Jason Puncheon Explained

Jason Puncheon
Fullname:Jason David Ian Puncheon[1]
Birth Date:18 June 1986[2]
Birth Place:Croydon, England
Height:1.73m (05.68feet)
Position:Midfielder
Years1:2003–2004
Clubs1:Wimbledon
Caps1:8
Goals1:0
Years2:2004–2006
Clubs2:Milton Keynes Dons
Caps2:26
Goals2:1
Years3:2006
Clubs3:Fisher Athletic
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2006
Clubs4:Lewes
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Years5:2006–2008
Clubs5:Barnet
Caps5:78
Goals5:15
Years6:2008–2010
Clubs6:Plymouth Argyle
Caps6:6
Goals6:0
Years7:2008
Clubs7:Milton Keynes Dons (loan)
Caps7:9
Goals7:1
Years8:2009
Clubs8:Milton Keynes Dons (loan)
Caps8:18
Goals8:3
Years9:2009–2010
Clubs9:Milton Keynes Dons (loan)
Caps9:24
Goals9:7
Years10:2010–2014
Clubs10:Southampton
Caps10:74
Goals10:9
Years11:2010–2011
Clubs11:Millwall (loan)
Caps11:7
Goals11:5
Years12:2011
Clubs12:Blackpool (loan)
Caps12:11
Goals12:3
Years13:2011
Clubs13:Queens Park Rangers (loan)
Caps13:2
Goals13:0
Years14:2013–2014
Clubs14:Crystal Palace (loan)
Caps14:20
Goals14:3
Years15:2014–2019
Clubs15:Crystal Palace
Caps15:133
Goals15:12
Years16:2019
Clubs16:Huddersfield Town (loan)
Caps16:6
Goals16:0
Years17:2019–2022
Clubs17:Pafos
Caps17:65
Goals17:5
Years18:2022–2023
Caps18:16
Goals18:0
Totalcaps:508
Totalgoals:64
Manageryears1:2023–2024
Managerclubs1:Peyia 2014
Manageryears2:2024
Managerclubs2:AEZ Zakakiou
Club-Update:14:46, 8 February 2023 (UTC)

Jason David Ian Puncheon (born 18 June 1986) is an English football manager and former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Following his goal against Everton on his Blackpool debut, he has scored in all of the top four divisions of English league football, scoring for Barnet in League Two, Milton Keynes Dons and Southampton in League One, Millwall in the Championship and Blackpool, Southampton and Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Club career

Early career

Born in Croydon, Greater London, Puncheon began his career with Wimbledon, and moved with the team to Milton Keynes, where the club became Milton Keynes Dons in 2004. He was released in January 2006. He moved to Barnet in June of the same year, after brief spells with Fisher Athletic and Lewes.[3] He was named FA Cup Player of the Third Round in 2007 and the following season after scoring a succession of brilliant goals (including a last minute 35-yard free kick versus Bradford) was named in the PFA Team of the Season.[4]

Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth Argyle signed Puncheon from Barnet for £250,000 in 2008. He endured an unsuccessful 18-month spell at the club, making six league appearances. He was loaned to former club MK Dons three times in two years, where he scored 12 goals in 61 appearances.

Southampton

On 30 January 2010, Puncheon joined Southampton which then led to his loan deal at MK Dons to be cut short.[5] He scored his first goal in a 5–1 victory over Walsall, and scored again a few days later, in a 5–0 victory over Huddersfield. He was unable to contribute to Southampton winning the 2009–10 Football League Trophy as he was cup-tied.[6]

At the start of the 2010–11 season, he was a regular in the first team. However, when Alan Pardew lost his job just days after a 4–0 win away to Bristol Rovers, Southampton hired Nigel Adkins as manager. Under Adkins, he stayed in the first team, but found himself under increasing pressure from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for his place. Eventually Adkins lost patience with Puncheon's erratic performances, and dropped him to the bench in favour of 17-year-old Chamberlain, who was later sold to Arsenal for a reported £15m. On 16 November 2010, Puncheon moved on an emergency loan deal to Millwall.[7] He scored his first goal on his first game for Millwall in their 1–0 victory over Middlesbrough.[8] On 1 January 2011, Puncheon scored a hat-trick in the 3–0 victory over Crystal Palace.[9]

On 31 January 2011, Puncheon joined Blackpool on loan until the end of the season.[10] He made his debut, scoring a goal, at Everton on 5 February.[11] He scored his second goal against Chelsea on 7 March at Bloomfield Road. Puncheon re-joined the Saints after Blackpool's failed attempt to fight off relegation.[12] On 31 August 2011, Puncheon joined Queens Park Rangers on loan until 2 January 2012.[13] [14]

He returned to the Saints after his unsuccessful loan spell at QPR,[15] but on 21 January 2012, he publicly criticised executive chairman Nicola Cortese.[16] However just days later, it was revealed that Puncheon had apologised to Cortese and would be available for selection in the first team.[17] He then started the next two matches: a 1–1 draw in the FA Cup at Millwall[18] and a 1–1 draw in the Championship against Cardiff City.[19]

He scored his first goal of the 2012–13 season with a 30-yard volley in a league cup win at Stevenage. He scored his first Premier League goal for Southampton in a 4–1 home victory against Aston Villa. His second came when Southampton won 3–1 away to Queens Park Rangers. He scored his third Premier League goal in the 61st minute against Reading to secure Southampton a vital 1–0 victory and move them out of the relegation zone. His fourth was scored to give Southampton a 2–2 draw away to the champions of Europe, Chelsea. On 9 February 2013, he scored his fifth in Southampton's 3–1 home win against 2011–12 champions Manchester City.

On 1 March 2013, Puncheon signed a new contract with Southampton, expiring in 2016.[20]

Crystal Palace

On 21 August 2013, Puncheon signed a one-year loan with Crystal Palace.[21] He missed a penalty as Palace lost 2–0 away to Tottenham Hotspur on 11 January 2014,[22] but made up for his miss by scoring the only goal of their 1–0 win against Stoke City the following weekend.[23] On 31 January 2014, Puncheon made his loan spell into a permanent move, for a fee of around £1.75m.[24] Puncheon's three goals in January and a further three in back-to-back wins in April that lifted Palace away from the relegation zone, led boss Tony Pulis to issue a 'hands off' warning to other clubs interesting in signing Puncheon.[25]

On 16 August 2014, in Palace's first match of the new season away to Arsenal, Puncheon took a corner which was headed in by Brede Hangeland for the first goal of the game. He was sent off for his second booking in the 89th minute, after which Arsenal scored their winning goal.[26] On 17 January 2015, Puncheon scored his third goal of the season and second in as many games against Burnley in a 3–2 away win. Crystal Palace had come from 2 goals down to claim victory to boost their survival hopes. Palace manager Alan Pardew praised Puncheon's performance, describing him as "the best player on the pitch by a country mile".[27]

On 6 April 2015, Puncheon scored the winning goal for Crystal Palace against Manchester City. Puncheon's goal came from a freekick which went past Manchester City's goalkeeper Joe Hart.[28] He opened the scoring in the 2016 FA Cup Final against Manchester United with a goal in the 78th minute, but Palace went on to lose the match 2–1 after extra time.[29]

On 18 July 2017, Puncheon replaced Scott Dann as captain.[30] In January 2018, manager Roy Hodgson announced that Puncheon would play no further part in the 2017–18 season following a cruciate ligament injury sustained while playing against Manchester City.[31]

In May 2019, Crystal Palace issued a statement that Puncheon would leave the club at the end of the 2018–19 season after having made 169 appearances and scored 16 goals.[32]

Loan to Huddersfield Town

On 4 January 2019, Puncheon signed for Premier League club Huddersfield Town on loan until the end of the season.[33]

Cyprus

In August 2019, Puncheon completed a move to Cypriot football with Cypriot First Division side Pafos.[34] After three seasons with the club, he moved to Anorthosis Famagusta, where he spent one season before retiring.

Managerial career

Peyia 2014

Puncheon was appointed head coach of Cypriot Second Division club Peyia 2014 ahead of the 2023-24 season.[35] He left the role at the end of January in his first season.

AEZ Zakakiou

On 10 February 2024, Puncheon was appointed head coach of Cypriot First Division club AEZ Zakakiou.[36] He was sacked less than one month later after failing to win any of his first seven games.

Personal life

Puncheon is of Jamaican descent and is eligible for the Jamaica national football team.[37]

In December 2017, Puncheon was arrested and charged with possession of an offensive weapon, common assault, and a public order offence of "causing fear or provocation of violence" after a fight outside a nightclub in Reigate.[38] [39] On 5 January 2018, Puncheon appeared in court where he denied the charge of assault. The charge of possessing an offensive weapon was withdrawn and he was bailed to appear again in court on 4 June.[40] He later changed his plea to guilty and was given a community order requiring him to carry out 210 hours of unpaid work, and pay the doorman involved £250 compensation.[41]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[42] [43]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wimbledon2003–04First Division8000000080
Milton Keynes Dons2004–05League One251202020311
2005–06League One1000101030
Total261203030341
Fisher Athletic2005–06Isthmian League Premier100010
Lewes2005–06Conference South100010
Barnet2006–07League Two375412020456
2007–08League Two41105011104811
Total78159131309317
Plymouth Argyle2008–09Championship6000100070
Milton Keynes Dons (loan)2008–09League One2740020294
2009–10League One247301041328
Total51113010616112
Southampton2009–10League One193193
2010–11League One150102010190
2011–12Championship80100090
2012–13Premier League3261011347
Total7493031108110
Millwall (loan)2010–11Championship7575
Blackpool (loan)2010–11Premier League113113
Queens Park Rangers (loan)2011–12Premier League2020
Crystal Palace (loan)2013–14Premier League2032000223
Crystal Palace2013–14Premier League1440000144
2014–15Premier League3762000396
2015–16Premier League3124100353
2016–17Premier League3601020390
2017–18Premier League1000020120
2018–19Premier League503080
Total1531591700016916
Huddersfield Town (loan)2018–19Premier League601070
Pafos2019–20Cypriot First Division16000160
2020–21Cypriot First Division29410304
2021–22Cypriot First Division23110241
Total685200000805
Anorthosis2022–23Cypriot First Division16010170
Career total5086430218213156969

Managerial

TeamFromToRecord
PWDLGFGAGDW%
Peyia 20141 July 202330 January 2024
AEZ Zakakiou10 February 20247 March 2024
Total

Honours

Southampton

Crystal Palace

Individual

2007–08 League Two,[46] 2009–10 League One[47]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed . Premier League . 2 February 2018 . 11 February 2018.
  2. Web site: Crystal Palace player profiles: Jason Puncheon . Crystal Palace F.C. . 29 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170514140525/http://www.cpfc.co.uk/team/player-profile/jason-puncheon/42 . 14 May 2017 . dead .
  3. Book: Hugman, Barry . The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08 . Mainstream Publishing . 2007 . 978-1-84596-246-3 . 332.
  4. News: Puncheon nets FA Cup player award . BBC Sport . 17 January 2007 . 5 January 2010.
  5. Web site: Puncheon joins Saints . Southampton F.C. . 30 January 2010 . 30 January 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100201051858/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10280~1949524%2C00.html . 1 February 2010 . dmy-all.
  6. News: Lallana fit for Sunday’s JPT final. football365.com. 24 August 2015 . 5 June 2024.
  7. Web site: Jason To Join Lions . Southampton F.C. . 17 November 2010 . 16 November 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101119000200/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10280~2222518%2C00.html . 19 November 2010 .
  8. News: Middlesbrough 0–1 Millwall . BBC Sport . 5 December 2010 . 20 November 2010.
  9. News: Millwall 3–0 Crystal Palace . 1 January 2011 . 1 January 2011 . BBC Sport.
  10. News: Holloway pounces for Puncheon . 31 January 2011 . 31 January 2011 . Sky Sports.
  11. News: Phillips . Owen . Everton 5–3 Blackpool . BBC Sport . 6 February 2011 . 5 February 2011.
  12. News: Relegated Puncheon back with Saints . Daily Echo . 24 May 2011 . 24 May 2011.
  13. Web site: Punch Off . Southampton F.C. . 1 September 2011 . 1 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120919222655/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10280~2438739%2C00.html . 19 September 2012 . dmy-all.
  14. News: QPR sign Southampton forward Jason Puncheon on loan . BBC Sport . 10 September 2011 . 1 September 2011.
  15. News: Nabil . Hassan . Southampton do not want to keep Jason Puncheon, says agent . BBC Sport . 3 February 2012 . 10 January 2012.
  16. News: Jason Puncheon criticises Southampton chairman Nicola Cortese . BBC Sport . 25 January 2012 . 23 January 2011.
  17. News: Jason Puncheon settles Twitter row with Southampton. chairman . BBC Sport . 3 February 2012 . 25 January 2012.
  18. Web site: Millwall vs Southampton . Southampton F.C. . 3 February 2012 . 28 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120131184229/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10280~61469%2C00.html . 31 January 2012 . dmy-all.
  19. Web site: Southampton vs Cardiff City . Southampton F.C. . 3 February 2012 . 31 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120202031405/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10280~59503%2C00.html . 2 February 2012 . dmy-all.
  20. News: Jason Puncheon signs new contract at Southampton . BBC Sport . 1 March 2013 . 1 March 2013.
  21. News: Palace sign Puncheon on loan . 21 August 2013 . 21 August 2013 . Crystal Palace F.C..
  22. News: Tottenham 2–0 Crystal Palace . Timothy . Abraham . BBC Sport . 11 January 2014 . 17 May 2014.
  23. News: Chase . Graham . Crystal Palace 1–0 Stoke . BBC Sport . 17 May 2014 . 18 January 2014.
  24. Web site: Puncheon pens permanent deal . Crystal Palace F.C. . 31 January 2014.
  25. News: Jason Puncheon is not going anywhere warns Crystal Palace boss Pulis . London Evening Standard . 14 April 2014 . 10 April 2014.
  26. News: Chowdhury . Saj . Arsenal 2–1 Crystal Palace . 16 August 2014 . BBC Sport . 16 August 2014.
  27. News: McMath . James . Burnley 2–3 Crystal Palace . 18 January 2015 . BBC Sport . 17 January 2015.
  28. News: Jason Puncheon free kick helps Crystal Palace defeat Man City . 6 April 2015 . LockerDome. 3 April 2017 . en-US.
  29. News: Taylor . Daniel . Manchester United win FA Cup as Jesse Lingard sinks Crystal Palace . 4 February 2018 . The Guardian . 21 May 2016.
  30. Web site: Puncheon confirmed as Palace captain . Crystal Palace F.C. . 18 July 2017 . 21 November 2017.
  31. News: Scott Dann and Jason Puncheon: Crystal Palace duo out for rest of season . BBC Sport . 3 January 2018 . 3 January 2018 .
  32. Web site: Jason Puncheon to depart Crystal Palace. cpfc.co.uk. 10 May 2019. 10 May 2019.
  33. News: Jason Puncheon: Huddersfield sign Crystal Palace winger on loan for rest of season . BBC Sport . 4 January 2019 . 4 January 2019.
  34. News: Jason Puncheon: Ολοκλήρωσε τον ΜΠΑΜ με Jason Puncheon . Sigmalive . 6 August 2019 . 6 August 2019.
  35. News: Former Crystal Palace and Millwall midfielder announces retirement. South London Press. 18 June 2023. 18 June 2023.
  36. https://www.facebook.com/100076118103857/posts/407061075174493/
  37. News: Collomosse . Tom . Jamaica hoping to poach Liverpool's Andre Wisdom, Tottenham's Danny Rose and Crystal Palace's Jason Puncheon for Copa America . 19 December 2017 . The Independent . 10 March 2015.
  38. News: Aarons . Ed . Crystal Palace's Jason Puncheon charged with assault and possession of weapon . 19 December 2017 . The Guardian . 18 December 2017.
  39. News: Crystal Palace's Jason Puncheon on weapon charge . BBC News . 19 December 2017 . 18 December 2017.
  40. News: Crystal Palace footballer Jason Puncheon denies assault . 5 January 2018 . BBC News . 4 February 2018.
  41. News: Crystal Palace's Jason Puncheon admits bouncer belt attack . BBC News . 4 June 2018 . 4 June 2018.
  42. Web site: Jason Puncheon . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 4 January 2021.
  43. Web site: Player details: Season 2005–2006: Jason Puncheon . SoccerFactsUK . 30 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023633/http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2005/player_details.php?playerid=5782 . 4 March 2016 . dead . dmy-all .
  44. Book: Glenda . Rollin . Jack . Rollin . Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2011–2012 . 2011 . Headline Publishing Group . London . 978-0-7553-6231-8 . 39, 346–347.
  45. News: Crystal Palace 1–2 Manchester United . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 21 May 2016 . 19 May 2019.
  46. News: Ronaldo named player of the year . BBC Sport . 27 April 2008 . 30 May 2018.
  47. News: Rooney is PFA player of the year . BBC Sport . 25 April 2010 . 30 May 2018.