Jason Lee Pusey (born 18 February 1989)[2] is a Gibraltarian former footballer. Beginning his career in the famed youth set up at Atlético Madrid, Pusey has gone on to play in Spain and Gibraltar, as well as earning 4 caps for his national side. His final club was East Riding County League side South Cave United, with whom he played for the 2022–23 season.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jason Lee Pusey[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 18 February 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Gibraltar | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2007 | Atlético Madrid | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2007 | Atlético Madrid C | ||
| 2007–2008 | Cádiz B | ||
| 2008–2010 | Atlético Zabal | ||
| 2012–2013 | Lions Gibraltar | ||
| 2013–2014 | Glacis United | 11 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | Manchester 62 | 7 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Gibraltar United | 23 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Lincoln Red Imps | 1 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Gibraltar Phoenix (loan) | 16 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | Gibraltar Phoenix | 6 | (0) |
| 2019 | Europa | 1 | (0) |
| 2020 | Europa Point | 4 | (1) |
| 2021–2022 | Lions Gibraltar | 4 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | South Cave United | 23 | (3) |
| International career | |||
| 2015 | Gibraltar development squad | 4 | (0) |
| 2017 | Gibraltar | 4 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:06, 22 February 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Early career
Pusey began his career at Atlético Madrid, spending 2 years at the top level of the club's youth team as well as turning out for the C team. Following his release from the club in 2007, he spent a year playing for Cádiz B followed by two seasons at Atlético Zabal. Pusey left Zabal in 2010 to take a break from football and study in the UK, returning to his native Gibraltar in 2012 to sign for Lions Gibraltar. Pusey was a regular in the first team at Lions but could not prevent the club finishing 5th of 6 teams, finishing above Glacis United on goal difference.
Return to Gibraltar
After Gibraltar was admitted to UEFA in 2013, the Gibraltar Premier Division expanded to 8 teams, and in this new format Pusey left Lions to play for Glacis United. Again, Pusey played a central role in defence as Glacis finished 5th in the table, but the summer saw him move clubs once again, this time to the previous season's runners up Manchester 62. Here he saw first team chances diminish, with only 7 appearances over two disappointing seasons at the club before a move to Gibraltar United in summer 2016. Here, he saw his career get back on track, with 23 games over the course of the season helping Gibraltar United avoid relegation, and attracting the attention of national team coach Jeff Wood. His performances then attracted the attention of Lincoln Red Imps, and he joined the Gibraltar football giants in the summer of 2017.
While he was named on the bench for Lincoln's opening qualifiers for the Europa League, he didn't see any action until he appeared in the Pepe Reyes Cup against Europa, picking up his first silverware as Lincoln won 5–3 on penalties. The consistency of Roy Chipolina and Ryan Casciaro at the heart of the Lincoln defence saw opportunities limited, however, with a 20 minute cameo against former club Glacis United on 27 September being his only action for the first team. In an effort to gain more first team football and remain in contention for the national team, Pusey went out on loan in January 2018 to Gibraltar Phoenix. Although he missed Phoenix's first game after the winter break against his parent club, he made his debut on 16 February 2018, again against Glacis United. He played the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 victory.[3] At the end of the season, he was released by his parent club. He joined Gibraltar Phoenix permanently in the summer, making his debut as club captain on 15 August 2018 against Lynx.[4] After a season plagued by injury, he joined Europa on 13 June 2019.[5] However, he left the club mid-way through the season without playing a single first team game, joining Europa Point as a free agent at the end of January 2020. He made his debut on 30 January against Glacis United.[6] Although originally set to continue as vice-captain for the next season, Pusey terminated his contract in June, citing personal reasons.
International career
Pusey's first taste of international football for Gibraltar came in 2015 at the 2015 Island Games.[7] He was first called up to the Gibraltar national football team in 2016, but didn't make his debut until 25 March 2017 against Bosnia. He would go on to play 4 more games in Gibraltar's maiden World Cup qualification campaign.
Personal life
In July 2024, Pusey was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison after being convicted of supplying cocaine and cannabis to gangs in South London.[8]
Honours
Lincoln Red Imps
- Pepe Reyes Cup: 2017
References
- ^ Jason Pusey at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
- ^ (Reporter), Joe Duggan (13 March 2017). "Gibraltar boss Jeff Wood names 29-man squad for World Cup clash with Bosnia Herzegovina". gibraltarolivepress.com. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ^ Gibraltar Phoenix vs Glacis United match report
- ^ Match Report: Lynx vs Gibraltar Phoenix Gibraltar Football Association. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ Pusey and Olivero sign for Europa Football Gibraltar on Facebook. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- ^ Match Report: Europa Point vs Glacis United Gibraltar FA. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- ^ Team Details: Gibraltar 2015 Island Games. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Jason Pusey: Former footballer jailed for supplying cocaine and cannabis worth £3m to South London gangs National World. 5 July 2024.
