Junior Flemmings

Junior Flemmings (born 16 January 1996) is a Jamaican footballer who plays as a forward for Birmingham Legion in the USL Championship.

Junior Flemmings
Flemmings playing for New York Red Bulls II
Personal information
Full name Junior Flemmings[1]
Date of birth (1996-01-16) 16 January 1996
Place of birth Kingston, Jamaica
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Position(s) Winger
Forward
Club information
Current team
 Birmingham Legion
Youth career
Tivoli Gardens
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Tivoli Gardens 25 (10)
2016–2017 New York Red Bulls II 52 (16)
2018 Tampa Bay Rowdies 26 (6)
2019–2020 Phoenix Rising 43 (29)
2021– Birmingham Legion 0 (0)
National team‡
2013–2014 Jamaica U17 9 (4)
2015 Jamaica U20 6 (2)
2017– Jamaica 10 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 November 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 October 2019

Club career

Early career

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Flemmings began his career in the youth ranks of Tivoli Gardens F.C.

Tivoli Gardens

In 2013, he made his debut for the first team in the National Premier League.[2] He was unpaid during the 2013 season with Tivoli Gardens to ensure that he wouldn't ruin his chances of playing collegiate soccer in the United States.[3] During the 2015–2016 season Flemmings led Tivoli Gardens in scoring with eight goals, including a late game winner on 23 November 2015 which helped his club to a 2–1 victory over Boys' Town FC.[4]

New York Red Bulls II

After months of speculation,[5] Flemmings signed with New York Red Bulls II of the United Soccer League on 25 March 2016.[6] On 2 April 2016, during his first appearance, Flemmings recorded his first goal and assist with the club in a 2–0 victory against Louisville City FC.[7] On 22 May 2016, Flemmings scored a late match winner helping New York to a 1–0 victory against FC Montreal.[8] On 12 August 2016, Flemmings helped New York to a 5–1 victory over Orlando City B, scoring one goal and being a constant threat throughout the match.[9]

On 14 April 2017, Flemmings scored his first goal of the season for New York, helping the club to a 3–1 victory over Orlando City B.[10] On 19 August 2017, Flemming scored two goals to help New York to a 4–0 victory over FC Cincinnati.[11] On 2 September 2017, Flemmings scored one goal and assisted on another in New York's 4–2 victory over Tampa Bay Rowdies.[12]

Tampa Bay Rowdies

In January 2018, Flemmings signed with Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL.[13]

Phoenix Rising

Flemmings signed with Phoenix Rising FC in 2019.[14] The winger netted sixteen goals and seven assists in his first season with the team, and finished eighth in the league for the Golden Boot, finishing behind teammate and Golden Boot winner Solomon Asante (22 goals).[15]

Flemmings' second season with Phoenix resulted in a Golden Boot Award, scoring 14 goals in a COVID-shortened season.[16] Phoenix was propelled to a first place finish in Group B.[17]

Homophobia controversy

On 30 September 2020, while playing for the Phoenix Rising, Flemmings was accused of using a Jamaican homophobic slur, "batty boy", against the openly gay San Diego Loyal midfielder Collin Martin.[18][19] The Loyal, who had been leading 3–1 up to that point, walked off the field in protest and forfeited the match.[18][19] Flemmings denied using the slur and said, in a Twitter statement following the match, that he stands "in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ movement."[20][18][21][22] Flemmings was suspended for six games and issued an undisclosed fine by the USL Championship for use of foul and abusive language. In addition, Phoenix Rising team officials placed Flemmings on administrative leave for the remainder of his contract term with the team, which concluded on 30 November 2020.[23] Flemmings' contract with the team was not renewed.[24]

Birmingham Legion

On 13 January 2021, Flemmings joined USL Championship side Birmingham Legion.[25] Flemmings' move to Birmingham was endorsed by Collin Martin and Landon Donovan, with the former saying "I wish Junior continued success at Legion FC."

International career

Flemmings has represented Jamaica at the U-20 and U-17 national team level, serving as captain of the U-17's.[26]

He received his first full national team call up in November 2015, and was named to the 18-player match roster for Jamaica's 2018 World Cup qualifier against Panama, but was an unused substitute. Flemmings made his senior international debut versus French Guiana in the 2017 Caribbean Cup.[27]

Honors

Club

New York Red Bulls II

Phoenix Rising FC

Country
Jamaica

Individual

Career statistics
As of 30 September 2020
Club Season League League Cup Domestic Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
New York Red Bulls II 2016 237000000237
2017 2993100003210
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2018 276100000286
Phoenix Rising FC 2019 28152111003117
2020 15140000001514
Career total 1225162110012954

International goals
Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first.[28]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.15 October 2019Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, Curaçao Aruba5–06–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League B

References
  1. "Jamaica's 40 player provisional list to Copa Centenario". Jamaica Football Federation. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  2. "Junior Flemmings to get Opportunity in RSPL". jamaicafootballfederation.com. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  3. Jones, Ryon (21 January 2013). "Flemming Plays It Safe – JC Manning Captain Avoids Salary, Signing With TG To Keep US Scholarship Option Open". The Gleaner. Jamaica. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  4. "Flemmings late strike carries Tivoli past Boys' Town". jamaicaobserver.com. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  5. Fido, Austin (26 November 2015). "Report: Junior Flemmings says he will join New York Red Bulls in January". Once A Metro. SB Nation. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  6. "New York Red Bulls II sign Junior Flemmings". NewYorkRedBulls.com. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  7. "Red Bulls II Take Impressive Win in Louisville". uslsoccer.com. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  8. "USL MATCH RECAP: Red Bulls II Maintain Road Perfection with 1–0 win at FC Montreal". newyorkredbulls.com.
  9. "USL Match Recap: NYRB II Downs Orlando City B, 5–1". newyorkredbulls.com.
  10. "OCB Falls 3–1 at New York Red Bulls II". orlandocitysc.com. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  11. "Red Bulls II Romp Past FC Cincinnati". uslsoccer.com. 25 March 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  12. "NYRB II Tally Four Again, Defeat Tampa Bay". uslsoccer.com. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  13. "Rowdies Strengthen their Attack with Signing of Junior Flemmings". rowdiessoccer.com. Tampa Bay Rowdies. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  14. "Return of Junior Flemmings, Kevon Lambert bolster Phoenix Rising FC for second half". azcentral.com. AZ Central. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  15. "2019 Golden Boot". United Soccer League. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  16. https://www.uslchampionship.com/player-stats. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. "2020 Group Standings". USL Champship. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  18. Estrada, Lorenzino (30 September 2020). "San Diego players walk off field in protest against Phoenix Rising FC, claim homophobic slur used". Arizona Republic. azcentral. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  19. Zeigler, Mark (30 September 2020). "San Diego Loyal walks off field after alleged homophobic slur". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  20. Flemmings, Junior (30 September 2020). "Statement". Twitter. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  21. "'Devastating' Homophobic Slur Leads SD Loyal to Walk Off Field in Final Match". Times of San Diego. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  22. "Soccer team forfeits match after alleged anti-gay slur". cbsnews.com. CBS. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  23. "Rising Statement on Findings of USL Investigation". Phoenix Rising FC. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  24. James, Aaron Bradley (13 November 2020). "Phoenix Rising re-sign eight starters, Junior Flemmings not among them". Cronkite News. KAET/Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  25. https://www.bhmlegion.com/news_article/show/1140399
  26. "Junior Flemmings profile". jamaicafootballfederation.com. Jamaica Football Federation. 15 January 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  27. "Jamaica outlasts French Guiana on PKs, advances to Caribbean final". concacaf.com. Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football.
  28. "Junior Flemmings". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
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