Prolific international striker with ‘legend’ status who struggled to fit in at Plymouth Argyle

Seven of Plymouth Argyle’s current squad were called up by their countries as the Championship takes a week off for the latest international break. But there was a time when international footballers were more of a rarity at Home Park.

One of them, in the late 1990s, however, may have only scored seven goals during his time with Plymouth Argyle, but was a prolific goalscorer for his country. Fans who saw him play will remember fondly the contribution made by the St Lucian forward.

Although already an international back home, Early Jean dreamed of making a success of his career on European stages, playing for four Portuguese clubs in five years before arriving in Plymouth.

With a sharp turn of pace, his particular skill was being able to run at pace with the ball staying close to his feet. At just five feet eight inches, he did have a remarkable knack of leaping to a good height, hence his nickname of The Flea.

Born on October 9, 1971, Jean first played at primary school and quickly progressed to playing for the St Lucia under-16 national team. Turning professional, in turning out for Portuguese sides Olieveirense, FC Union de Coimbra, Leca and Uniao de Felgueras he played for clubs, like Argyle, that played in a first-choice strip of green.

With Leca, the striker’s performances really came to the fore with 18 goals in 55 games. Moving to these shores, a trial with Ipswich Town saw him come off the bench in a top-flight match against Stoke City on December 21, 1996.

He may have been a new name to English football but by this time was already a 10-year veteran of the international game. His next domestic match came within a month in the colours of Rotherham United, when he was signed on non-contract terms by manager Danny Bergara, but started in only seven games.

By the end of the season, he was Rotherham’s top scorer with six Second Division goals at a ratio of one every three games but, as a free agent, Jean was snapped up by Argyle manager Mick Jones, who saw potential in the diminutive striker. Jean’s debut came as a substitute in a 1-1 draw at Ian Holloway’s Bristol Rovers in Division Two.

That opening day of the 1997/98 season saw Carlo Corazzin sent off and Barry Hayles score a debut goal for Rovers after joining them for £200,000. Jean’s first start was rewarded with his opening goal for the Pilgrims in a 1-1 draw at Chesterfield when he made his mark in more ways than one.

The match may have been remembered because of the continued absence of Mark Patterson and Mark Saunders because of their reluctance to agree new contracts. But Jean was given a ticking off after an over-enthusiastic goal celebration with the away fans.

That included, as he made his way back to the halfway line, a hug he gave referee Ken Leach!

He then scored in consecutive games – the first being the opener in a 2-2 draw with Burnley at Home Park, who were under the charge of player-manager Chris Waddle. He then found the target to give Argyle a short-lived fourth-minute lead in a 2-1 defeat at Gillingham.

Continuity in the Argyle side was difficult, because of his international commitments. In total, Jean made 37 starts for the Greens as well as 28 substitute appearances.

Appointed as captain of St Lucia, he played in the Caribbean Cup during his time as an Argyle player as well as being selected for the Caribbean All Stars side that faced Jamaica in 1998. His internationals included two goals in four games in which he represented St Lucia in the CONCACAF group of World Cup qualifiers.

Leaving Home Park by mutual consent on March 30, 1999, he signed for West Connection. They were one of eight teams that formed a new league in Trinidad and Jean hit the target 11 times in 19 matches.

Ten months later he returned to this side of the Atlantic when he joined Hibernian – another team in green. However, his time in Scotland was short lived as he made just five substitute appearances.

A return to West Connection, where he was nicknamed “Ballhog”, ensued where he was re-appointed as club captain and his second spell saw him score an incredible 34 goals in 33 appearances. There then followed short loan spells in 2002 with Chinese sides Quingdao and Hefei Chuangyi, but success soon followed with his club in Trinidad.

In 2005, he collected winners’ medals for the league championship, the FCB Cup and the Toyota Classic knockout competition, scoring 14 goals in the process. In March 2006, Jean was back in China where he had a trial which proved unsuccessful, so returned to his spiritual home of West Connection for a third time where he added another 45 goals to underline his heroic status with the club.

One final move saw him play just a single game for Trinidad and Tobago side San Juan Jabloteh, but it was here that he had his first introduction to coaching. Back at West Connection, he was appointed to the coaching staff in 2010, later becoming assistant manager to Stuart Fevrier, his former national team manager, and being described as a club “legend” on their social media.

In October 2019 he took over as head coach as Fevrier moved into the role of technical director, winning his first match 3-0.

Fevrier said at the time: “Ballhog is a player I have known from very young and he has grown up in the game learning and understanding my philosophy. He has been with the club for as long as I have, as both a player and as a coach, and I have every confidence that the team is in good hands and will continue to do well along with Eligah, Clyde, and Aquelius by his side.

“They have also played with the club in its early years under me, and are now part of the coaching staff. They share in my philosophy and that of the club. I will continue on as technical director giving my every support.”

He has also involved himself in other football initiatives, including the Earl Jean Free-Kick Foundation Invitational tournament, a three-day competition involving 24 youth teams from across St Lucia.

There is no doubt that his exploits in front of goal were better suited to the warmer climes of the Caribbean, but his time at Home Park will be remembered as a player who played with a good attitude and a smile.

This article was first published in November 2017 and updated in March 2025