Dexter Blackstock

Dexter Blackstock

Blackstock in 2016
Personal information
Full name Dexter Anthony Titus Blackstock[1]
Date of birth (1986-05-20) 20 May 1986[1]
Place of birth Oxford, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Rotherham United
Number 20
Youth career
2002–2003 Oxford United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Southampton 28 (4)
2005 → Plymouth Argyle (loan) 14 (4)
2005 → Derby County (loan) 9 (3)
2006–2009 Queens Park Rangers 109 (30)
2009 → Nottingham Forest (loan) 6 (2)
2009–2016 Nottingham Forest 164 (41)
2013 → Leeds United (loan) 4 (1)
2016– Rotherham United 7 (1)
National team‡
2004 England U18 1 (0)
2004–2005 England U19 4 (0)
2007–2008 England U21 2 (0)
2012– Antigua and Barbuda 6 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 September 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13:53, 21 June 2016 (UTC)

Dexter Anthony Titus Blackstock (born 20 May 1986) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Rotherham United. He has previously played for Oxford United, Southampton, Plymouth Argyle, Leeds United, Derby County and Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest.

Having represented England at youth international level, Blackstock went on to play for the Antigua and Barbuda national team; he qualified through his grandfather, who was born in Antigua.[2]

Playing career

Southampton

Born in Oxford, Oxfordshire,[1] he came through the Oxford United youth system and was then signed by Southampton, who had to pay United compensation of £275,000 as a result. Due to an injury crisis he was brought into the Southampton first team, where he scored a hat-trick against Colchester United in the League Cup in 2004. He then scored in the local derby against Portsmouth in Southampton's 2–1 win, thus establishing himself in the squad.

He was sent out on loan twice; to Plymouth Argyle in February 2005 for twelve weeks, scoring 4 goals in 14 appearances, and to Derby County in October 2005, scoring 3 goals in 9 appearances. He was recalled from Derby on 22 December 2005 after the appointment of George Burley as Southampton manager.

On 18 February 2006 he played in goal for the final ten minutes of the FA Cup fifth round tie against Newcastle United. An injury to Bartosz Białkowski and with Southampton having used all three substitutes, meant that Blackstock had to take over.

Although Blackstock had featured regularly under Burley, Southampton's purchase of Bradley Wright-Phillips meant that Blackstock had more competition for a role in Southampton's first team. As a result, Blackstock moved to Queens Park Rangers on 10 August 2006 for a fee believed to be around £500,000.

Queens Park Rangers

Gary Waddock paid a £500,000 transfer fee for Blackstock's service. Blackstock was given the number 32 shirt for the 2006–07 season, he was first choice striker throughout the season and played with a number of different partners, including Kevin Gallen, Paul Furlong and Marc Nygaard. Somewhat surprisingly however, the teenager Ray Jones was Blackstock's most regular partner as they struck up a good understanding with a combination of pace and power.

As the season progressed so did Blackstock, and it was in the final stages of the season that his performances started to blossom. Throughout the campaign his work effort was fantastic, but he had displayed a worrying sign of missing one-on-one's in the early stages of his QPR career. These worries soon disappeared and a fantastic goal against Preston North End was the highlight of the season. Receiving a ball from Marc Nygaard in a left back position, Blackstock chested the ball down and volleyed it with his left foot into the top corner from 30 yards.

Blackstock ended the campaign as club top scorer on 14 goals, one short of his personal target of 15. He came second in the player of the season awards, and his goal against Preston won goal of the season.

After scoring just six in 2007–08, Blackstock returned to form in 2008–09, and by the end of January had scored 12 goals in all competitions.

Nottingham Forest

Blackstock celebrates after scoring a goal for Nottingham Forest against Cardiff City

On 26 March 2009 it was announced that Blackstock had signed for Nottingham Forest on loan until the end of the season, with an undisclosed fee agreed should Forest avoid relegation.[3] Blackstock subsequently made his debut for Forest against Barnsley on 4 April 2009 at Oakwell,[4] scoring his first goal, the winner, for the club against Bristol City in a dramatic 3–2 win at the City Ground on 11 April 2009.[5]

On 22 July 2009, Blackstock signed a 4-year contract with Nottingham Forest for a seven figure fee.[6] He scored his first goal of the season when he notched in a first round Football League Cup win over Bradford City on 12 August 2009.[7] He scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season in a 1–1 draw against newly promoted side Leeds United.

On 20 November 2010 Blackstock suffered serious knee ligament damage after scoring the second goal in Forest's 2–0 win at Cardiff City and was subsequently sidelined for 12 months. He made his comeback in a friendly against York City on 14 November 2011 and scored along with Paul Anderson, another long term injured player.

In August 2011, there was reported interest from Blackpool in Blackstock.[8]

He scored both goals, his first ones back after being injured, in a 2–1 win against Birmingham City on 25 February 2012. Blackstock signed a new four and a half-year contract with Forest on 24 January 2013.

Leeds United loan

On 24 October 2013, Blackstock signed for Leeds United on a three-month loan until 25 January 2014.[9] He was handed the number 9 shirt and made his Leeds debut as a second-half substitute against Huddersfield Town on 26 October, scoring with his first touch for a debut goal.

Blackstock's loan at Leeds was cut short when he returned to Nottingham on 10 December 2013 due to a knee injury.[10]

Return from loan

Blackstock missed the remainder of the 2013–14 season and the beginning of the 2014–15 season with the knee injury. He made his first return to action since suffering the injury on 2 September 2014, playing 45 minutes in a game for Forest's under-21 side.[11] Blackstock eventually made his return to competitive action as a substitute in the 74th minute of a League Cup tie against Spurs on 24 September 2014.[12]

On 1 September 2016, Forest and Blackstock mutually agreed to terminate his contract at the club.[13]

Rotherham United

Following his release from Forest, Blackstock signed a 3-year deal with Rotherham United on 5 September 2016.[14] Blackstock scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 loss against Norwich City on 15 October 2016.[15]

International career

On 16 August 2007, Blackstock was called up to Stuart Pearce's first England under-21 squad as full-time manager. In the match against Montenegro on 7 September, he came on as a substitute on 90 minutes and headed the ball down for Andrew Surman to score the final goal in a 3–0 victory.[16]

Blackstock made his senior international appearance for Antigua and Barbuda in a 4–0 friendly defeat to Trinidad & Tobago on 29 February 2012.[17] He scored his first goal on 12 October 2012 in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against United States.

International goals

Scores and results list Antigua and Barbuda's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 12 October 2012 Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound  United States 1–1 1–2 2014 World Cup qualification
2. 5 June 2016 Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón  Puerto Rico 1–1 1–2 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification

Outside interests

In 2009, Blackstock opened a football school for children aged from six to fourteen.[18]

Career statistics

As of 9 May 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Southampton 2004–05[19] Premier League910024—115
2005–06[20] Championship1933021—244
Total 2843045—359
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2004–05[19] Championship1440000—144
Derby County (loan) 2005–06[20] Championship930000—93
Queens Park Rangers 2006–07[21] Championship39132110—4214
2007–08[22] Championship3561000—366
2008–09[23] Championship35111021—3812
Total 109304131—11632
Nottingham Forest (loan) 2008–09[23] Championship620000—62
Nottingham Forest 2009–10[24] Championship391310312[lower-alpha 1]04514
2010–11[25] Championship175001000185
2011–12[26] Championship2282000—248
2012–13[27] Championship3761011—397
2013–14[28] Championship100020—30
2014–15[29] Championship1950010—205
2015–16[30] Championship2942010—324
Total 1704360922018745
Leeds United (loan) 2013–14[28] Championship410000—41
Career total 334 85 13 1 16 8 2 0 365 94
  1. ↑ Appearances in Football League play-offs

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ↑ "Dex's Caribbean Adventure". Nottingham Forest F.C. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Forest capture striker Blackstock". BBC Sport. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
  4. ↑ "Barnsley 1–1 Forest". BBC Sport. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
  5. ↑ "Forest 3–2 Bristol City". Nottingham Forest Official Website. 11 April 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
  6. ↑ "Forest complete Blackstock deal". BBC Sport. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  7. ↑ "Nottm Forest 3–0 Bradford". BBC. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "Blackpool readying bid for Forest striker". Talksport. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  9. ↑ Dexter Blackstock: Leeds United sign Nottingham Forest striker
  10. ↑ Blackstock Out For Season
  11. ↑ "Dex and Kelvin feature in Under 21s' win". Nottingham Forest F.C. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "Tottenham 3-1 Nottm Forest". BBC Sport. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  13. ↑ http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/nottingham-forest-striker-dexter-blackstock-departure-3285302.aspx
  14. ↑ "Dexter Blackstock: Rotherham United sign ex-Nottingham Forest striker". BBC Sport. 5 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "Norwich 3-1 Rotherham". BBC Sport. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  16. ↑ "Montenegro U21 0–3 England U21". bbc.co.uk. 7 September 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2007.
  17. ↑ "International Round Up". Nottingham Foreset F.C. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  18. ↑ Murray, Jon (16 June 2009). "Dexter eyes Oxford United reunion". Oxford Times. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  19. 1 2 "Games played by Dexter Blackstock in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  20. 1 2 "Games played by Dexter Blackstock in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  21. ↑ "Games played by Dexter Blackstock in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  22. ↑ "Games played by Dexter Blackstock in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  23. 1 2 "Games played by Dexter Blackstock in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  24. ↑ "Games played by Dexter Blackstock in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  25. ↑ "Games played by Dexter Blackstock in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  26. ↑ "Games played by Dexter Blackstock in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  27. ↑ "Games played by Dexter Blackstock in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  28. 1 2 "Games played by Dexter Blackstock in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  29. ↑ "Games played by Dexter Blackstock in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  30. ↑ "Games played by Dexter Blackstock in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
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