Jamie Pollock

This article is about the English retired footballer. For the Scottish footballer, seeJamie Pollock (footballer, born 1992).For the American soccer player, seeJamie Pollock (soccer, born 1989).

Jamie Pollock

Personal information
Date of birth	(1974-02-16)16 February 1974
Place of birth	Stockton-on-Tees,England
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1990–1996	Middlesbrough	155	(18)
1996	Osasuna	2	(0)
1996–1998	Bolton Wanderers	52	(5)
1998–2000	Manchester City	60	(5)
2000–2002	Crystal Palace	31	(4)
2001	→Birmingham City(loan)	5	(0)
Total		305	(32)
International career
1992–1993	England U19	8	(0)
1994–1995	England U21	3	(0)
Managerial career
2003–2005	Spennymoor United
2005–2007	Spennymoor Town
2018–2019	Billingham Synthonia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jamie Pollock(born 16 February 1974) is an English formerfootballclub chairman,managerand professional player. As a player he was amidfielderfrom 1990 to 2002. He playedPremier Leaguefootball forMiddlesbrough,Bolton WanderersandManchester City.He also more than 300 appearances inthe Football Leaguealso appearing forCrystal PalaceandBirmingham Cityas well as a short spell inLa LigawithCA Osasuna.From 2003 to 2007 he managed bothSpennymoor UnitedandSpennymoor Town.

Playing career

His career began atMiddlesbroughwhere he played as a defensive midfielder. He left Middlesbrough in 1996 joining Spanish sideCA Osasuna.After failing to make an impression in Spain he returned to England, signing forBolton Wanderers.He later played forManchester City,a team which then fell into what was then Division Two. Pollock scored an own goal in the penultimate game of the season, againstQueens Park Rangers,where he flicked the ball over an opposing player before sending a looping header over his own goalkeeper. The own goal condemned Manchester City to relegation to the third tier for the first time, whilst keeping QPR in the division. As a result, a group of QPR fans thanked him by voting him the "most influential man of the past 2,000 years" in an internet poll, where "Jesus came second, apparently."Speaking toThe Athleticin 2021, Pollock said "When something of that nature happens, quite often people rally around and support you. The Manchester City fans were brilliant. They have a good sense of humour. I was expecting a lot of abuse but it never came." He added that people regularly still spoke to him about his infamous own goal with Pollock also saying "It’s always a good icebreaker. When I’m coaching young kids, someone will come up to me, or I’ll tell them to watch it. It’s funny to laugh at now. There was a time when I couldn’t watch it. But it’s done and dusted now."

He was transferred toCrystal Palaceand later spent a spell on loan toBirmingham City.On 1 March 2002, Pollock announced his retirement from professional football. He had been without a club since he left Crystal Palace by mutual consent. He was training withGrimsby Townbut opted instead to playnon-League footballand become a director in his family's glass-making business.

Managerial career

Pollock was the manager of non-League clubSpennymoor Townuntil 2007,after his previous clubSpennymoor Unitedfolded in 2005. His Spennymoor side won theNorthern LeagueDivision 2 title in 2007. He also coaches a Polton Allstars team that plays in the Teesside Junior Alliance – North Riding League.

Pollock took over asBillingham Synthoniamanager at the start of the 2018–19 season.Synthonia finished 10th at the end of season. He stepped down as manager in August 2019 to focus more on his chairman role.In 2019 he set up Billingham Synthonia Football Academy.He stepped down as chairman of the club in July 2021.

Personal life

His sonsBenandMattiealso became professional footballers.

Honours

As a player

Middlesbrough

• First Division:1994–95

Bolton Wanderers

• First Division:1996–97

Individual

• PFA Team of the Year:1994–95 First Division

As a manager

Spennymoor Town

• Northern LeagueDivision Two: 2006–07

External links

• Jamie Pollockat Soccerbase
• England profileatThe Football Association