Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
technology/web

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake

English footballer (born 1986)

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake

English footballer (born 1986)

FieldValue
nameSylvan Ebanks-Blake
imageSylvan Ebanks-Blake 1.png
upright0.8
captionEbanks-Blake playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2012
fullnameSylvan Augustus Ebanks-Blake
birth_date
birth_placeCambridge, England
height
positionStriker
youthyears11999–2002youthclubs1 = Cambridge United
youthyears22002–2004youthclubs2 = Manchester United
years12004–2006clubs1 = Manchester Unitedcaps1 = 0goals1 = 0
years22006clubs2 = → Royal Antwerp (loan)caps2 = 9goals2 = 4
years32006–2008clubs3 = Plymouth Argylecaps3 = 66goals3 = 21
years42008–2013clubs4 = Wolverhampton Wandererscaps4 = 177goals4 = 61
years52013–2014clubs5 = Ipswich Towncaps5 = 9goals5 = 0
years62015clubs6 = Preston North Endcaps6 = 9goals6 = 1
years72015–2017clubs7 = Chesterfieldcaps7 = 46goals7 = 12
years82016–2017clubs8 = → Shrewsbury Town (loan)caps8 = 7goals8 = 0
years92017–2018clubs9 = A.F.C. Telford Unitedcaps9 = 6goals9 = 2
years102018clubs10 = Halesowen Towncaps10 = 7goals10 = 0
years112018clubs11 = Barwellcaps11 = 5goals11 = 1
years122018–2019clubs12 = Walsall Woodcaps12 = 5goals12 = 2
totalcaps346
totalgoals104
nationalyears12008nationalteam1 = England U21nationalcaps1 = 1nationalgoals1 = 0

Sylvan Augustus Ebanks-Blake (born 29 March 1986) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

He played youth team football for Cambridge United and Manchester United before making his professional debut in 2004. A spell on loan with Royal Antwerp followed before Ebanks-Blake was transferred to Plymouth Argyle in 2006. During his two seasons with Argyle, he scored 21 goals in the Championship and then joined Wolverhampton Wanderers for £1.5 million, where he won the Championship top scorer award in consecutive seasons to help the club gain promotion to the Premier League.

Ebanks-Blake represented England at under-21 level, but was also eligible to play for Jamaica at senior international level through his parents.

Career

Early career

Born in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Ebanks-Blake attended the Netherhall School and his first clubs were Cherry Hinton Lions and Fulbourn Falcons in the Cambridge area. At the age of 15, having been on schoolboy terms with Cambridge United, he attended a two-week trial with Manchester United at their training centre. He was offered a contract at the end of the trial and turned down a scholarship with Cambridge to join Manchester United's Academy. 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.

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.

Plymouth Argyle

Ebanks-Blake returned to England in the summer and signed a three-year deal with Championship 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.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Ebanks-Blake during the Jody Craddock Testimonial in May 2014

His form attracted the attention from fellow Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, who activated a buy-out clause in his contract for £1.5 million, and he signed for them on 11 January 2008, on a four-and-a-half-year contract. He scored his first league goal for Wolves on 19 January 2008, against Scunthorpe United, and a run of seven goals in his first eight games won him the Championship Player of the Month Award for March 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 season in excellent form, scoring nine goals in the opening 13 league games, form which 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. At the 2009 Football League Awards he was named Championship Player of the Year, and also received the Goal of the Year Award for his solo effort at Charlton Athletic in March 2008.

During the season he scored his first hat-trick of his professional career, against Norwich City on 3 February 2009 at Molineux, to once again reach the 20-goal mark. Having recovered from a calf injury, his final goal of the campaign came against Queens Park Rangers on 18 April 2009, which gave the team the 1–0 win that secured promotion to the Premier League. The striker finished this Championship-winning season with a tally of 25 goals, enough to retain the Championship Golden Boot for a second consecutive season. Wolves rewarded him with a new four-year deal in July 2009, which saw him stay at Molineux until the summer of 2013.

Ebanks-Blake struggled to repeat his goalscoring form at Premier League level. After struggling with injuries in early stages of the season, he returned but only managed to score one goal, from the penalty spot (against Aston Villa in October 2009). He was then dropped from the side as manager 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 scored his second and final league goal in the campaign, heading in against Blackburn Rovers on 24 April 2009 to secure a 1–1 draw that effectively guaranteed Wolves their Premier League survival.

He had a brighter start to the 2010–11 Premier League season, scoring four league goals before Christmas: against Everton, Newcastle United, former club Manchester United and Sunderland. Although he was less favoured for a starting berth than Kevin Doyle or new signing Steven Fletcher, he ended the season with seven goals from 28 appearances as the club narrowly avoided relegation on the final day.

In August 2011, he suffered knee ligament damage that put him out of action for six weeks, but when he returned, he was unable to match his goalscoring tally of the previous season as the team struggled against relegation. He scored only one Premier League goal during the campaign (against Norwich) as the club returned to the Championship under the temporary management of Terry Connor.

The 2012–13 season saw Ebanks-Blake return to his goalscoring form and net 14 league goals, before a broken fibula and sprained ankle suffered against Birmingham City on 1 April 2013 ruled him out for the remainder of the season, as well as potentially the start of the following. He was released by the club at the end of the 2012–13 season, which saw Wolves relegated to League One.

Ipswich Town

Ebanks-Blake signed for Ipswich Town on 19 December 2013 a move which reunited him with his former manager Mick McCarthy. He was assigned the number 27 shirt having signed a contract until end of 2013–14 season. He made his debut for the club in the FA Cup third round tie against Preston North End on 4 January 2014, but was substituted off injured after 29 minutes.

Preston North End

After a trial period with Brentford in October 2014, Ebanks-Blake went on trial with a number of other Football League clubs before ending up at Preston North End in December 2014. He was signed by Preston on a short-term contract on 1 January 2015, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2014–15 season.

He was released in May 2015 following Preston's promotion to the Championship, making 13 appearances in all competitions, his only goal for the club came in the form of a 76th-minute equaliser against Yeovil Town.

Chesterfield

On 6 June 2015, Ebanks-Blake signed for Chesterfield after his release from Preston North End. Ebanks-Blake was released at the end of the 2016–17 season.

Shrewsbury Town (loan)

Ebanks-Blake joined Shrewsbury Town on a half-season loan on 31 August 2016. Making just seven first-team appearances without scoring during his loan period, which also saw a change in management at the club, new manager Paul Hurst opted not to extend this arrangement when it came to an end in January 2017.

A.F.C. Telford United

In October 2017, it was reported that as a free-agent, Ebanks-Blake was training with National League North side A.F.C. Telford United. He joined the club the following month, making his debut on 25 November in a 4–2 FA Trophy victory over Droylsden, scoring two goals.

Ebanks-Blake left Telford on 6 February 2018, as manager Rob Edwards wanted to balance the budget.

Halesowen Town

Ebanks-Blake joined Halesowen Town on 26 July 2018 to play alongside former West Bromwich Albion striker Lee Hughes. After a change in management at Halesowen he signed for league rivals Barwell in October 2018.

Walsall Wood

In December 2018, Ebanks-Blake joined Midland League side Walsall Wood. He scored two goals in five games in the 2018–19 Midland League Premier Division, prior to suffering a serious injury having broken his leg for the third time in his career.

Personal life

In 2008 Ebanks-Blake was charged with causing actual bodily harm to a doorman in an incident at a Plymouth nightclub on 11 November 2007 while a Plymouth Argyle player. He was subsequently fined £1,350 with £650 costs and £500 compensation by Plymouth Crown Court on 4 July 2008, after admitting to having attacked the doorman with his girlfriend's handbag causing a three-inch cut to his head. In March 2013 he was arrested and questioned by police in Birmingham on suspicion of witness intimidation but released without charge.

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTotal0000210021Total66214141007423Total1776190730019364Total46123000215113Career total346104211135104390114
Manchester United2004–05Premier League0000100010
2005–06Premier League0000110011
Royal Antwerp (loan)2005–06{{cite webtitle=Spelersstatistiek Sylvan Ebanks-Blakepublisher=R.A.F.C.-Museumlanguage=nlaccess-date=17 June 2014 }}Belgian Second Division9494
Plymouth Argyle2006–07Championship41103010004510
2007–08Championship25111131002913
Wolverhampton Wanderers2007–08Championship20120000002012
2008–09Championship41252010004425
2009–10Premier League232301000272
2010–11Premier League307103000347
2011–12Premier League231201200263
2012–13Championship40141011004215
Ipswich Town2013–14Championship90100000100
Preston North End2014–15League One91200020131
Chesterfield2015–16League One33103000103710
2016–17League One132000011143
Shrewsbury Town (loan)2016–17League One7000000070
Telford United2017-18National League North6200-2284
Halesowen Town2018-19Southern League Premier Central7020-0090
Barwell2018-19Southern League Premier Central5100-4192
Walsall Wood2018–19Midland League Premier Division5200-0052

Honours

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Individual

  • Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year: 2004–05
  • Football League Championship Player of the Month: March 2008
  • Football League Championship Golden Boot: 2007–08, 2008–09
  • PFA Team of the Year: 2008–09 Championship
  • Football League Championship Player of the Year: 2008–09
  • Football League Goal of the Year: 2008–09

References

References

  1. (2010). "The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11". Mainstream Publishing.
  2. (8 October 2008). "Barnes eyes Wolves duo for Jamaica". Midland News Association.
  3. Viner, Brian. (14 August 2009). "Sylvan Ebanks-Blake: 'I'm going into the top flight wide-eyed but confident'". The Independent.
  4. Macaskill, Sandy. (6 March 2009). "Sylvan Ebanks-Blake set to retain golden boot for Wolves". Daily Telegraph.
  5. (26 October 2004). "Crewe 0–3 Man Utd". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  6. (26 October 2005). "Man Utd 4–1 Barnet". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  7. (13 February 2005). "United starlet breaks leg". BSkyB.
  8. (12 January 2006). "Man Utd duo in Antwerp loan move". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  9. (14 July 2006). "Plymouth net striker Ebanks-Blake". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  10. (11 January 2008). "Ebanks-Blake ties up Wolves move". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  11. (19 January 2008). "Scunthorpe 0–2 Wolves". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  12. (8 April 2008). "Ebanks-Blake wins monthly award". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  13. (7 May 2008). "Sylvan Ebanks-Blake can't wait for next season". Trinity Mirror.
  14. (18 November 2008). "Young Lions down Czechs". BSkyB.
  15. (29 March 2009). "Ebanks-Blake scoops League honour". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  16. (3 February 2009). "Wolves 3–3 Norwich". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  17. (16 April 2009). "Ebanks-Blake back for Wanderers". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  18. (18 April 2009). "Wolves 1–0 QPR". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  19. (21 May 2009). "Sylvan Ebanks-Blake dedicates Golden Boot to Wolves team-mates". Trinity Mirror.
  20. (22 July 2009). "Ebanks-Blake pens Wolves contract". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  21. (24 October 2009). "Wolves 1–1 Aston Villa". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  22. (24 February 2010). "Sylvan wants starts". BSkyB.
  23. (24 April 2010). "Wolves 1–1 Blackburn". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  24. (21 August 2010). "Everton 1–1 Wolves". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  25. (28 August 2010). "Wolves 1–1 Newcastle". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  26. (6 November 2010). "Man Utd 2–1 Wolves". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  27. (27 November 2010). "Wolves 3–2 Sunderland". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  28. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2010
  29. (25 August 2011). "Sylvan Ebanks-Blake faces month out with knee injury". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  30. (20 December 2011). "Wolves 2–2 Norwich". British Broadcasting Corporation.
  31. (3 April 2013). "Wolves lose injured striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for relegation run-in". BSkyB.
  32. (10 April 2013). "Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake could miss the start of next season after suffering injury setback". BSkyB.
  33. (17 May 2013). "Wolves: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Stephen Hunt released". BBC Sport.
  34. Watson, Stuart. (19 December 2013). "Sylvan Ebanks Blake signs For Ipswich Town until the end of the season". Archant Community Media Ltd.
  35. (4 January 2014). "Ipswich v Preston". BBC Sport.
  36. (13 October 2014). "Championship: Striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake training with Brentford". Sky Sports (BSkyB).
  37. (11 December 2014). "Sylvan Ebanks-Blake given time to earn Preston North End contract". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation).
  38. (1 January 2015). "Preston North End sign Sylvan Ebanks-Blake on short-term deal". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation).
  39. (6 June 2015). "Striker Becomes Saunders' First Signing". Chesterfield F.C..
  40. (31 August 2016). "Shrewsbury Town: Jack Grimmer and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake join on loan". BBC Sport.
  41. (9 January 2017). "Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and George Waring leave Shrewsbury Town". Shropshire Star.
  42. (7 October 2017). "Former Wolves duo Jolson Lescott and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake put in the hours with AFC Telford". Shropshire Star.
  43. (25 November 2017). "AFC Telford boss Rob Edwards praises 'excellent' Sylvan Ebanks-Blake".
  44. [https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/21805/former-wolves-striker-sylvan-ebanks-blake-leaves-afc-telford-united/ Former Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake leaves AFC Telford United]‚ thenonleaguefootballpaper.com, 6 February 2018
  45. (26 July 2018). "Ex-Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake signs for Halesowen Town".
  46. "Barwell sign Sylvan Ebanks-Blake | non League Daily".
  47. "Former Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake joins Walsall Wood in the ninth tier of English football".
  48. (16 March 2019). "Sylvan Ebanks-Blake: From Man Utd and Wolves to the ninth tier - via three broken legs | Daily Mirror".
  49. (12 November 2007). "Striker is questioned over attack". BBC News.
  50. (4 July 2008). "Wolves star admits club attack". Express & Star.
  51. (10 April 2013). "Wolves star Sylvan Ebanks-Blake arrested over witness intimidation". Express & Star.
  52. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2004
  53. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2005
  54. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2006
  55. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2007
  56. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2008
  57. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2009
  58. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2010
  59. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2011
  60. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2012
  61. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2013
  62. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2014
  63. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2015
  64. {{Soccerbase season. 39938. 2013
  65. (25 August 2018). "The teams are #HALBIG".
  66. "Barwell sign Sylvan Ebanks-Blake | non League Daily".
  67. "Walsall Wood | The FA".
  68. Bostock, Adam. (4 May 2010). "De Laet's delight". Manchester United Football Club.
  69. "Player of the Month Awards 2007/08 - The Championship". Andysstats.co.uk.
  70. "English League Leading Goalscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  71. (26 April 2009). "Giggs earns prestigious PFA award". BBC Sport.
  72. (25 March 2013). "Past Winners". The Football League.
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Sylvan Ebanks-Blake — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report