Post by vu84v2 on Nov 14, 2006 17:59:24 GMT -5
I think this is one of the best sports stories I have heard in a long time. This is the equivalent of a guy trying to play basketball in English professional league and not making it and working his way to end up in the NBA as a starter.
I assume Jay Demerit played against Valpo during his college career.
Article
DeMerit played NCAA soccer at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he moved from playing forward to defender. While in college, DeMerit formed part of a defensive backline that helped lead the team into the NCAA playoffs in 2000. Although he played with Chicago Fire Premier, the reserves for the Chicago Fire in the USL Premier Development League, he was not drafted or signed by any Major League Soccer clubs following graduation from college. Taking the advice of a European former teammate, he decided to take advantage of his EU work status (due to his Danish grandfather) and moved to England in 2003 with only $1,800 in an attempt to find a club. He started off playing in the ninth tier of English football, for a Sunday league team earning only £40 a week.
In July 2004, DeMerit joined semi-professional team Northwood, a seventh tier side, to play in some of their preseason matches. Northwood played Watford, then a League Championship side in their second preseason match. During the course of the match, DeMerit impressed then Watford manager Ray Lewington enough to earn a two-week trial. Following the trial, DeMerit signed a one year contract with Watford to play in their 2004-2005 season and has been a regular in the Watford lineup ever since.
During the 2005-2006 season, Watford was expected by many to fight relegation from the Championship to the League One as they had in DeMerit's first season with the club. However, under new coach Adrian Boothroyd, Watford maintained strong form throughout the season and finished 3rd in the Championship table, earning the right to enter the playoffs for the last of three annual promotion spots to the Premier League. On 21 May 2006, in the play-off final against Leeds United, DeMerit headed in the game's first goal and was named Man of the Match as Watford gained promotion to the Premier League by defeating Leeds United 3-0.
Jay's hard work in the 2005-06 Championship season and his efforts in helping get the club promoted have been rewarded with a contract extension taking him through to the end of the 2008-09 season as a Watford player.
I assume Jay Demerit played against Valpo during his college career.
Article
DeMerit played NCAA soccer at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he moved from playing forward to defender. While in college, DeMerit formed part of a defensive backline that helped lead the team into the NCAA playoffs in 2000. Although he played with Chicago Fire Premier, the reserves for the Chicago Fire in the USL Premier Development League, he was not drafted or signed by any Major League Soccer clubs following graduation from college. Taking the advice of a European former teammate, he decided to take advantage of his EU work status (due to his Danish grandfather) and moved to England in 2003 with only $1,800 in an attempt to find a club. He started off playing in the ninth tier of English football, for a Sunday league team earning only £40 a week.
In July 2004, DeMerit joined semi-professional team Northwood, a seventh tier side, to play in some of their preseason matches. Northwood played Watford, then a League Championship side in their second preseason match. During the course of the match, DeMerit impressed then Watford manager Ray Lewington enough to earn a two-week trial. Following the trial, DeMerit signed a one year contract with Watford to play in their 2004-2005 season and has been a regular in the Watford lineup ever since.
During the 2005-2006 season, Watford was expected by many to fight relegation from the Championship to the League One as they had in DeMerit's first season with the club. However, under new coach Adrian Boothroyd, Watford maintained strong form throughout the season and finished 3rd in the Championship table, earning the right to enter the playoffs for the last of three annual promotion spots to the Premier League. On 21 May 2006, in the play-off final against Leeds United, DeMerit headed in the game's first goal and was named Man of the Match as Watford gained promotion to the Premier League by defeating Leeds United 3-0.
Jay's hard work in the 2005-06 Championship season and his efforts in helping get the club promoted have been rewarded with a contract extension taking him through to the end of the 2008-09 season as a Watford player.