{{short description|English footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Use British English|date=June 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Jake Hesketh | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Jake Alexander Hesketh<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 September 2016 |title=Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/84136 |access-date=15 September 2016 |publisher=Premier League}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|3|27|df=y}}<ref name="11v11">{{Cite web |title=Jake Hesketh |url=http://www.11v11.com/players/jake-hesketh-248219/ |access-date=3 January 2016 |publisher=11v11}}</ref> | birth_place = Stockport, England | height = {{convert|1.68|m|order=flip}}<ref name="11v11" /> | position = Attacking midfielder | currentclub = Sholing | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 2006–2014 | youthclubs1 = Southampton | years1 = 2014–2021 | clubs1 = Southampton | caps1 = 2 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2018–2019 | clubs2 = → Burton Albion (loan) | caps2 = 16 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2019 | clubs3 = → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | caps3 = 16 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2019–2020 | clubs4 = → Lincoln City (loan) | caps4 = 20 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2020–2021 | clubs5 = → Crawley Town (loan) | caps5 = 15 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2021–2023 | clubs6 = Eastleigh | caps6 = 54 | goals6 = 2 | years7 = 2023– | clubs7 = Sholing | caps7 = 0 | goals7 = 0 | club-update = 17:04, 31 May 2023 (UTC) }} '''Jake Alexander Hesketh''' (born 27 March 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for {{English football updater|Sholing}} club Sholing.
==Early and personal life== Hesketh was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, but his family moved to Whiteley, near Fareham, Hampshire when he was six months old.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walter |first=Simon |date=10 December 2014 |title=St Mary's debut v Manchester United caps meteoric rise of Southampton FC teenager Jake Hesketh |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/11655826.Saints_starlet_s_rise_from_youth_football_to_the_Premier_League_in_a_year/ |access-date=16 May 2016 |publisher=Daily Echo |location=Southampton}}</ref> He studied at Whiteley Primary School before moving onto Swanmore College.<ref name="u21 profile">{{Cite web |title=Development Squad Profiles |url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/youth/u21-profiles/ |access-date=12 January 2016 |publisher=Southampton FC |archive-date=16 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616132754/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/youth/u21-profiles/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Club career== ===Southampton=== Hesketh started his career at Southampton's academy, first training with the club as an under-7 before signing with the club as an under-nine, the youngest at which he could sign, having previously been scouted at a local tournament playing for Crofton Saints Football Club.<ref name="u21 profile" /><ref name="athletic">{{Cite web |last=Sheldon |first=Dan |date=9 June 2021 |title=Jake Hesketh: 'I had one conversation with Hasenhuttl when I came back from loan, and he didn't know who I was' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2631560/2021/06/09/jake-hesketh-hasenhuttl-southampton/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2021-10-03 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref> After progressing through the club's academy, he completed a two-year scholarship with the club and after finishing as the Under-18 team's top scorer was awarded the 2013–14 Scholar of the Season accolade at the Southampton club awards ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 May 2014 |title=Jake Hesketh vows to push on after being crowned 2013/14 Scholar of the Season |url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/07052014-jake-hesketh-201314-scholar-of-the-season-1541521.aspx |access-date=12 January 2016 |publisher=Southampton FC}}</ref> He signed a three-year professional contract the same day, having spent the previous six weeks training and playing with the club's under-21 team.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Urquhart-Cannon |first=Alex |date=6 May 2014 |title=Hesketh pens professional deal |publisher=Southampton FC |url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/06052014-jake-hesketh-signs-pro-deal-1539585.aspx |access-date=13 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="athletic" />
He was promoted into the first team by coach Ronald Koeman due to injury problems among the squad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lucas |first=Jim |date=8 December 2014 |title=Saints could give youth a chance for Utd game |url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20141207-ronald-koeman-pre-manchester-united-home-youth-2128992.aspx |access-date=8 December 2014 |publisher=Southampton FC |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050249/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20141207-ronald-koeman-pre-manchester-united-home-youth-2128992.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> He made his debut for the club on 8 December 2014 in a Premier League match against Manchester United, being brought in as a substitute for Dušan Tadić in the 70th minute of the 2–1 home defeat.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burnton |first=Simon |date=8 December 2014 |title=Southampton 1–2 Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2014/dec/08/southampton-manchester-united-premier-league-live |access-date=8 December 2014}}</ref> Five days later Hesketh made his first Premier League start as Southampton lost 1–0 away to Burnley.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2014 |title=Burnley 1–0 Southampton |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30357668 |access-date=13 December 2014 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Hesketh made 22 appearances for Martin Hunter's Under-21s in 2014–15, scoring two goals and lifting the 2015 U21 Premier League Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southampton v Blackburn Rovers report | Under-21 Premier League Cup final |url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/apr/210415-u21pl-cup-southampton-vs-blackburn-report.html |access-date=12 January 2016 |website=Premierleague.com |archive-date=1 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801100034/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/apr/210415-u21pl-cup-southampton-vs-blackburn-report.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He failed to make a first team appearance during the 2015–16 season as he was not part of Koeman's first-team plans, but returned to the first-team following the arrival of Claude Puel as manager in summer 2016.<ref name="athletic" /> After an appearance for the Southampton under-23 team in the EFL Trophy in August 2016, he made his first first-team appearance of the season and scored his first senior goal on 22 September 2016, in a 2–0 win over Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup.<ref name="sb1617" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 September 2016 |title=Southampton 2 Crystal Palace 0 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37357875 |access-date=22 September 2016 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Leitch |first=Adam |date=22 September 2016 |title=Jake Hesketh scored his first senior goal as Southampton beat Crystal Palace 2–0 at St Mary's |work=Daily Echo |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/14756790.Hesketh_gives_Puel_a_problem/?ref=mac |access-date=22 September 2016}}</ref> Hesketh played again in a 0–0 UEFA Europa League draw away to Hapoel Beer Sheva a week later,<ref name="sb1617" /> but picked up an injury in October and failed to make any more appearances that season.<ref name="athletic" /><ref name="sb1617" /><ref name="Harrison Reed & Jake Hesketh sign new Southampton contracts">{{Cite web |date=15 December 2016 |title=Harrison Reed & Jake Hesketh sign new Southampton contracts |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38333625 |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> In December 2016, he signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract with the club.<ref name="Harrison Reed & Jake Hesketh sign new Southampton contracts" /> Puel was sacked as manager in summer 2017, with Southampton being managed by Mauricio Pellegrino and later Mark Hughes, and Hesketh failed to make a first-team appearance during the 2017–18 season.<ref name="athletic" /><ref name="sb1718" />
====Loan spells==== On 30 August 2018, Hesketh signed for Burton Albion on a loan deal until 2 January 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 August 2018 |title=Brewers Sign Saints Duo on Loan |url=https://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/news/2018/august/3008-signings/ |access-date=31 August 2018 |publisher=Burton Albion F.C.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 August 2018 |title=Burton Albion sign Jake Hesketh, Jake Flannigan and Devante Cole on loan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45358055 |access-date=31 August 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He scored his first league goal in a 2–2 draw at Portsmouth on 23 October 2018.<ref name="athletic" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 October 2018 |title=Portsmouth 2–2 Burton Albion |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45871931 |access-date=25 October 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He appeared 23 times for Burton, scoring three goals.<ref name="sb1819" /> On 31 January 2019, Hesketh joined League Two club Milton Keynes Dons on loan for the remainder of the 2018–19 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 January 2019 |title=Hesketh heads to MK Dons |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2019/january/hesketh-heads-to-mk-dons/ |access-date=31 January 2019 |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons}}</ref> He made his debut for the club as a substitute in a 3–1 defeat to Exeter City on 2 February 2019, before scoring his first goal for the club on 9 February in a 3–2 defeat to Swindon Town.<ref name="sb1819" /><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Roper |first1=Matty |last2=Murray |first2=Josh |date=11 February 2019 |title=Jake Hesketh off the mark for MK Dons after loan move |language=en-GB |work=DerbyshireLive |url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/burton/jake-hesketh-mark-mk-dons-2531481 |access-date=16 October 2020 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> He amassed 16 appearances in total across his loan spell, and scored twice.<ref name="sb1819" />
On 2 September 2019, he joined League One club Lincoln City on loan for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Saints midfielder arrives at the Bank |url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2019/september/190902-hesketh-signs/ |access-date=2 September 2019 |publisher=Lincoln City F.C.}}</ref> He appeared in 24 matches and scored one goal across the 2019–20 season.<ref name="sb1920" />
He joined League Two club Crawley Town on a season-long loan on 16 October 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rose |first=Dan |date=16 October 2020 |title=Hesketh completes season-long loan move to Crawley |work=Daily Echo |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/18800325.hesketh-completes-season-long-loan-move-crawley |access-date=16 October 2020}}</ref> He made his debut for the club on 20 October 2020 as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat to Exeter City in League Two.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dunford |first=Mark |date=20 October 2020 |title=Exeter City 2, Crawley Town 1: Reds denied point by late fluke from Grecians |language=en |work=Crawley & Horley Observer |url=https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/sport/football/exeter-city-2-crawley-town-1-reds-denied-point-late-fluke-grecians-3009846 |access-date=21 October 2020}}</ref> On 31 October 2020, Hesketh was given a red card in Crawley's 2–1 win over Cambridge United.<ref>{{Cite web|date=31 October 2020|title=Crawley Town 2–1 Cambridge United|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54671229|access-date=7 April 2021|website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
After 17 years at Southampton, Hesketh announced that he would leave the club at the end of the 2020–21 season after the expiry of his contract.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Dan|date=21 May 2021|title=Hesketh announces departure from Saints after 17 years at the club|url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/19319930.hesketh-announces-departure-saints-17-years-club/|access-date=25 May 2021|website=Daily Echo}}</ref>
===Eastleigh=== Following his release by Southampton in June 2021,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2021-06-04/southampton-football-club-2021-retained-list-released-players | title=Southampton FC announce 2021 retained list | publisher=Southampton FC | date=4 June 2021 | access-date=3 August 2021}}</ref> Hesketh signed for Eastleigh on 2 August.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.eastleighfc.com/new-signing-jake-hesketh-joins-the-spitfires/ | title=Jake Hesketh Joins The Spitfires | publisher=Eastleigh FC | date=2 August 2021 | access-date=2 August 2021 | archive-date=2 August 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802192531/https://www.eastleighfc.com/new-signing-jake-hesketh-joins-the-spitfires/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> He was released at the end of the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eastleighfc.com/2022-23-retained-list/|title=2022/23 RETAINED LIST|website=www.eastleighfc.com|date=9 May 2023|accessdate=9 May 2023}}</ref>
=== Sholing === On 31 May 2023, Hesketh signed for Southern League Premier Division side Sholing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sholingfc.co.uk/index.php/first-team/fixtures/9-sholing-fc/723-jake-hesketh-signs-for-sholing|title=Jake Hesketh Signs!|publisher=Sholing F.C.|date=31 May 2023|accessdate=31 May 2023}}</ref> On 17 April 2025, he signed a contract extension with Sholing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2025 |title=Hesketh pens Boatmen contract extension |url=https://sholingfc.co.uk/hesketh-pens-boatmen-contract-extension/ |access-date=13 July 2025 |website=Sholing FC}}</ref>
==Style of play== Hesketh's preferred position is as an attacking midfielder, but is also able to play as a central midfielder or as a wide midfielder.<ref name="athletic" />
==Career statistics== {{updated|end of 2022–23 season}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Season !rowspan="2"|Club !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="8"|Southampton |2014–15<ref name="ReferenceA">{{soccerbase season|79477|2014|access-date=31 October 2018}}</ref> |Premier League |2||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0 |- |2015–16<ref name="ReferenceA"/> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2016–17<ref name="sb1617">{{soccerbase season|79477|2016|access-date=22 September 2016}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||1||1||1{{Efn|Appearance(s) in Europa League}}||0||2||1 |- |2017–18<ref name="sb1718">{{soccerbase season|79477|2017|access-date=31 October 2018}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2018–19<ref name="sb1819">{{soccerbase season|79477|2018|access-date=31 October 2018}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2019–20<ref name="sb1920">{{soccerbase season|79477|2019|access-date=31 October 2018}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2020–21<ref name="sb2021">{{soccerbase season|79477|2020|access-date=31 October 2018}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !2||0||0||0||1||1||1||0||4||1 |- |rowspan="4"|Southampton U23 |2016–17<ref name="sb1617" /> |colspan=3|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||2{{Efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}}||0||2||0 |- |2017–18<ref name="sb1718" /> |colspan=3|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1{{Efn|name=EFLT}}||2||1||2 |- |2020–21<ref name="sb2021" /> |colspan=3|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||2{{Efn|name=EFLT}}||0||2||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||5||2||5||2 |- |Burton Albion (loan) |2018–19<ref name="sb1819" /> |League One |16||1||1||0||3||2||3{{Efn|name=EFLT}}||0||23||3 |- |Milton Keynes Dons (loan) |2018–19<ref name="sb1819" /> |League Two |16||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||16||2 |- |Lincoln City (loan) |2019–20<ref name="sb1920" /> |League One |20||1||2||0||0||0||2{{Efn|name=EFLT}}||0||24||1 |- |Crawley Town (loan) |2020–21<ref name="sb2021" /> |League Two |15||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||15||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Eastleigh |2021–22<ref name=sw>{{cite web |title=J. Hesketh: Summary |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/jake-alexander-hesketh/392517/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |accessdate=11 February 2022}}</ref> |National League |31||2||3||1||colspan=2|—||1{{Efn|name=FAT|Appearance in FA Trophy}}||3||34||6 |- |2022–23<ref name=sw/> |National League |23||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||26||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !54!!2!!4!!1!!0!!0!!3!!3!!60!!6 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !123!!6!!7!!1!!4!!3!!14!!5!!148!!15 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== ===Club=== '''Southampton''' *U21 Premier League Cup: 2014–15<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 April 2015 |title=Report: Southampton 2-1 Blackburn Rovers (Under-21 Premier League Cup final second leg) |url=https://southamptonfc.com/news/2015-04-20/report-southampton-21-blackburn-rovers-under21-premier-league-cup-final-second-leg |access-date=30 November 2016 |publisher=Southampton FC}}</ref>
'''Milton Keynes Dons''' *EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2018–19<ref>{{Cite web |title=League Two: 2018/19: Current table |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1646 |access-date=6 May 2019 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm}}<br />{{Cite web |title=MK Dons: Squad details: 2018/19 |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2812&teamTabs=stats&season_id=151 |access-date=6 May 2019 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}} *{{Soccerway}} *[https://southamptonfc.com/first-team/jake-hesketh Profile at Southampton FC website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hesketh, Jake}} Category:Living people Category:1996 births Category:Footballers from Stockport Category:English men's footballers Category:Southampton F.C. players Category:Burton Albion F.C. players Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players Category:Lincoln City F.C. players Category:Crawley Town F.C. players Category:Eastleigh F.C. players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Premier League players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Sholing F.C. players Category:21st-century English sportsmen