JAKE JERVIS | FORWARD
PLAYER BIO
Vastly experienced forward who joined the Pitmen in February 2024 after a spell at Vanarama National League North side Brackley Town
After spending his formative years as a junior at both Wolves and Shrewsbury Town, Jervis signed his first professional deal with Birmingham City in the summer of 2009. He made his Blues debut in January 2010, coming on as a substitute for Christian Benitez in an F.A. Cup tie against Everton. Later in the campaign, Jervis was loaned out to Hereford United where he spent the final two months of the campaign at Edgar Street, making five starts and scoring twice for the League Two strugglers
Another short loan, this time to Notts County, followed at the start of the 2010-2011 season before a return to the Bulls in January 2011 on another loan deal until the end of the season
After agreeing a new extension to his deal with Birmingham, Jervis's loan adventures continued in the 2011-2012 season with two more spells out at other clubs. In September 2011, he linked up with Swindon Town on what to become a successful three-month spell where he scored five times in twelve starts at the County Ground. Upon his return to Blues, Jervis was loaned out again in January 2012 to Preston North End for a month, scoring twice in three starts. After returning to Birmingham in February 2012, Jervis made his second appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute in their F.A. Cup fifth-round defeat against Chelsea
Another contract extension was signed by the player in the summer of 2012, who was to spend another year out on loan with three more clubs; first up was Carlisle United, with Jervis spending the first month of the season at Brunton Park, scoring three times in six starts before spending a month on loan at Tranmere Rovers in October 2012
Jervis's final loan of a busy season saw him spend time at Portsmouth in November 2012, making only one start at Fratton Park before returning to Birmingham. In January 2013, Jervis was allowed to join the struggling Turkish Süper Lig side Elazığspor on a permanent deal, with the fee reportedly around 50,000 EURO. Despite scoring on his debut against Fenerbahçe, Jervis's time in Turkey was fraught with issues as he broke his foot after three games and then saw the club default on his wages later in the year, leading to his three-and-a-half-year contract being cancelled in September 2013
After spending time training at Sheffield United, Coventry City and former club Portsmouth, Jervis agreed a deal with Pompey in January 2014 until the end of the current campaign, with Jervis making twelve starts and scoring four times
Despite hopes of a new contract at Portsmouth, Jervis headed up to Scotland for his next move in June 2014, signing for ambitious Premier League side Ross County on a one-year deal. He managed only four goals during the campaign as Ross struggled towards the foot of the table, finishing ninth overall
Another long switch was in order in June 2015, as his former manager Derek Adams - now manager of Plymouth Argyle - brought the striker into Home Park. This was to prove a career-defining move for the player as he became a fan favourite over the next three seasons, playing over 100 games and scoring over thirty times. Plymouth were promoted to League One in his second season, finishing second in League Two at the end of the 2016-2017 season
His form for Plymouth attracted interest from other sides in the lower reaches of the Football League, with League Two Luton Town snapping the player up on a two-and-a-half-year deal in January 2018. With chances at Kenilworth Road limited at the start of the 2018-2019 season, Jervis was loaned to AFC Wimbledon for the entirety of the campaign, where he was in and out of the Dons team with only two goals for the season
After returning to Luton in the summer of 2019, Jervis was loaned out once more for the following campaign as he joined Football League newcomers Salford City on a season-long loan in September 2019, chalking up five goals in twenty-three starts
At the end of his Luton contract, Jervis headed off to Finland to sign an initial short-term deal with SJK Seinäjoki, which ended up being extended beyond 2020 and into 2023 as he scored frequently for the side. Overall, he made fifty-four starts for the club and scored twenty times in three seasons before making the move to India for a brief spell at Indian Super League club KuPS Kuopio, where he played eight times towards the end of 2023
In December 2023, he linked up with Brackley and played four times for the step two side before being released from his short-term deal in January 2024. Hednesford manager Harry Harris - keen to add firepower and experience to his misfiring side - snapped up the unattached Jervis ahead of the Pitmen's home game with Mossley. After a slow start to life at Keys Park, Jervis was the Pitmen's standout performer in the final weeks of the season, grabbing goals and man of the match performances, including a brilliant display and breathtaking goal in a 4- defeat at Nantwich Town in March 2024
To many supporters' delight, Jervis agreed a deal to remain at Keys Park for the 2024-205 campaign as one of only five players to remain from last season's squad