EARL “BALL HOG” JEAN AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL
Earl Jean, “The Ball Hog” as known, grew up in a special community called La Clery, in the city of Castries. A young boy who loved sports and took every opportunity to participate in any activity that included a ball. A young boy whose mindset then, was to take every opportunity he got to enhance his skills and talent so that he could fulfill his boyhood dream of becoming a professional footballer, an achievement he later realized with the support of his family, friends, coaches, community club VBCC Sports and Cultural Club, and his Primary School Vide Bouteille Government Combined School, where the dream really started.
Earl “Ball Hog” Jean’s story is a very interesting one which will be spoken about in depth in the not-too-distant future. The countless amount of work by friends and coaches such as Coach Ras Isley, deceased Walter Joseph, John Alvin Sealy, Cornelius ‘Scotty’ Scott, Anthony Quintin, and the most influential and best friend Stuart Charles Fevrier, gave their time in having early morning sessions with young Jean and his friends from the community, from the tender ages of 8, 9 and 10, instilling important discipline and life changing methods of the game.
As ‘Ball Hog’ journeyed in his specialized field of football there was no stopping him.
Just imagine sleeping with a ball to get accustomed to the feel, to loving and trying to understand the way it works, really! It was simple. He knew what he wanted and went after it. After dominating the primary schools’ football goal scoring chart in consecutive tournaments, ‘Ball Hog’ was called upon for trials at the U-16 National Football Team where he served as Vice-Captain in what would turn out to be the first U-16 Tournament won by St. Lucia in 1987. A record-breaking year by St. Lucian teams in regional tournaments such as the Men’s Senior Football team, Volleyball, and others, and what a dominant year it was.
Building on his exploits with his mentor and coach “STUARTY” at the helm of developing national teams, Jean went on to secure his spot in all national football teams that were before him. Captain all by the time he was 17, he made his senior national team captaining and enjoying success with U19, U-21, U-23 Olympics and every senior men’s national team until he retired at 35 years.
Earl ‘Ball Hog’ Jean was the first local footballer out of the St. Lucian leagues to become a Professional footballer in Europe, in 1991, spending almost a decade in his first port of call Portugal, where he won two championships in the 3rd and 2nd divisions, bringing a 3rd division team to second and top scoring, then moving on to do the same from a second division to the first or (premier league).
The diminutive striker was amazing, playing on three continents, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean with teams in Portugal, England, Scotland, China and Trinidad and Tobago.
It’s also amazing to understand in true context of over or close to 450 club games, in 16 years as a professional and 57 international goals in 67 appearances, ‘ball and the flea’ as they called him in England and the Caribbean is and has always been about commitment to team, hard work and sportsmanship. Always humble and competitive.
His club career in Trinidad was most amazing, playing from 1999/2009 over 200 goals as the W. Connection FC leading goal scorer. Earl also captained this marvelous team for many years. Jean moved on to rivals San Juan Jabloteh FCB in Trinidad to win one more title as a player coach before retiring and taking over as head coach at the club in the 2009 season, qualifying the team for the first time in their history in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Jean moved back the following year to his former club, the club he helped establish from the inception of the league, W. Connection FC . He was assistant to his mentor Stuart Charles Fevrier before taking over the head coaching role. In December 2021, he moved back home to his beautiful island of St. Lucia. Earl has embarked on many initiatives with his mentor, now having their own company with the aim of giving back to young players at home.
The Institute of Football is a non-profit organization geared towards football development, management and personal development of players and coaches. After 35 years in the football industry as a professional, “Ball Hog” is enjoying his retirement and giving lots more to veterans’ football and continues to dominate the charts with multiple titles around the region, keeping his supporters in amazement and fascinated by his durability in the game…what is the secret???
A lot more on the horizon with GOD’S GRACE.
According to him, “Inspiring the young ones is dear to my heart.”