1. Overview
Sylvan Augustus Ebanks-Blake, born on March 29, 1986, is an English former professional footballer who primarily played as a striker. He began his youth career at Cambridge United and Manchester United before making his professional debut in 2004. A notable period of his career was spent with Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he gained significant recognition, earning consecutive Championship Golden Boot awards and contributing to the club's promotion to the Premier League. Ebanks-Blake represented England at under-21 level and was also eligible to play for Jamaica at senior international level due to his parents' heritage. His surname can also be seen written as イバンクス＝ブレイクIbanks-BlakeJapanese or エバンクス＝ブレイクEbans-BlakeJapanese.
2. Early Life and Youth Career
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's formative years in football began in his hometown, where he developed his early skills before moving into a professional academy system.
2.1. Early Life and Education
Born in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Ebanks-Blake attended the Netherhall School. His first clubs in the Cambridge area were Cherry Hinton Lions and Fulbourn Falcons, where he started his football journey.
2.2. Manchester United Youth Academy
At the age of 15, while already on schoolboy terms with Cambridge United, Ebanks-Blake attended a two-week trial with Manchester United at their training center. Following the trial, he was offered a contract and chose to join Manchester United's Academy, turning down a scholarship from Cambridge. During his time in the Manchester United youth system, he was part of the squad that won the FA Youth Cup in 2003. His development was further recognized when he received the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year award for the 2004-05 season. Towards the end of the 2004-05 season, he sustained a fractured leg, which sidelined him for the remainder of that season. However, he recovered and notably scored a hat-trick upon his return for the Manchester United reserves. He measures 70 in (178 cm) tall and weighs 201 lb (91.25 kg).
3. Club Career
Ebanks-Blake's professional club career spanned various tiers of English football, marked by significant goal-scoring periods and contributions to team successes, particularly during his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
3.1. Manchester United
Ebanks-Blake made his senior debut for Manchester United on October 26, 2004, in a League Cup match against Crewe Alexandra. A year later, he scored his first senior goal for the club against Barnet in another League Cup tie on October 26, 2005. Despite his performances for the reserve team and being an unused substitute in several Champions League games, he was never called upon for a first-team league game.
3.2. Royal Antwerp (loan)
In January 2006, to gain further first-team experience, Ebanks-Blake was loaned to Royal Antwerp in Belgium. During his spell with the Belgian club, he made 9 appearances and scored 4 goals, a productive period that contributed to his development.
3.3. Plymouth Argyle
After his loan spell, Ebanks-Blake returned to England and signed a three-year deal with Championship club Plymouth Argyle on July 14, 2006. The initial transfer fee paid to Manchester United was 200.00 K GBP, with potential clauses increasing it to over 300.00 K GBP. He was the first signing for new manager Ian Holloway and quickly established himself as a first-team regular. In his debut season with Argyle, he scored 10 goals, many of which came in the latter part of the season. By New Year of the 2007-08 season, he had already scored 11 league goals, solidifying his status as a fan favorite and a top prospect, despite starting the season on the substitutes' bench. He scored a total of 21 goals in the Championship during his two seasons at Plymouth.
3.4. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Ebanks-Blake's impressive form at Plymouth attracted the attention of fellow Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers. They activated a buy-out clause in his contract for 1.50 M GBP, and he signed with them on January 11, 2008, on a four-and-a-half-year contract. He scored his first league goal for Wolves on January 19, 2008, against Scunthorpe United. A strong run of seven goals in his first eight games earned him the Championship Player of the Month award for March 2008. He finished the 2007-08 season as the Championship Golden Boot winner, scoring a total of 23 goals across both clubs (12 for Wolves and 11 for Plymouth Argyle).
He continued his excellent form into the 2008-09 season, scoring nine goals in the opening 13 league games. This performance also led to his debut for the England under-21 side on November 18, 2008, when he came on as a substitute against Czech Republic U21s. 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 against Charlton Athletic in March 2008.
On February 3, 2009, he scored his first professional hat-trick against Norwich City at Molineux, reaching the 20-goal mark once again. After recovering from a calf injury, his final goal of the 2008-09 campaign came against Queens Park Rangers on April 18, 2009, securing a 1-0 win that ensured Wolves' promotion to the Premier League. He finished this Championship-winning season with a total of 25 goals, successfully retaining the Championship Golden Boot for a second consecutive season. In July 2009, Wolves rewarded him with a new four-year deal, extending his stay at Molineux until the summer of 2013.
Ebanks-Blake found it challenging to replicate his prolific goal-scoring form in the Premier League. After struggling with injuries early in the 2009-10 season, he returned but only managed to score one goal, a penalty against Aston Villa in October 2009. He was subsequently dropped from the starting lineup as manager Mick McCarthy opted for a 4-5-1 formation, with Kevin Doyle as the lone striker. Later in the season, on April 24, 2010, Ebanks-Blake scored his second and final league goal of the campaign, a header against Blackburn Rovers, securing a 1-1 draw that effectively guaranteed Wolves' Premier League survival.
He had a more promising start to the 2010-11 Premier League season, scoring four league goals before Christmas against Everton, Newcastle United, former club Manchester United, and Sunderland. Despite being less favored for a starting position 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, which sidelined him for six weeks. Upon his return, he struggled to match his goal-scoring tally from the previous season as the team battled against relegation. He scored only one Premier League goal during the 2011-12 campaign, against Norwich City, as the club was relegated back to the Championship under the temporary management of Terry Connor.
The 2012-13 season saw Ebanks-Blake regain his goal-scoring form, netting 14 league goals before a severe injury. On April 1, 2013, he sustained a broken fibula and a sprained ankle against Birmingham City, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season and potentially the start of the following one. He was released by the club at the end of the 2012-13 season, a campaign that saw Wolves relegated to League One.
3.5. Later Career
Following his departure from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake moved to several clubs, navigating various divisions of English football.
3.5.1. Ipswich Town
Ebanks-Blake signed with Ipswich Town on December 19, 2013, a move that reunited him with his former manager, Mick McCarthy. He was assigned the number 27 shirt and signed a contract until the end of the 2013-14 season. His debut for the club came on January 4, 2014, in an FA Cup third-round tie against Preston North End, but he was substituted off due to injury after just 29 minutes. He left the club in May 2014.
3.5.2. Preston North End
After a trial period with Brentford in October 2014 and trials with several other Football League clubs, Ebanks-Blake joined Preston North End on trial in December 2014. He was signed by Preston on a short-term contract on January 1, 2015, which kept 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. During his time there, he made 13 appearances in all competitions, scoring his only goal for the club-a 76th-minute equalizer against Yeovil Town.
3.5.3. Chesterfield
On June 6, 2015, Ebanks-Blake signed a two-year contract with Chesterfield after his release from Preston North End. He remained with the club until he was released at the end of the 2016-17 season.
3.5.4. Shrewsbury Town (loan)
Ebanks-Blake joined Shrewsbury Town on a half-season loan on August 31, 2016. During his loan spell, which also saw a change in management at the club, he made just seven first-team appearances without scoring. New manager Paul Hurst decided not to extend the arrangement when it concluded in January 2017.
3.5.5. A.F.C. Telford United
In October 2017, it was reported that Ebanks-Blake, as a free agent, was training with National League North side A.F.C. Telford United. He officially joined the club the following month, making his debut on November 25 in a 4-2 FA Trophy victory over Droylsden, where he scored two goals. Ebanks-Blake left Telford on February 6, 2018, as manager Rob Edwards sought to balance the team's budget.
3.5.6. Halesowen Town
Ebanks-Blake joined Halesowen Town on July 26, 2018, where he played alongside former West Bromwich Albion striker Lee Hughes. After a change in management at Halesowen, he signed for league rivals Barwell in October 2018.
3.5.7. Barwell
Ebanks-Blake transferred to Barwell in October 2018 after a change in management at Halesowen Town.
3.5.8. 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 before suffering a serious injury, breaking his leg for the third time in his career.
4. International Career
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake represented England at under-21 level. He earned one cap for the England U-21 side, coming on as a substitute against Czech Republic U21s on November 18, 2008. Due to his parents' background, he was also eligible to play for the Jamaica at senior international level.
5. Personal Life
In 2008, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake faced legal issues related to an incident at a Plymouth nightclub on November 11, 2007, while he was a Plymouth Argyle player. He was charged with causing actual bodily harm to a doorman. On July 4, 2008, he admitted to attacking the doorman with his girlfriend's handbag, which caused a three-inch cut to the doorman's head. He was subsequently fined 1.35 K GBP, with 650 GBP in costs and 500 GBP in compensation by Plymouth Crown Court. In March 2013, he was arrested and questioned by police in Birmingham on suspicion of witness intimidation but was later released without charge.
6. Retirement
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake officially retired from professional football in December 2018. His career concluded following a serious injury sustained while playing for Walsall Wood, where he broke his leg for the third time in his career. This repeated severe injury ultimately led to his decision to end his playing career.
7. Honours
7.1. Club
- Football League Championship: 2008-09 (with Wolverhampton Wanderers)
7.2. 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
8. Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United | 2004-05 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005-06 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | ||
| Royal Antwerp (loan) | 2005-06 | Belgian Second Division | 9 | 4 | - | - | - | 9 | 4 | |||
| Plymouth Argyle | 2006-07 | Championship | 41 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 10 |
| 2007-08 | Championship | 25 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 13 | |
| Total | 66 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 74 | 23 | ||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2007-08 | Championship | 20 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 12 |
| 2008-09 | Championship | 41 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 25 | |
| 2009-10 | Premier League | 23 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2 | |
| 2010-11 | Premier League | 30 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 7 | |
| 2011-12 | Premier League | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 | |
| 2012-13 | Championship | 40 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 15 | |
| Total | 177 | 61 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 193 | 64 | ||
| Ipswich Town | 2013-14 | Championship | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Preston North End | 2014-15 | League One | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Chesterfield | 2015-16 | League One | 33 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 10 |
| 2016-17 | League One | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 3 | |
| Total | 46 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 13 | ||
| Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 2016-17 | League One | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Telford United | 2017-18 | National League North | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 2 | 8 | 4 | |
| Halesowen Town | 2018-19 | Southern League Premier Central | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Barwell | 2018-19 | Southern League Premier Central | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 1 | 9 | 2 | |
| Walsall Wood | 2018-19 | Midland League Premier Division | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
| Career total | 346 | 104 | 21 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 390 | 114 | ||