Spearing

Jay Spearing

Jay Francis Spearing (born 25 November 1988) is an English professional football player who plays as a midfielder for Liverpool. He was originally spotted playing for amateur Wallasey side Greenleas alongside former Liverpool professional Craig Lindfield.

Career Liverpool Reserves (2007-2010)

Born in Wallasey, Spearing was the captain of the Liverpool Under 18s who won the FA Youth Cup in 2007. He featured the previous season in the final againstManchester City, but missed the majority of the season due to a broken leg. Spearing spent half a season at Devon club Offwell Rangers until he was promoted toMelwood in the summer of 2007, to train with the Liverpool first team, after impressing in the club's Academy through his excellent spell with Offwell Rangers. He has been involved with his boyhood club since he was seven years old. He was voted the best player in the Torneo di Renate, a competition for under-20 sides, competing against clubs such as A.C. Milan and Parma. He was also part of the Reserve side which won the Premier Reserve League in the 2007–08 season.

2008–09 season

Spearing made his competitive first team debut on 9 December 2008, coming on as a substitute in a 3–1 UEFA Champions League win against PSV Eindhoven.[4]Spearing also appeared in the Reds' 4–0 win over Real Madrid in the second round of the Champions League.

On 31 March 2009, Rafael Benítez announced that he would be offering Spearing a new contract, alongside fellow home-grown youngster Stephen Darby. On 6 July 2009, Spearing agreed to a new three-year contract with Liverpool.

  2009–10 season

On 22 September 2009, Spearing made his first start for Liverpool, playing the full 90 minutes in their third round League Cup tie against Leeds United at Elland Road. Liverpool came out on top in a 1–0 victory, with Spearing hoping that his run-out at Leeds could be the springboard to future starts in the red shirt, saying "I felt I did alright and hopefully I've proved to the boss and the supporters that I can do it for the first team". Spearing made his Premier League debut against Sunderland at theStadium of Light on 17 October, but he was later substituted for Javier Mascherano. He received the Man Of The Match award from the journalist on the Red's official website. Eleven days later, he played the full 90 minutes in Liverpool's 2-1 League Cup defeat at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal. He made two more Premier League appearances that season;the 2-0 defeat against Portsmouth at Fratton Park, and the 2-0 win on Boxing Day against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield.

Loan move to Leicester City Spearing playing forLeicester City against Cardiff City on March 30, 2010

On 22 March 2010, Liverpool confirmed Spearing would join Championship club Leicester City on loan until the end of the 2009–10 season, linking up with former Liverpool reserve team mate Jack Hobbs.[6] His debut came two days later, starting in the Foxes' 2–1 Championship loss to Reading. His last game for Leicester was on 12 May in the Championship Play-off semi-final, with Leicester winning 3–2, but it wasn't enough to reach the final. He made nine appearances for Leicester, and scored his only goal for the club, in the 4–1 home win against Watford.

  2010–11 season

He was included in Liverpool's 21-man squad for the 2010–11 Premier League season. Spearing started and played the full 90 minutes in the opening leg of Liverpool's UEFA Europa Leaguequalifier against Rabotnicki, and came on as a substitute at Anfield in the second leg. On the 16th of September, he again played the full 90 minutes in the Reds' opening group game againstSteaua Bucaresti, his first ever start at Anfield, setting up David N'Gog for the fourth and final goal as Liverpool won 4-1. On 22 September, he was involved in Liverpool's shock League Cup third round exit to League Two side Northampton Town; Liverpool losing 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. On 21 October, he played the full 90 minutes in Liverpool's third group stage tie, a 0-0 draw with a Napoli side who have former Liverpool left-back Andrea Dossena. He was an unused substitute in Liverpool's 1-0 Premier League win against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on 31 October. Spearing came on in the 90th minute of Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Chelsea on 7 November 2010, instantly making an impact by playing a through ball to assist a Maxi Rodriguez effort. On 20 November, it was reported that Spearing had broken his ankle in training and would be out for up to six weeks. Spearing made his first appearance of 2011 againstEverton on 16 January. In the post-match interview, Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish praised the young midfielder and joked that Steven Gerrard may never get into the first team again. On 20 March, Spearing started another league game away to Sunderland. Spearing won a penalty, which was converted by Dirk Kuyt to put Liverpool 1-0 up and was generally praised for his great performance.

Spearing then went on the secure a first team berth with the absence of Steven Gerrard and out of favour Christian Poulsen. For the remnants of the Premier League season, he formed an excellent midfield partnership with the resurgent Lucas Leiva. Against Arsenal on the 17th of April, Spearing gave away a 98th minute penalty which Robin Van Persie scored to make the game 1-0. The match finished 1-1. Despite his involvement in the Arsenal goal, Spearing was praised after the game for his determination, work-rate and battling performance; traits that epitomised his successful run in the starting eleven. He then gave a similar performance in Liverpool's 3-0 victory over Manchester City

In May 2011 the club announced that he had extended his contract, and as a result of wide critical acclaim for his sterling performances for Liverpool, Spearing has been included in England U21's provisional 40-man-squad for the 2011 Summer U21 European Championship, with fellow Liverpool player Andy Carroll.

Personal life

He was born in Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral and attended St. George's Primary School and The Mosslands School in Wallasey, United Kingdom.

Honours

Liverpool

• Premier Reserve League: 2007/08
• FA Youth Cup: 2005/06, 2006/07