Zachary Jeacock

Zachary Anton John Jeacock (born 8 May 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League One club Lincoln City. He previously spent time on loan at Stourport Swifts of the Midland League Premier Division and National League North club Gloucester City. In international football, he has represented England at under-19 level.

Early life and club career Jeacock was born in Birmingham and lived in Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire, where he attended Winterfold House preparatory school before moving on to nearby Bromsgrove School. He played football as an attacking midfielder or striker for West Hagley F.C. before, a few days after his eighth birthday in May 2009, becoming the then youngest boy to sign for Birmingham City. He went on to compete for Birchfield Harriers as a sprinter, and played football as a defender, only converting to goalkeeper at the age of 14.

Birmingham City Jeacock took up a two-year scholarship with Birmingham City's Academy in July 2017. He went on to make ten appearances for Birmingham's development squad team in the 2018–19 season as they finished as runners-up in the Professional Development League northern section and lost out to Leeds United on penalties for the overall title. He was offered a three-year deal in March 2019, and signed it in May. His apprenticeship went well off the field as well: he achieved top grades in his BTEC course, was selected in League Football Education's Team of the Year, and was described by Birmingham City's Head of Education and Welfare, Mark Sinclair, as "an excellent ambassador for the football club, and somebody who has embraced all aspects of his apprenticeship, with him maximising his opportunities to continually develop himself and others."

In August 2019, Jeacock joined National League North club Gloucester City on loan for the season. He went straight into the starting eleven and in his fourth appearance, after his team came back from 2–0 down to lead 3–2 at Kidderminster Harriers, he saved a late penalty and was named man of the match. He started in 10 of the first 12 matches of the league season – he was away on international duty for the other two – but then a broken hand kept him out until January 2020. After a couple of games for Birmingham U23s, he rejoined Gloucester City and made three more appearances in January before he was recalled by Birmingham to "explore other loan opportunities". No such opportunities occurred before the season was abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He played in the first team's pre-season friendlies before the arrival of Andrés Prieto, who started the first competitive fixture of the season, in the 2020–21 EFL Cup at home to Cambridge United, with Jeacock on the bench. He was selected ahead of the injured Prieto and the newly arrived Neil Etheridge to start the opening match of the Championship season, at home to Brentford on 12 September. He kept a clean sheet as Birmingham won the match 1–0.