Jay DeMerit is undeniably the Rocky Balboa of professional soccer. With an inspiring and unlikely relative million to one odds journey detailing an undrafted and unassuming Wisconsin native, who was educated at the University of Illinois, DeMerit tenaciously slugged it out with undying iron will over God-given natural skill on the soccer field to mightily ascend to the very apex of the sport to cement his legacy.
DeMerit, a Watford legend, competed in the English Premier League during his professional career and represented the United States Men’s National Team at FIFA World Cup 2010, playing 25 times for the United States. The one-time MLS All-Star ended his career with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Widely ostracized and ignored by all MLS franchises during a then-monumental night at the MLS Super Draft 2003, the ever-determined DeMerit made a major decision to leave America. Jay DeMerit’s destination: Southall, west London. Southall has a populated Asian community of 47.8 percent and a vibrant culture, which underscored by 43.4 percent of the Southall residents being born outside of the United Kingdom.
Upon arriving in Southall with £1,800 to his name, the wild hopes of pursuing a professional soccer career in the soccer-addicted United Kingdom was viewed as nothing more than a pipe dream according to some. However, DeMerit’s Danish heritage essentially eased legal non-EU ramifications regarding immigration in seeking to become a permanent resident in the United Kingdom. Also, the cynical British mindset in Americans playing the beautiful game was still relatively jaded and uncertain, thus providing further motivation and fuel for DeMerit to succeed in England.
Initially, DeMerit, who was then 21 when he arrived in England, immediately found employment working as a bartender in London to make ends meet financially, whilst also additionally earning £40 per week plying his trade for Southall FC out of competitive leisure and love of the beautiful game. Southall FC is a ninth-tier Spartan South Midlands League amateur soccer team. Furthermore, Queens Park Rangers legend Les Ferdinand once played for Southall FC.
Shortly thereafter a solid tenure with Southall FC, Jay DeMerit joined seventh tier Isthmian League club Northwood FC. Against all odds, English Premier League club Watford, who were then competing in the SKY BET Championship, decided to arrange a friendly game against Northwood FC during the 2004 off-season. DeMerit was in the right place at the right time to make a big impression.
The hard-nosed, rugged American center back excellently and opportunistically made the very most of this once-in-a-lifetime chance in Northwood FC’s friendly game against Watford. Watford’s then manager, Ray Lewington, was thoroughly impressed as DeMerit potently negated Watford’s goal-scoring chances throughout the friendly game against Northwood FC.
After the impressive showing for Northwood FC, Watford then decidedly offered Jay DeMerit a two-week trial with the Herfordshire club. DeMerit impressed during the two-week trial and Watford subsequently signed the American for an undisclosed fee with a one-year guaranteed contract. It was the official signification that DeMerit had made it after sacrificing time and effort in paying dues in undesirably English non-league lower divisions and working in moonlighting jobs such as a bartender.
One year before DeMerit’s arrival at Vicarage Road, Watford had purchased striker, Scott Fitzgerald, from DeMerit’s former club Northwood FC in a then-budget-saving scheme. Jay DeMerit spent six memorable seasons at Vicarage Road before joining MLS expansion team Vancouver in 2011.
Before retiring from the game, DeMerit, who was the captain of Vancouver, insurmountably witnessed the MLS team narrowly miss out on the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs in the richly talent-laden MLS Western Conference. DeMerit was also named as an MLS All-Star in 2012 to play against English Premier League giants Chelsea in a 3-2 victory.
In hindsight for DeMerit, the humble and hard-working Wisconsin native quintessentially overachieved and left a warm imprint in the hearts of Watford fans as well as fans of USMNT and MLS. Jay DeMerit’s once in a million meteoric rise to prominence is a legendary tale of epic proportions with soccer’s most profoundly visible underdog honored with a motion picture released detailing his life and professional career entitled ‘Rise And Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story’. A sports underdog like Jay’s rise to fame will be celebrated through the motion picture, shedding light on his struggles.
The true honor and a crowning achievement for Jay DeMerit could very well be waiting in the wings as he has been officially nominated as a candidate for the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
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Photo credit: Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images
