Jak McCourt explained

Jak McCourt
Fullname:Jak McCourt[1]
Birth Date:6 July 1995[2]
Birth Place:Liverpool, England
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Buxton
Youthclubs1:Leicester City
Years1:2013–2016
Clubs1:Leicester City
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2013–2014
Clubs2:Torquay United (loan)
Caps2:11
Goals2:0
Years3:2015
Clubs3:Port Vale (loan)
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Years4:2016
Clubs4:Barnsley
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Years5:2016–2017
Clubs5:Northampton Town
Caps5:26
Goals5:1
Years6:2017–2018
Clubs6:Chesterfield
Caps6:34
Goals6:5
Years7:2018–2019
Clubs7:Swindon Town
Caps7:27
Goals7:1
Years8:2019–2020
Clubs8:Macclesfield Town
Caps8:21
Goals8:2
Years9:2020–2022
Clubs9:Chesterfield
Caps9:41
Goals9:2
Years10:2022–2023
Caps10:20
Goals10:1
Years11:2023–
Clubs11:Buxton
Caps11:19
Goals11:2
Club-Update:14:52, 5 May 2023 (UTC)

Jak McCourt (born 6 July 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Buxton.

He began his career with Leicester City. McCourt spent part of the 2013–14 season on loan at Torquay United and then September 2015 on loan at Port Vale, before being sold to Barnsley in January 2016. An unused substitute in the club's victorious 2016 League One play-off final, he was released by Barnsley in June 2016 and subsequently joined Northampton Town. Northampton released him in July 2017 by mutual agreement and subsequently joined Chesterfield. He signed with Swindon Town in July 2018 and then moved on to Macclesfield Town in June 2019. Macclesfield Town were liquidated at the end of the 2019–20 season. He rejoined Chesterfield in December 2020 and signed with Warrington Rylands 1906 in June 2022. He joined Buxton in January 2023.

Career

Leicester City

McCourt began his career with Leicester City and signed a professional contract with the "Foxes" in May 2013.[3] On 11 October 2013, he joined League Two side Torquay United on loan for a month.[4] He made his professional debut the next day in a 3–2 to Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park.[5] On 9 December, McCourt's loan was extended by Torquay United until 4 January 2014.[6] He returned to the King Power Stadium after making 12 appearances in all competitions for Alan Knill's "Gulls". The player signed a new one-year contract with Leicester City in June 2014.[7]

McCourt joined League One side Port Vale on a one-month loan deal on 28 August 2015.[8] Manager Rob Page said he made the signing as cover for the injured Michael Brown, who was the "Valiants" central midfield option on the bench.[9] He started one Football League Trophy game and made two substitute appearances in the league.[10]

Barnsley

McCourt was sold to League One club Barnsley for an undisclosed fee in January 2016; he signed a contract running until the end of the 2015–16 season.[11] He played two games for Barnsley, both as substitute appearances from the bench, and was an unused substitute for the play-off final victory over Millwall at Wembley Stadium on 29 May.[12] The club then released him upon the expiry of his contract in June.[13]

Northampton Town

In June 2016, McCourt signed a two-year contract with League One club Northampton Town, in a move that reunited him with his former Port Vale boss Rob Page.[14] However, he picked up a shoulder injury in pre-season training, which required surgery and an enforced two-month absence.[15] He scored his first senior goal in a 1–1 draw with Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park on 8 October.[16] He received his first sending off seven days later after picking up two yellow cards in a 3–1 defeat to Millwall at Sixfields Stadium.[17] He was transfer-listed by new manager Justin Edinburgh in May 2017 after falling out of the first-team in the second half of the 2016–17 season.[18] [19]

Chesterfield

McCourt negotiated his release from Northampton and joined newly-relegated League Two side Chesterfield on a two-year deal in July 2017.[20] He scored six goals in 39 appearances across the 2017–18 season as the "Spireites" were relegated out of the English Football League into the National League. He was made available for a free transfer by new manager Martin Allen in May 2018.[21]

Swindon Town

On 17 July 2018, McCourt joined League Two side Swindon Town on a one-year contract.[22] He was utilised as a holding midfielder by manager Phil Brown, before being moved further forward after Brown was replaced by Richie Wellens in November.[23] He was released by Swindon at the end of the 2018–19 season.[24]

Macclesfield Town

On 5 June 2019, McCourt joined League Two side Macclesfield Town on a one-year contract, becoming Sol Campbell's first summer signing as manager.[25] He featured 21 times for the "Silkmen" during the 2019–20 season and was offered a new contract by new manager Mark Kennedy in the summer.[26] Macclesfield were relegated at the end of the season after having a total of 17 points deducted and were liquidated in September 2020.[27] [28]

Return to Chesterfield

On 1 December 2020, McCourt rejoined Chesterfield, now in the National League, on a short-term contract.[29] He said that he had unfinished business at the club after being at the Proact Stadium when the club lost its Football League status.[30] He quickly impressed manager James Rowe and signed a new 18-month contract later in the month.[31] Chesterfield qualified for the play-offs at the end of the 2020–21 season, though were beaten by Notts County at the quarter-final stage.[32] Rowe was sacked in February 2022 and McCourt was returned to the first-team by caretaker manager Daniel Webb following a period of three months without an appearance.[33] However, he picked up an ankle injury after being on the wrong end of a "horrific" tackle later that month.[34] He recovered and was named on the substitute's bench by manager Paul Cook for the play-off semi-final defeat at Solihull Moors.[35]

Warrington Rylands 1906

On 27 June 2022, McCourt signed for newly-promoted Northern Premier League Premier Division side Warrington Rylands 1906.[36] [37]

Buxton

In January 2023, McCourt joined National League North club Buxton.[38] He made nineteen appearances in the second half of the 2022–23 season, scoring two goals. He scored five goals in 29 games throughout the 2023–24 campaign.

Style of play

McCourt is an athletic central midfielder with good passing skills.[39] He has been described as a "larger than life character in the dressing room".[40]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leicester City2013–14Championship0000000000
2014–15Premier League0000000000
2015–16Premier League0000000000
Total0000000000
Torquay United (loan)2013–14League Two110100000120
Port Vale (loan)2015–16League One2000001030
Barnsley2015–16League One1000001020
Northampton Town2016–17League One261202020321
Chesterfield2017–18League Two345101031396
Swindon Town2018–19League Two271100020301
Macclesfield Town2019–20League Two212000000212
Chesterfield2020–21National League192000030222
2021–22National League220200000240
Total412200032462
Warrington Rylands 19062022–23[41] Northern Premier League
Premier Division
2010020221
Buxton2022–23National League North192000000192
2023–24National League North285000010295
2024–25National League North0000000000
Total477200010487
Career total23019703015124520

Honours

Barnsley

2016[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13 . The Football League . 18 May 2013 . 43 . 20 October 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140802074454/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0%2C%2C10794~179534%2C00.pdf . 2 August 2014 .
  2. Web site: FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2015/2016 . www.footballsquads.co.uk . 1 February 2021 .
  3. Web site: Leicester youngsters agree professional contracts at the club . Sky Sports . 8 May 2013 . 16 October 2013.
  4. Web site: Jak McCourt: Torquay United sign Leicester City midfielder . 11 October 2013 . BBC Sport . 16 October 2013.
  5. Web site: Wycombe 3–2 Torquay . BBC Sport . 12 October 2013 . 16 October 2013.
  6. Web site: McCourt Extended . Torquay United Official Website . 9 December 2013 . 10 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131215072622/http://www.torquayunited.com/news/article/new-loan-for-jak-1225019.aspx . 15 December 2013 . dead .
  7. Web site: Youngster McCourt Extends Leicester City Contract . lcfc.com . 29 August 2015.
  8. News: Jak McCourt: Port Vale sign Leicester City midfielder . 29 August 2015 . . 28 August 2015.
  9. News: Port Vale: Manager Rob Page wants his players to be more clinical in front of goal . 31 August 2015 . . 31 August 2015.
  10. News: Baggaley . Mike . Jak McCourt returns to Leicester City . 28 September 2015 . . 28 September 2015.
  11. Web site: Jak McCourt: Barnsley sign Leicester City midfielder . . 29 January 2016 . 29 January 2016.
  12. News: Barnsley 3–1 Millwall . Rob . Stevens . BBC Sport . 29 May 2016 . 23 December 2018.
  13. Web site: Barnsley FC Retained List . Barnsley F.C. . 11 June 2016.
  14. News: Northampton Town: Gabriel Zakuani and Jak McCourt arrive at Sixfields . 24 June 2016 . BBC Sport . 24 June 2016.
  15. News: Jak McCourt: Northampton Town midfielder needs shoulder surgery . 15 July 2016 . BBC Sport . 14 July 2016.
  16. News: Scunthorpe United 1–1 Northampton Town . 13 May 2017 . BBC Sport . 8 October 2016.
  17. News: Northampton Town 1–3 Millwall . 13 May 2017 . BBC Sport . 15 October 2016.
  18. News: Casey . Jeremy . Edinburgh explains decision to transfer-list Cobblers quartet . 13 May 2017 . Northampton Chronicle & Echo . 4 May 2017 . en.
  19. News: Heneghan . James . Midfielder McCourt determined to keep his Cobblers place after Bolton outing . 13 May 2017 . Northampton Chronicle & Echo . 21 March 2017 . en.
  20. News: Chesterfield sign midfielder Jak McCourt on two-year deal . 8 July 2017 . BBC Sport . 8 July 2017.
  21. News: Baggaley . Michael . Former Port Vale forward Louis Dodds made available by Chesterfield . 18 May 2018 . Stoke Sentinel . 18 May 2018.
  22. News: Swindon Town: Jak McCourt joins League Two club on free transfer . 17 July 2018 . BBC Sport . 17 July 2018.
  23. News: Reynolds . Shaun . McCourt buoyed by Wellens' January recruitment . 6 May 2019 . Swindon Advertiser . 20 February 2019 . en.
  24. Web site: Swindon Town release 10 players including Vigouroux & Dunne. 8 May 2019. 9 May 2019. BBC Sport.
  25. News: Macclesfield Town: Jak McCourt joins League Two club on free transfer . MTFC.
  26. News: Silkmen Announce Retained And Released Lists . 2 July 2020 . www.mtfc.co.uk . 9 June 2020 . en-gb.
  27. News: Smith . Peter . Stevenage stay up, Macclesfield Town relegated after EFL points appeal . 12 August 2020 . StokeonTrentLive . 11 August 2020.
  28. News: Macclesfield Town FC wound up in court . 16 September 2020 . BBC Sport . 16 September 2020.
  29. News: Midfielder returns . 1 December 2020 . www.Chesterfield-fc.co.uk . 1 December 2020 . en-gb.
  30. News: Norcliffe . Liam . Breaking: Chesterfield re-sign midfielder Jak McCourt on short-term deal . 1 June 2021 . Derbyshire Times . 2 December 2020 . en.
  31. News: Norcliffe . Liam . Breaking: 'The team is good enough for promotion' - McCourt signs new Town contract . 1 June 2021 . Derbyshire Times . 18 December 2020 . en.
  32. News: Norcliffe . Liam . Recap: Chesterfied suffer late heartbreak against Notts County in play-offs . 7 June 2021 . Derbyshire Times . 5 June 2021 . en.
  33. News: Norcliffe . Liam . Jak McCourt praises 'outstanding' Danny Webb and reveals he was close to leaving on loan . 29 May 2022 . Derbyshire Times . 9 February 2022 . en.
  34. News: Norcliffe . Liam . Injury update on Jak McCourt after 'horrific' tackle against Solihull Moors . 29 May 2022 . Derbyshire Times . 28 February 2022 . en.
  35. News: O'Neill . George . Solihull Moors end Chesterfield promotion hopes . 29 May 2022 . BBC Sport . 29 May 2022.
  36. RylandsFC . 1541481693286207490 . McCourt Monday!!.
  37. News: Turner . Matt . Warrington Rylands pull off major coup with new signing . 1 July 2022 . Warrington Guardian . 27 June 2022 . en.
  38. ✍⚽️ We are delighted to confirm the signing of midfielder Jak McCourt from Warrington Rylands. Jak joined the NPL side in June, having spent two years at Chesterfield and, prior to that, several years in the EFL. Welcome to Buxton, Jak. #UpTheBucks #WelcomeJak. 1619033389360726029. Buxton_FC. Buxton F.C.. 27 January 2023. 30 January 2023.
  39. News: Baggaley . Mike . New signing Jak McCourt keen for first-team football at Vale . 29 August 2015 . . 28 August 2015.
  40. News: Reynolds . Shaun . RELEASE OR RETAIN? Adver Sport delivers its verdict on Town's out-of-contract players . 9 May 2019 . Swindon Advertiser . 7 May 2019 . en.
  41. Web site: Warrington Rylands – Appearances – Jak McCourt. Football Web Pages. 30 January 2023.