Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
Encyclopedia
Sylvan Agustus Ebanks-Blake (born 29 March 1986) is an English
footballer of Jamaica
n descent who plays as a striker for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers
.
Ebanks-Blake is a product of the Manchester United
academy, but failed to make a league appearance for the club, before leaving for Plymouth Argyle
in 2006. After two promising seasons he moved to fellow Championship
side Wolverhampton Wanderers
in 2008, where he won twice the division's Golden Boot Award
, helping the club to promotion into the Premier League. Ebanks-Blake has represented England at Under-21 level
, but he also has a parental qualification to play for Jamaica
.
, Ebanks-Blake attended The Netherhall School and his first clubs were Cherry Hinton Lions and Fulbourn Falcons in the Cambridge area. He was also on schoolboy terms with Cambridge United
, but declined an offer to become a scholar there when a much larger club showed their interest. Despite being a boyhood Liverpool fan, he started his professional career at Manchester United
as a youth team player. He played his first match at senior level for the club on 26 October 2004 against Crewe Alexandra
in the League Cup
. One year later, he scored his first senior level goal for the club against Barnet
in another League Cup tie, and was starting to show some good form to prove his potential.
Towards the end of the 2004–05
season, he fractured his leg and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. He recovered and scored a hat-trick
on his return for the Manchester United reserves. However, he was never called on for a first team league game again, although he was an unused substitute in several Champions League
games. In January 2006, he moved on loan to Royal Antwerp in Belgium to gain first team experience, where he scored four goals in nine matches.
club Plymouth Argyle
on 14 July 2006. The fee paid to Manchester United was an initial £200,000, potentially rising to over £300,000 due to clauses. Ebanks-Blake was new manager Ian Holloway
's first signing and became a first team regular.
The striker notched up 10 goals in his first season at Argyle, many of which came at the end of the season. He cemented his status as a fan favourite and top prospect with 11 league goals by New Year in the 2007–08
season, despite starting the season on the substitutes bench.
, who activated a buy-out clause in his contract for £1.5m, and he signed for them on the 11 January 2008, on a four-and-a-half year contract. Ebanks-Blake started well at Wolves scoring seven goals in his first eight games, and being named Championship Player of the Month for March 2008. He scored his first league goal for Wolves against Scunthorpe United
, on 19 January 2008. The season ended with him winning the Championship Golden Boot for the 2007–08 season, scoring a total of 23 goals, 12 for Wolves and 11 for Plymouth Argyle
.
Ebanks-Blake started the 2008-09 in excellent form, scoring nine goals in the opening 13 league games. He scored a hat-trick, the first in his professional career, against Norwich City
on 3 February 2009 at Molineux
, to once again reach the 20 goal mark. Ebanks-Blake ended the season with a total of 25 goals to his name, and retained the Championship Golden Boot for 2008-09 season. At the end of the season Ebanks-Blake was named Championship Player of the Year at the 2009 Football League Awards. He was also rewarded with the Goal of the Year Award for his solo effort against Charlton Athletic
on 28 March 2008. His final goal of the campaign came against Queens Park Rangers
at Molineux on 18 April 2009, which gave the team a 1–0 win that secured promotion to the Premier League. Ebanks-Blake successful season for Wolves also earned him a cap for the England under-21 side
, when he came on as a substitute against Czech Republic U21s
on 18 November 2008. After the end of the season Wolves rewarded him with a new deal, where he signed a new four-year contract on the 20 June 2009, which will see him stay at Molineux until the summer of 2013.
Ebanks-Blake struggled to rediscover his goal scoring form in the 2009–10 Premier League season. After struggling with injuries in early stages of the season, he returned but only managed to score one goal, from the penalty spot. That goal came against Aston Villa
on 24 October 2009 at Molineux, to earn his side a 1–1 draw. He was then dropped from the side as Mick McCarthy preferred to play the 4-5-1 formation, with Kevin Doyle
playing the lone striker role. Later on in the season, Ebanks-Blake found his second and final league goal in the campaign, heading in against Blackburn Rovers
on 24 April 2009 to secure a 1–1 draw for his side at Molineux, and guaranteed Wolves their Premier League survival.
Ebanks-Blake had a bright start to the 2010–11 Premier League season, scoring four league goals before Christmas. These goals came against Everton
, Newcastle United
, Manchester United
and Sunderland
. He scored two more goals for Wolves, coming off the bench and scoring twice against Blackpool
at Molineux, winning the game 4–0. Ebanks-Blake got himself on the score sheet again, scoring a consolation goal in the 4–1 loss to Newcastle United
at St James' Park
.
to play for Jamaica
. Although he left the door open to play for Jamaica in the future he wanted to try and get himself into the England squad. A month later Ebanks-Blake got a call up to the England under-21 side
and got his first cap for them against Czech Republic U21s
on 18 November 2008.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n descent who plays as a striker for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
.
Ebanks-Blake is a product of the Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
academy, but failed to make a league appearance for the club, before leaving for Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
in 2006. After two promising seasons he moved to fellow Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in 2008, where he won twice the division's Golden Boot Award
Football League Championship Golden Boot
The Football League Championship Top Scorer, is an annual English association football title given to the top goalscorer at the end of the Football League Championship season, since its creation in 2004. The Football League Championship is the second tier domestic league competition in club...
, helping the club to promotion into the Premier League. Ebanks-Blake has represented England at Under-21 level
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
, but he also has a parental qualification to play for Jamaica
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
.
Early career
Born in CambridgeCambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, Ebanks-Blake attended The Netherhall School and his first clubs were Cherry Hinton Lions and Fulbourn Falcons in the Cambridge area. He was also on schoolboy terms with Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
, but declined an offer to become a scholar there when a much larger club showed their interest. Despite being a boyhood Liverpool fan, he started his professional career at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
as a youth team player. He played his first match at senior level for the club on 26 October 2004 against Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. One year later, he scored his first senior level goal for the club against Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
in another League Cup tie, and was starting to show some good form to prove his potential.
Towards the end of the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season, he fractured his leg and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. He recovered and scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
on his return for the Manchester United reserves. However, he was never called on for a first team league game again, although he was an unused substitute in several Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
games. In January 2006, he moved on loan to Royal Antwerp in Belgium to gain first team experience, where he scored four goals in nine matches.
Plymouth Argyle
Ebanks-Blake returned to England in the summer and signed a three year deal with ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on 14 July 2006. The fee paid to Manchester United was an initial £200,000, potentially rising to over £300,000 due to clauses. Ebanks-Blake was new manager Ian Holloway
Ian Holloway
Ian Scott Holloway is an English football manager and former player. He became the manager of Blackpool in May 2009. Holloway is well-known amongst football fans for his off-the-wall interviews, with a wide selection of quotes and soundbites being printed. Holloway's playing career spanned 18...
's first signing and became a first team regular.
The striker notched up 10 goals in his first season at Argyle, many of which came at the end of the season. He cemented his status as a fan favourite and top prospect with 11 league goals by New Year in the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season, despite starting the season on the substitutes bench.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
His form attracted the attention from Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, who activated a buy-out clause in his contract for £1.5m, and he signed for them on the 11 January 2008, on a four-and-a-half year contract. Ebanks-Blake started well at Wolves scoring seven goals in his first eight games, and being named Championship Player of the Month for March 2008. He scored his first league goal for Wolves against Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
, on 19 January 2008. The season ended with him winning the Championship Golden Boot for the 2007–08 season, scoring a total of 23 goals, 12 for Wolves and 11 for Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
.
Ebanks-Blake started the 2008-09 in excellent form, scoring nine goals in the opening 13 league games. He scored a hat-trick, the first in his professional career, against Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
on 3 February 2009 at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, to once again reach the 20 goal mark. Ebanks-Blake ended the season with a total of 25 goals to his name, and retained the Championship Golden Boot for 2008-09 season. At the end of the season Ebanks-Blake was named Championship Player of the Year at the 2009 Football League Awards. He was also rewarded with the Goal of the Year Award for his solo effort against Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
on 28 March 2008. His final goal of the campaign came against Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
at Molineux on 18 April 2009, which gave the team a 1–0 win that secured promotion to the Premier League. Ebanks-Blake successful season for Wolves also earned him a cap for the England under-21 side
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
, when he came on as a substitute against Czech Republic U21s
Czech Republic national under-21 football team
The Czech Republic national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of the Czech Republic and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic...
on 18 November 2008. After the end of the season Wolves rewarded him with a new deal, where he signed a new four-year contract on the 20 June 2009, which will see him stay at Molineux until the summer of 2013.
Ebanks-Blake struggled to rediscover his goal scoring form in the 2009–10 Premier League season. After struggling with injuries in early stages of the season, he returned but only managed to score one goal, from the penalty spot. That goal came against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
on 24 October 2009 at Molineux, to earn his side a 1–1 draw. He was then dropped from the side as Mick McCarthy preferred to play the 4-5-1 formation, with Kevin Doyle
Kevin Doyle
Kevin Edward Doyle is an Irish international footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers....
playing the lone striker role. Later on in the season, Ebanks-Blake found his second and final league goal in the campaign, heading in against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
on 24 April 2009 to secure a 1–1 draw for his side at Molineux, and guaranteed Wolves their Premier League survival.
Ebanks-Blake had a bright start to the 2010–11 Premier League season, scoring four league goals before Christmas. These goals came against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. He scored two more goals for Wolves, coming off the bench and scoring twice against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
at Molineux, winning the game 4–0. Ebanks-Blake got himself on the score sheet again, scoring a consolation goal in the 4–1 loss to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
at St James' Park
St James' Park
St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'...
.
International career
On 8 October 2008, Ebanks-Blake was approached by manager John BarnesJohn Barnes (footballer)
John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE is an English football manager and former player.During his playing career, Barnes had successful periods at Watford and Liverpool in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the First Division twice, the FA Cup twice, and playing for England 79 times...
to play for Jamaica
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
. Although he left the door open to play for Jamaica in the future he wanted to try and get himself into the England squad. A month later Ebanks-Blake got a call up to the England under-21 side
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
and got his first cap for them against Czech Republic U21s
Czech Republic national under-21 football team
The Czech Republic national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of the Czech Republic and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic...
on 18 November 2008.
Club
Manchester United- FA Youth CupFA Youth CupThe Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
: 2003
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
: 2008–09
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
2004–05 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005–06 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Royal Antwerp Royal Antwerp F.C. Royal Antwerp Football Club, often simply referred to as Antwerp, is a Belgian football club based in the city of Antwerp.Antwerp is the oldest football club to register to the Royal Belgian Football Association in 1895 and they consequently received the matriculate number one when matriculation... (loan) |
2005–06 | 9 | 4 | ||||||
| 9 | 4 | ||||||||
| Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
2006–07 | 41 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 10 |
| 2007–08 | 25 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 13 | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2007–08 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 12 |
| 2008–09 | 39 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 25 | |
| 2009–10 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 2 | |
| 2010–11 | 30 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 7 | |
| Career Total | 187 | 71 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 206 | 74 | |