From the club: Grays Athletic have signed Ian Joyce on a non-contract basis with a view to a full contract, Ian is a Goalkeeper who joins us from Seton Hall Pirates who are an American Soccer team. Link (to club site): http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/ Ian is a 1985 from New Jersey. Here's his college bio: http://www.shupirates.com/ViewArtic...4&DB_OEM_ID=12600&ATCLID=579298&Q_SEASON=2006 Gray's Athletic is currently near the bottom of the Nationwide Conference.
Just so we're clear, we're talking about a kid who is signing with a team that is 22nd out of 24 teams in the fifth tier (after the Premiership, Colaship and League One and Two) of English football. Still a better level of soccer than most of us, myself included, ever played, and certainly players have been discovered here and gone on to bigger clubs, but this ain't exactly the big time. That said, I don't begrudge the kid for giving it a shot and I wish him the best and at the very least he can hang out in Jolly Ol' for a spell and have some good stories - and resume fodder - when he comes back home.
It looks like this kid has been released. He was used as cover for some injured players. http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/fansforum/viewtopic.php?t=3725&highlight=ian+joyce
Ian had a trial at Crewe Alexandra before joining us. Only used as cover, never played. To say it was a poor or questionable move for him is crazy. Grays is well known for it's Football League successors and links. Most notable players are Freddy Eastwood and Michael Kightly who are tearing up the Championship.
I don't think anyone was questioning his decision to try to catch on with a non-league side in England. I think we only have to look at someone like Jay Demerit, who started out at Northwood if I am not mistaken. The non-league sides have always been a feeder to the bigger clubs. Anyway, do you know where Ian has ended up? Did he come back to the states, or is he still looking to hook up with another team in England?
Sorry I don't know where he is. I'm assuming he's still in England and looking for another club. He said to me he was living in Harlow with a friend when he was at Grays. Good luck to him, he's a top guy.
Ian has been on trial at Millwall since leaving us. Played in today's reserves match vs. Brighton http://www.millwallfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10367~1012430,00.html My brother told me, whilst at Grays, Crewe asked him to go back on trial but he declined as they didn't have a goalkeeping coach and Grays did. He did tell me that, but I can't remember the convo we had as I had waaaaaay too many beers.
Thanks for that update. Joyce let in two in that reserve match. Impossible to tell from the descriptions of the goals to what degree he might have been responsible. It does mention a late save as well as the scores.
A little bit more from a match report (from the opponent's perspective): On-loan left-back Zoumana Bakayogo, playing against his parent club, crossed for the former Billericay marksman [Nathan Elder] to head past giant American keeper Ian Joyce, one of three trialists in the Millwall line-up. ... [Alex] Frutos, forced off in the first half against Aldershot with a recurrence of a shin injury, doubled the lead in the 53rd minute. The Frenchman worked an opening inside area to score with a right-foot shot into the bottom corner. Link: http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/arg...arget_again_as_reserves_close_in_on_title.php
In case anyone was wondering, "giant" Ian was listed as 6' 3", 190, by Seton Hall. So he's got nothing on the original "Giant Ian" of American GK fame...
Read a blurb today that said Millwall were unlikely to offer any of their recent trialists a contract. The paper mentioned Joyce by name and then listed some quotes from the manager about how it's tough these days for young players (he doesn't mention names) to earn contracts based upon trials because they don't last long enough. He also said something about how managers want players who are experienced and can step in and contribute to the first team immediately. The inference being that his recent trialists would not be able to do that.
Found out Joyce has been playing for Harlow in the Ryman Prem (2 steps below Conference in the pyramid). Think he may be on trial/had trials at Watford too.
Thread on Joyce (and Hollenbach) at Harlow: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=589625 Thanks for the Watford news, will watch for more.
Joyce played for Watford's reserves in a 3-2 defeat against Southampton on Tuesday night and despite the scoreline had a really solid, reliable game. Watford already have 3 goalkeepers on their books though so it may be a struggle for him to get a contract with The Hornets from Watford I put this article together on www.watford.vitalfootball.co.uk should you be interested to find out more... http://www.watford.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=86385 Many thanks Dr Watford