Sylvan Ebanks-Blake The Spireite!

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake signs for former boss Dean Saunders at Chesterfield FC and becomes his first signing at the club.

Ebanks-Blake was released by Preston at the end of last season, he had joined the club on 1st of January this year, making 9 appearances scoring 1 goal. He previously played for Ipswich Town in the Championship making 9 appearances but failed to find the net.

He started his career at Manchester United joining them at the age of 15. On 26th October 2004 he made his first appearance for the Red Devils, a League Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra, he scored his first ever senior goal a year later against Barnet again in the League Cup. He failed to make a League appearance for the club, leaving in the summer of 2006. Before he left he had a spell on Loan at Royal Antwerp making 9 appearances scoring 4 goals.

14th July he became Ian Holloway’s first signing for the Championship club Plymouth. He soon became a fans favourite, scoring 21 goals in 66 league appearances.

He joined Wolves on 11th January 2008 for £1.5 million. He scored 7 goals in his first 8 games for his new club. He ended up winning the Championship Golden Boot scoring a total of 23 goals including 11 for his old club. At the 2009 Football League Awards he was named Championship Player of the season. He went onto score 25 League goals that season, which included his first senior hat-trick against Norwich City meaning that he retained the Golden Boot. He had helped his team win the Championship gaining promotion to the Premiership.

He struggled in his first season in the Premiership missing games through injury and poor form, scoring just 2 league goals.
In 2010/11 season he scored 7 goals from 28 appearances with his club narrowly avoiding relegation.

2011/12 he again suffered with injuries and only managed 1 goal that season as his team failed to avoid relegation. The 2012/13 season saw him score 14 League goals, he was then released by the club as his team were relegated to League One.

He played under Dean Saunders from 7th January 2013, it was a difficult task for Dean, who came in after leaving Doncaster who were having good season in League One, he tried but he failed to avoid relegation and was also released from his contract.

Ebanks-Blake is a great signing for the Spireites he is big and strong, possesses quick feet and an instinctive finish can score with either foot, although he does favour the right.

With a summer of training behind him to build up his fitness. A chance to work with his team mates pre-season he could hit the ground running. It was difficult for him at Preston because he didn't join them until late in the season. Plus they had loads of strikers so he found himself coming off the bench, where as if he gets a run in the side he would have a chance to get his match sharpness back and his eye for goal.

A quote after leaving Ipswich: “I've never been a player that just played for money-never”.”It’s about the challenge, what the club represents and what they want to achieve”. “I want to go somewhere and enjoy my football”.

Let’s hope he comes to Spireites to enjoy his football and link up with his former manager Dean Saunders.