Jamie Leslie Guy (born 1 August 1987 in Barking) is an English footballer who currently plays for League Two side Port Vale, on loan from League One side Colchester United. Since turning professional in 2004, the striker has been a regular bench warmer at Colchester, he has also enjoyed numerous loan spells at lower league clubs.

[edit] Playing career

At the start of the 2004–05 season, Guy joined non-league Tiptree United on a one month loan.^[2] He came through the ranks at parent club Colchester United to make his senior debut at Layer Road in a 1–0 defeat to Blackpool on 5 February 2005. He replaced Sam Stockley on 82 minutes. Three weeks later he played the last two minutes of a 2–0 defeat away at Hull City, this time coming on for Gareth Williams.

Starting the 2005–06 with a couple of late minute appearances, Guy joined Gravesend & Northfleet on loan for October. Coming on for Kim Grant 65 minutes into a 2–2 draw with York City at Stonebridge Road, he played no further part of the club's Conference National campaign. Back with Colchester, he got his first start in a Football League Trophy game at Milton Keynes Dons, though made way for Greg Halford on 70 minutes. In February he returned to the Conference, on loan with Cambridge United.^[3] He bagged his first goal in a 1–0 defeat of Woking on 4 March and on 4 April scored a last minute winning goal at the Abbey Stadium against Exeter City. He spent mid-March back at Layer Road, playing both legs of the League Trophy Southern Final clash with eventual winners Swansea City.^[4]

He spent all of the 2006–07 season with Colchester, who by now were in the Championship. He scored his first senior goal in the 2–1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion on 19 August, scoring seconds after coming on for Kemal Izzet. Becoming something of a "super-sub", he also scored late goals against Coventry City and Cardiff City. Overall his stats of 34 appearances that season betray the fact that he rarely played more than 20 minutes of each match. In July he signed an extended contract with the club.^[5]

The following season he was called on less frequently, making just 12 appearances.

In need of regular football, the young striker joined Conference outfit Oxford United on a season-long loan deal from Colchester United in July 2008.^[6] During the pre-season, Guy was in fine form, giving manager Darren Patterson cause for optimism.^[7] Guy claimed the dressing room atmosphere was a key reason for the impressive summer run.^[8] However, in a pre-season friendly with Portsmouth he suffered a hamstring injury,^[9][10] before being struck down by a minor ankle injury.^[11] These injuries frustrated attempts to build a strike partnership with James Constable.^[12] Following Patterson's departure in late November, Guy was unsure of his future at the Kassam Stadium.^[13] A few days later he scored two goals in a game for the first time, in the FA Trophy game with Sudbury^[14] and was well fancied by caretaker manager Jim Smith.^[15] However, with Chris Wilder's entrance came Guy's departure, as he returned to Layer Road at the end of the year.^[16] After four games under new Colchester manager Paul Lambert, he joined League Two promotion hopefuls Dagenham & Redbridge, initially on a one month loan.^[17] He made his debut for the club the same evening as he signed, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–0 home defeat to Lincoln City on 3 March. After scoring the only goal in a league match against Port Vale at Vale Park seven days later, the Daggers were keen to extend the deal to the end of the season,^[18] which Colchester duly obliged to.

In July 2009, he joined Port Vale on trial, in view of a loan move for the start of the 2009–10 season.^[19] Guy was especially keen on on a possible move, saying "Hopefully we can get something worked out and I can come in on loan and do a job for Port Vale."^[20] The deal fell through after Guy tore a cartilage in his knee, requiring surgery to correct the damage.^[21] In October 2009, the loan deal went ahead, lasting until January 2010.^[22]

Jamie's a big strong player, who holds the ball up well. He's got great feet and pace, which is everything you want in a striker.

—Former Dagenham and Port Vale teammate Doug Loft speaking on Guy.^[23]

[edit] Personal life

During an interview with U's Review, Guy stated that his footballing hero is Julian Dicks.

Guy grew up in the East End of London, supporting West Ham United.^[24] He studied at Eastbrook Comprehensive School, which has also seen Tony Adams and Paul Konchesky as former students to become professional footballers.

He had a child with girlfriend Ellysha Stephens, a son born in April 2008.^[25]

[edit] Controversies

In June 2007, Guy was forced to pay a £550 fine after pleading guilty to creating a disturbance in the Colchester town centre the previous month,^[26] his behaviour during the incident was said to be "bullying".^[25] He has also received a twelve month ban for drink driving and a £100 fine for "play" fighting with a friend in a car park.^[25]

In September 2009, Guy pleading guilty to threatening behaviour. He was given a £350 fine, with £200 costs and compensation.^[25] The charges came following a night out where he got into an argument with his girlfriend and "spat in her face and pulled her around, causing clumps of hair to come out".^[25] The court heard that the £400 a week striker regular played “on his minor celebrity status” and was an “obnoxious and arrogant” individual.^[25]

A month after his conviction for threatening behaviour, Guy was in trouble with the law again. He was in court answering a charge of racially-aggravated behaviour, following an alleged racist remark he made to an off-duty police officer in Hanley city centre.^[27]

[edit] Statistics

Notes

a. Football League Trophy results included in totals.
b. Tiptree United stats unavailable.

[edit] Honours

with Colchester United

• Football League One runners-up: 2005–06

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Jamie Guy career stats at Soccerbase
• Jamie Guy player profile at cu-fc.com
• Jamie Guy player profile at port-vale.co.uk