull
Simon Wormull
Simon James Wormull is an English football coach and former player. As a junior, he played for Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the 1995 FA Youth Cup and in the Intertoto Cup...
to Conference club Stevenage Borough
Stevenage Borough F.C.
Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season...
for "a five-figure sum".
That season Stevenage reached the final of the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
. Though Sigere was actively involved in the match from its outset, putting in a first-minute cross for Kirk Jackson
Kirk Jackson
Kirk Jackson is a semi professional footballer, currently playing for Northern Premier League side Sheffield F.C., he plays as a striker....
's header to draw a "superb save" from Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
's goalkeeper, his team lost 2–0. Despite not joining the club until October, he finished the season with more shots on target than any other Stevenage player. Early in the 2002–03 season
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
, Stevenage rejected a five-figure bid for him from Conference rivals Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
. No longer guaranteed a place in the starting eleven, the player submitted a transfer request. He marked his last game for Stevenage with a consolation goal in a 3–1 home defeat by Margate, and four days later signed for the Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
club for a fee of £7,500.
Margate manager Chris Kinnear described Sigere as "a strong and skillful striker capable of scoring a lot of goals", but his 18 months at the club produced only nine goals from 49 appearances. In July 2004 he moved down a division, joining Hornchurch
Hornchurch F.C.
Hornchurch F.C. were an non-League football club based in east London. They played in the Conference South, after being promoted from the Isthmian League....
of the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
– referred to as "the non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
", because they had a well-paid full-time professional squad despite playing in the sixth tier of English football – initially for three months, but with a view to a two-year deal. In November 2004 the club's owner's business collapsed, and the players' pay cheques were stopped; most players left for other clubs, though Sigere remained until January 2005, when the club was restructured and all remaining contracted players were released.
Sigere played six games for Heybridge Swifts
Heybridge Swifts F.C.
Heybridge Swifts are a non-league football club based in Heybridge, near Maldon, Essex. They were established in 1880 and were founding members of the Essex Senior League in 1971...
of the Isthmian League Premier Division, scoring twice on his debut, before becoming Liam Daish
Liam Daish
Liam Sean Daish is a former football player who played as a centre-half. Since 2005 he has been head coach of Conference National team Ebbsfleet United . Despite being born in England, Daish played internationally for the Republic of Ireland due to his Irish ancestry...
's first signing for Conference club Gravesend & Northfleet. Again, and despite not being fully fit, he scored on debut. At the end of the season, Sigere failed to agree terms on a new full-time contract and left the club.
Lewes F.C.
Lewes Football Club is an English football team based in Lewes, East Sussex. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Dripping Pan.-History:...
of the Conference South. In his first season he finished as the club's leading scorer, with 23 league goals from 41 starts, helping the club win the Sussex Senior Cup
Sussex Senior Challenge Cup
The Sussex Senior Challenge Cup, or simply Sussex Senior Cup, is the county senior cup of the Sussex FA. The first winners of the cup were Brighton Rangers, who won the cup in 1883...
and reach fourth place in the league, though the ground's inadequacies meant they could not take their place in the play-offs. His 2006–07 season was disrupted by knee problems and illness, leaving him requiring knee surgery which kept him out of the game for several months. Loaned to Isthmian League Premier Division club Horsham
Horsham F.C.
Horsham F.C. are a non-League football club based in Horsham, West Sussex, England, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division.-History:...
for a month to regain match fitness, his first game for the club saw him score from long distance. On his return to Lewes his appearances were sporadic, though a winning goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time against Thurrock
Thurrock F.C.
Thurrock F.C. are an English football club based in Aveley, Thurrock, Essex. Known as Purfleet until 2003, the club are currently members of the Conference South and play at Ship Lane.-History:...
in March 2008 put his club four points clear at the top of the table. In April, his late goal against Dorchester Town
Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
confirmed Lewes as Conference South champions.
Following the dismissal of manager Steve King, many Lewes players left the club. Though the club wanted them to stay, Sigere and team-mate Simon Wormull joined local rivals Eastbourne Borough
Eastbourne Borough F.C.
Eastbourne Borough are a semi-professional English football club, based in the town of Eastbourne, East Sussex, and are members of the Conference South. They are known as The Sports after their previous name as Langney Sports. Eastbourne Borough play their home matches at Priory Lane in Langney...
. The pair made their debuts in the opening-day defeat to former club Rushden & Diamonds, making Eastbourne the fifth club (following Rushden, Stevenage, Hornchurch and Lewes) where the two played alongside each other. Injuries restricted Sigere's Eastbourne career: by the beginning of October he had played only five matches and been placed on the transfer list. He rejoined Horsham on loan for three months, to regain form and fitness with a view to a permanent deal. Yet again he scored on debut, this time converting a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
to put Horsham through to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. He scored and provided an assist
Assist (football)
In association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions...
in the next round against former club Stevenage Borough but, with a place in the First Round Proper in sight, Horsham conceded a late equaliser and went on to lose heavily in the replay
Replay (sports)
In sports, a replay refers to a second game between two teams after the first game's results were either nullified or ended in a draw. A game may be nullified if the game's result is protested and the organizers ruled to replay the game...
. Although both player and manager hoped to extend his stay at the club, it was not financially viable, and Sigere returned to Eastbourne having scored nine goals in all competitions for Horsham.
Told he had no future with Eastbourne Borough, Sigere was released by the club in January 2009. He signed a contract with Southern League Premier Division team Farnborough until the end of the 2008–09 season, and made his debut as a second-half substitute in a 2–2 home draw with Brackley Town
Brackley Town F.C.
Brackley Town Football Club are a football club based in Brackley, England, who play their home games at St. James Park. They were established in 1890. They have won the Hellenic League twice in their history...
. A reunion with new Farnborough manager Steve King saw him initially retained for the 2009–10 season, but on 16 June the club announced that Sigere would be leaving the club after all. Following his departure from Cherrywood Road, Sigere signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Tonbridge Angels
Tonbridge Angels F.C.
Tonbridge Angels Football Club is an English football club who play at Longmead Stadium in Tonbridge, Kent, since moving from the Angel Ground in 1980....
in July 2009. After scoring four goals from 25 appearances in all competitions, mostly as a substitute, Sigere left Tonbridge to return to Lewes. He contributed to Lewes retaining their Conference South status, but was released at the end of the season when budgetary constraints forced manager Steve Ibbitson to choose between Sigere and the younger Rob Gradwell. Sigere returned to former club Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
for the 2010–11 Isthmian League Premier Division season, but after only one game budgetary considerations again came into play and he was released. A few days later he returned to the Conference South with St Albans City
St Albans City F.C.
St Albans City Football Club is a football club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in 1908 and plays its home matches at Clarence Park, about 800 yards from the city centre. The club is in the Premier Division of the Southern League...
, where he stayed for a couple of months before moving on to Walton & Hersham
Walton & Hersham F.C.
Walton & Hersham F.C. is an English football club located in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, currently playing in the Isthmian League Division One South. They play in a red and white home kit at Stompond Lane....
of the Isthmian League Division One South.
In June 2011, Sigere signed for Isthmian League Division One North club Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
.
Honours
US Lusitanos Saint-Maur- CFAChampionnat de France AmateursThe Championnat de France amateur, commonly referred to as simply CFA and formerly known as National 2, is a football league competition. The league serves as the fourth division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and the Championnat National...
Group D runners-up: 1999–2000
Rushden & Diamonds
- Football ConferenceConference NationalConference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
champions: 2000–01Football Conference 2000-01The Football Conference season of 2000–01 was the twenty-second season of the Football Conference, also known as the Nationwide Conference for sponsorship reasons.-Changes since the previous season:* Boston United...
Stevenage Borough
- FA TrophyFA TrophyThe Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
finalists: 2002
Lewes
- Conference SouthConference SouthConference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
champions: 2007–08
External links
- Profile at Rushden & Diamonds F.C.