As you can see from that image, posted on his Twitter profile, Jay is now in semi-retirement (also known as the MLS) playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Jay has been featured on here before. It was when during his journey through the lower leagues before ending up at Watford, when he was playing at non-league Northwood FC that the assistant coach’s father died of cancer. Jay played in a charity game for Cancer Research UK and he also recorded a song called Soccer Rocks! :

The Justgiving page is closed now, but you can still donate by going here.

After Watford released him last summer DeMerit went to the World Cup as part of the U.S. national soccer team. In fact during the Algeria match he played most of it with a split tongue which required five stitches after the game.

During the tournament the website ussoccer.com released this two-part video bio/interview, recorded when he was still at Watford:

As mentioned he’s now at the Vancouver Whitecaps, who will kick off their inaugural MLS season this coming March (more about them in a moment), with the Green Bay, Wisconsin born DeMerit captaining the team.

Whilst he has some downtime… Jay popped along to take part in the fan appreciation day at the Green Bay Packers last Sunday and during the half time break took to the field…not to play obviously, but you know what he did:

“…Another fan in attendance Sunday, who has earned a reputation as a bit of a celebrity while being a native of Green Bay, was Jay DeMerit.

DeMerit, U.S Men’s National Soccer Team defender and member of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of MLS, led the crowd in singing ‘Roll Out The Barrel’ late in the third quarter. And while DeMerit has traveled the world, coming to Lambeau Field is always a thrill.

“Growing up in Green Bay this is what it is all about,” DeMerit said. I got a call a few weeks ago asking if I wanted to come to Lambeau and lead the fans in the ‘Roll Out The Barrel,’ and come down on the field before the game. There was no way I could turn it down. To represent Green Bay and what I do is great. This is about as big of an honor I could get.”

And to round out an exciting day at Lambeau for DeMerit, he could only describe the day in one word, “Awesome.”

Alas my dear reader, I have to sadly inform you that there’s no video (online at least) of this event. Maybe one will surface eventually. We’ll keep our fingers crossed. Or maybe we can all tweet @D6MERIT and see if he knows of any recordings.

In the meantime, some music which… yes, you saw Roll Out The Barrel, you know what’s coming. But before that I want to give a mention to a song that was used by the Vancouver Whitecaps in their previous incarnation.

… Let me take you back in time a few years when the Vancouver Whitecaps were playing in the USL (United Soccer League), and it was in 2002 before their season home opener that The Proclaimers played a concert:

“…artists The Proclaimers will headline a Whitecaps/Proclaimers VIP Concert, and will also be featured at the Whitecaps home opener against the Minnesota Thunder…

In addition, the duo, consisting of identical twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid, have re-recorded the popular Whitecaps anthem “White is the Colour”, first released in 1978…

[See post to listen to audio] » The Proclaimers – White Is The Colour

(Incidentally the Reid brothers will shill for any MLS team if you give them a scarf it seems.)

I’ve covered the subject of …Is The Colour… before. Traditionally it is associated with Chelsea, but as I discovered there was another USL club who have also appropriate the song. The team is the Portland Timbers, their colo(u)rs are predominately green, so they obviously sing Green Is The Color.

…and until we find the live rendition of the tune by Jay DeMerit, here’s another version of the old tune sang by everybody round the jo-anna in the pubs during the war. Also still heard with re-worded chants on the terraces. (Terraces…? What’s a terrace ? I hear a Premier League supporter asking)

This is the Beer Barrel Polka, which you will not know the verses, but after a few beers everybody sings the chorus. Brought to you by The Andrews Sisters:

[See post to listen to audio] » The Andrews Sisters – Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel)

Reid brothers… Andrews sisters… see what I did there…

Reflecting on yesterday and cashing in on the sudden attention given to the beating of the Spanish at the hands of the Americans… (no I’m not going to do Gitmo jibe here)… in the soccer kickball tourney currently being played in South Africa. »   Full analysis by Twohundredpercent here.

Although it’s not going to advance their domestic game any further – only two of the starting XI play in the MLS – it is at least going to get 30 seconds of time of the short attention spanned* American sports fans.   *The late Steven Wells summed that up perfectly here.

As The Fiver mentions it is a bit of another false dawn… (sorry for all the Grauniad links, I openly admit, I am a regular reader)… knowing the yankeedoodies as well as I do… this site is run by a Brit Expat married to an American and now living in the USA… I know that once America finally discovers a new sport that they are actually half good at, they will want to dominate and then win everything to do with it. Mark my words, eventually the USA will lift the World Cup.   If they don’t I’ll take up ballet lessons with Shane Evans.

This is yet another repost of previously featured tunes, again as mentioned in an attempt to harvest some extra visits to F+M.
- Featuring songs done by two players from last night, the first one from who scored the 2nd one:

A few years back Clint Dempsey made a music video in conjunction with nikesoccer.com which was featured on their site. He recorded this under the name of “Deuce” and collaborated with others on this project. More info and background here. Decent outfield player and not bad with the rapping too: [See post to listen to audio] » Deuce featuring Big Hawk & XO – Don’t Tread

This next one from the defense (spelling appropriate) who got a shut out and didn’t give any PK’s…

(Seriously I am worried about that Mickey Mouse operation who now have some EPL rights for next season will thrust the likes of JP Delacamera and that gobshite Tommy Smyth upon you)

Back to the game in hand though:

Jay DeMerit didn’t get drafted into the MLS from college, but eventually ended up at Watford. On his way to the Hornets he played for non-league Northwood and after an assistant coach’s father died of cancer he went about raising money for Cancer Research UK, which included the recording of the following song. » Full story here. Bit of a corny tune, but it was for charidee… [See post to listen to audio] » Jay DeMerit – Soccer Rocks

Before this last game and after their thrashings at the hands of Italy and Brazil, the USA were half expecting to go home. But then Egypt beat Italy and… well as they say, that’s football for you.

Jay DeMerit made it into English football, but not by the usual routes.

Jay originally hails from an area in the USA that – sporting wise – is known for it’s (American) football.

Green Bay is cheese, is cheeseheads and is the Packers.

With the gridiron football the Quarterback position is the equivalent of the captain of the team. He makes all the plays, he controls the game the same way a central midfielder such as Captain Marvel did.

So growing up in that area as DeMerit did, the expectation was for everybody to take up and play (American) football. Jay though, was somebody that didn’t.

He played college soccer at the University of Illinois at Chicago, but after graduation none of the MLS teams drafted him [click here for info about MLS Draft], so thanks to his Danish grandfather Jay took advantage of his E.U work status and flew over to Blighty and began looking for a place to play.

He was given a chance and started at a lowest level with Southall Town F.C. who play… *takes deep breath*… in the Cherry Red Books Middlesex County League Division One (Central & East).

A year later he went to the semi-professional club Northwood (Isthmian League Division One North) and it was whilst playing in a friendly for them against Watford that the then manager Ray Lewington spotted him and was offered a two week trial. After the trial he signed for a year but since then has become a permanent fixture in the Watford back four.

A couple of seasons ago Watford found themselves in the toppermost of the poppermost divisions and DeMerit archived his dream of playing in the English Premier League.

It was also during this season that he gave something back.

A few years before when playing for Northwood the teams assistant coach’s father died of cancer. Jay wanted to do something to raise awareness and funds for Cancer Research UK.
- From his Justgiving page:

“I came to England three years ago from Wisconsin, wanting to travel, have fun and play a bit of soccer. Now here I am in 2006, lining up against the likes of Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney and Andriy Shevchenko!

Watford spotted me playing for little Northwood two seasons ago, signed me on a professional contract and the rest is history.

Last May I scored the winning goal at the Millennium Stadium in the Championship Playoff Final and thereby I achieved my dream of becoming a Premiership player.

Unfortunately, not everyone achieves their dreams because cancer steals their lives from them too soon.

When I played for Northwood, my assistant coach’s father died of the disease and I thought about how precious life is, and how swiftly and cruelly it can be snatched away.

We played a charity game in his memory in aid of Cancer Research UK and so when I recorded the single “Soccer Rocks!” with some friends in Minneapolis this summer, I decided it had to go to a good cause, and I could not think of one closer to my heart than this.”

The page is closed for donations now, but you can still donate by clicking here.

[See post to listen to audio] » Jay DeMerit – Soccer Rocks

A postscript: As you can see there are more American born players plying their trade in Europe than you thought. There’s an excellent website called Yanks Abroad that keeps tabs on them all.