Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: Jayerson on February 10, 2006, 08:16:58 AM
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Sport.telegraph
Hoyte quick to learn at Sunderland
By Rob Stewart (Filed: 13/01/2006)
Justin Hoyte has had to grow up over the last six months, on and off the field. The 21-year-old left Arsenal last summer to join Sunderland for the season, and has thrived on Wearside despite his new club's dismal form.
"It's been a steep learning curve since I came to the North-East and thankfully I've developed as a footballer and as a person," he said. "I've had to start fending for myself and for the first time I've had to learn to cook. At first, it was a case of home alone but I settled in quickly thanks to my team-mates.
"I still miss family and friends but I've no regrets whatsoever about joining Sunderland and, anyway, my family ensure I don't get homesick by coming to watch every game."
The England Under-21 international has quickly won over locals by consistently producing remarkably composed performances and has emerged as an outstanding prospect in a torturous season at Sunderland.
"Playing week in, week out has given me the chance to get used to the demands of facing the very best Premiership players," said a player who joined Arsenal as a striker aged 10, when Ian Wright was his idol.
Now this resident of Newcastle's hip Quayside area looks to Arsenal full-backs Lauren and Ashley Cole as well as Brazil's Cafu for inspiration.
"I've improved a lot since I arrived at Sunderland. It's gradual but you pick up new things regularly. I really enjoy working under Mick McCarthy, who I'm grateful to for giving me a great opportunity. I'm getting more confident and I continuously work on my weaknesses. I need to be a more aggressive tackler and better communicator, but pace is one of my strengths. I had a PB of 11.01 in the 100 metres at school."
Speed, it would seem, runs in the family - mother Wendy was an Olympic sprinter, while father Les is sprint coach at the Arsenal academy where Justin's brother, Gavin, 15, is emerging as a defender.
Now Hoyte is looking forward to pitting his wits against Chelsea on Sunday at the Stadium of Light, as the Premiership's bottom side entertain the side 52 points ahead of them at the top.
"We're all relishing the chance to take them on, and for me it's the sort of game I dreamt of as a boy," he said. "It'll be tough but we'll give it our best shot and I hope our fans, who've been terrific home and away, do their bit by getting right behind us to make home advantage count. I feel there's still time to turn things round and we're due a bit of luck."
Hoyte, brought up in Leytonstone, has 2½ years left on his Arsenal contract. "Ideally, I'll help Sunderland avoid relegation before focusing on breaking into Arsenal's first team," he said. "That will be an enormous task but I'd like to think my time on Wearside will help me achieve all my long-term goals."
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Sport.telegraph
Speed, it would seem, runs in the family - mother Wendy was an Olympic sprinter, while father Les is sprint coach at the Arsenal academy where Justin's brother, Gavin, 15, is emerging as a defender.
I mentioned this a while ago on the site. he has Trini roots.
His uncle Trevor Hoyte & Aunty Josleyn Hoyte used to run for team GB as well and he is ''related''(I think dey just close) to the Luke Moore (Aston Villa) & Stefan Moore(Q.P.R) They are of Jamaican origin before anyone gets excited.
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I wonder if that is Leslie Hoyte family ??? Tallman could you verify if he is
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Sport.telegraph
Speed, it would seem, runs in the family - mother Wendy was an Olympic sprinter, while father Les is sprint coach at the Arsenal academy where Justin's brother, Gavin, 15, is emerging as a defender.
I mentioned this a while ago on the site. he has Trini roots.
His uncle Trevor Hoyte & Aunty Josleyn Hoyte used to run for team GB as well and he is ''related''(I think dey just close) to the Luke Moore (Aston Villa) & Stefan Moore(Q.P.R) They are of Jamaican origin before anyone gets excited.
wait futbol the question is is he interetsed in playing for trinidad.i Wonder which one of his parents are trinidadian i belive that parent with trini parentage may have migrated to england long time ago
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Sport.telegraph
Speed, it would seem, runs in the family - mother Wendy was an Olympic sprinter, while father Les is sprint coach at the Arsenal academy where Justin's brother, Gavin, 15, is emerging as a defender.
I mentioned this a while ago on the site. he has Trini roots.
His uncle Trevor Hoyte & Aunty Josleyn Hoyte used to run for team GB as well and he is ''related''(I think dey just close) to the Luke Moore (Aston Villa) & Stefan Moore(Q.P.R) They are of Jamaican origin before anyone gets excited.
wait futbol the question is is he interetsed in playing for trinidad.i Wonder which one of his parents are trinidadian i belive that parent with trini parentage may have migrated to england long time ago
Interested In Playing For Trinidad??? Probably Not otherwise he would of said something by now,ent. Not because he doesnt give 2 shits about Trinidad but If hes looking to break into the arsenal team they would want someone who aiming for a higher ranked international team. Plus hes well known in england so a few coaches would see him as one for the future.
Well in Trinidads case its a long time ago because as you know TNT is the only nation in WI which doesnt go back to grandparentage. I dont know where is father is born so who knows. (I know someone who got a Grenadian passport and their parents from Barbados they got it through a great-grandparent. That descent option on passport form means anything unless its trinidad :devil:)
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Sport.telegraph
Speed, it would seem, runs in the family - mother Wendy was an Olympic sprinter, while father Les is sprint coach at the Arsenal academy where Justin's brother, Gavin, 15, is emerging as a defender.
I mentioned this a while ago on the site. he has Trini roots.
His uncle Trevor Hoyte & Aunty Josleyn Hoyte used to run for team GB as well and he is ''related''(I think dey just close) to the Luke Moore (Aston Villa) & Stefan Moore(Q.P.R) They are of Jamaican origin before anyone gets excited.
wait futbol the question is is he interetsed in playing for trinidad.i Wonder which one of his parents are trinidadian i belive that parent with trini parentage may have migrated to england long time ago
Interested In Playing For Trinidad??? Probably Not otherwise he would of said something by now,ent. Not because he doesnt give 2 shits about Trinidad but If hes looking to break into the arsenal team they would want someone who aiming for a higher ranked international team. Plus hes well known in england so a few coaches would see him as one for the future.
Well in Trinidads case its a long time ago because as you know TNT is the only nation in WI which doesnt go back to grandparentage. I dont know where is father is born so who knows. (I know someone who got a Grenadian passport and their parents from Barbados they got it through a great-grandparent. That descent option on passport form means anything unless its trinidad :devil:)
but how did lincoln discover justin hoyte.I suspect he inquired about hoyte elligiblily.
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I read in an old Arsenal matchday programme about 2 years ago dat he is shaka hislop cousin.
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I read in an old Arsenal matchday programme about 2 years ago dat he is shaka hislop cousin.
What one(what game?) I have most if not all from previous years
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I read in an old Arsenal matchday programme about 2 years ago dat he is shaka hislop cousin.
What one(what game?) I have most if not all from previous years
Arsenal-Aston Villa 2003-2004 season. D game was in August 2003. (arsenal 2-0 by d way...)
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I read in an old Arsenal matchday programme about 2 years ago dat he is shaka hislop cousin.
What one(what game?) I have most if not all from previous years
Arsenal-Aston Villa 2003-2004 season. D game was in August 2003. (arsenal 2-0 by d way...)
cool. thanx. I'll check it out. I remember that game didnt go it but Campbell & Henry scored(Henry went around the keep then curled it ironicly as were on a Trini site around J'lloyd Samuel.)
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Soca Warriors target Hoyte
By Tom Adams (Skysports)
13 Feb 2006
(http://images.skysports.com/images/playerpics05_06/Premiership/Sunderland/hoyte_ball.jpg)
Trinidad & Tobago are hoping to recruit Arsenal full back Justin Hoyte in time for the World Cup in Germany.
The Caribbean nation have qualified for their first ever finals, and have responded to the challenge of facing England, Sweden and Paraguay in Group B by actively recruiting new members for their squad.
The Premiership has already yielded Fulham goalkeeper Tony Warner, although Soca Warriors boss Leo Beenhakker is worried his pursuit of Hoyte will go the same way as that of both Bobby Zamora and Jlloyd Samuel.
Both players have only represented England at youth level, although new Fifa regulations stipulate that a player must switch national allegiance before they turn 21.
The problematic situation is also the same for Hoyte, who has spent the season on loan at Sunderland, but Beenhakker has not given up hope of adding the trio to his plans.
"I want to have a good overview of all available players just to make the right decisions at the moment to make the final choice of the 23 players who will represent T&T in Germany," said Beenhakker.
"The door is not closed and in that way I am also still hopeful that guys like Jlloyd Samuel, Bobby Zamora and possibly Justin Hoyte will be available.
"As you know they were already involved in England teams and Fifa regulations don't permit them for the moment to play for T&T."
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I i would like to hear hoyte reply to this article
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dont see Hoyte Start for Arsenal :-\
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dont see Hoyte Start for Arsenal :-\
Because he's playing for Sunderland this season...
He would most probably have started in d last few games when arsenal had no defence
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Soca Warriors target Hoyte
By Tom Adams (Skysports)
13 Feb 2006
(http://images.skysports.com/images/playerpics05_06/Premiership/Sunderland/hoyte_ball.jpg)
Trinidad & Tobago are hoping to recruit Arsenal full back Justin Hoyte in time for the World Cup in Germany.
The Caribbean nation have qualified for their first ever finals, and have responded to the challenge of facing England, Sweden and Paraguay in Group B by actively recruiting new members for their squad.
The Premiership has already yielded Fulham goalkeeper Tony Warner, although Soca Warriors boss Leo Beenhakker is worried his pursuit of Hoyte will go the same way as that of both Bobby Zamora and Jlloyd Samuel.
Both players have only represented England at youth level, although new Fifa regulations stipulate that a player must switch national allegiance before they turn 21.
The problematic situation is also the same for Hoyte, who has spent the season on loan at Sunderland, but Beenhakker has not given up hope of adding the trio to his plans.
"I want to have a good overview of all available players just to make the right decisions at the moment to make the final choice of the 23 players who will represent T&T in Germany," said Beenhakker.
"The door is not closed and in that way I am also still hopeful that guys like Jlloyd Samuel, Bobby Zamora and possibly Justin Hoyte will be available.
"As you know they were already involved in England teams and Fifa regulations don't permit them for the moment to play for T&T."
interestin how beenhakker said FIFA dont permit dese players for the moment to play for tt, i wonder if he knows dis rule will change, very interesting ???
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would have saved a lot of hassle if we had tried to recruit him just a months ago....he only just turn 21
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would have saved a lot of hassle if we had tried to recruit him just a months ago....he only just turn 21
did he turn 21 before of after we qualified? because we had no chance to get him if we hadn't qualified
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would have saved a lot of hassle if we had tried to recruit him just a months ago....he only just turn 21
did he turn 21 before of after we qualified? because we had no chance to get him if we hadn't qualified
You know what this youth had to indicate some kind of williness to play for trinidad or he would not have been mentioned
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would have saved a lot of hassle if we had tried to recruit him just a months ago....he only just turn 21
did he turn 21 before of after we qualified? because we had no chance to get him if we hadn't qualified
You know what this youth had to indicate some kind of williness to play for trinidad or he would not have been mentioned
you mean the same way dutch as grass biseswar indicated his interest to play for tnt? ::)
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would have saved a lot of hassle if we had tried to recruit him just a months ago....he only just turn 21
did he turn 21 before of after we qualified? because we had no chance to get him if we hadn't qualified
You know what this youth had to indicate some kind of williness to play for trinidad or he would not have been mentioned
you mean the same way dutch as grass biseswar indicated his interest to play for tnt? ::)
mr man our press reporter wrote the article with information on this site he neva investigate it.. Then he informed leo beenhacker. If you notice this tiem its the other way around the hoyte issue .
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would have saved a lot of hassle if we had tried to recruit him just a months ago....he only just turn 21
did he turn 21 before of after we qualified? because we had no chance to get him if we hadn't qualified
You know what this youth had to indicate some kind of williness to play for trinidad or he would not have been mentioned
you mean the same way dutch as grass biseswar indicated his interest to play for tnt? ::)
mr man our press reporter wrote the article with information on this site he neva investigate it.. Then he informed leo beenhacker. If you notice this tiem its the other way around the hoyte issue .
no it is not the other way around. its the same thing.
point out to me where you would get that impression .
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First of all supporter that dutch youth never mentioned he wanted to play for tnt he was not even eligible. some poster saw his name listed on some bogus site and asked who is this guy etc . The ttff Officer just read a posting here and wrote up an article informer Leo with out ever contacting and checking up on the player to see if we was really eligible.
In Hoyte case i believe some contact would have been made to find out if he is eligible(through parents). Plus if he was not interested Leo would nothave mentioned it in an article .
So he maybe has some type of interest
He also has not counted out the possibility of Aston Villa defender Jlloyd Samuel, West Ham striker Bobby Zamora as well as Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte who has Trinidadian parentage but ends up in the same problem as Zamora and Samuel as he has represented England at youth level and has already turned 21. He turns 22 in November and is currently on loan to Sunderland.
time metioning him.
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First of all supporter that dutch youth never mentioned he wanted to play for tnt he was not even eligible. some poster saw his name listed on some bogus site and asked who is this guy etc . The ttff Officer just read a posting here and wrote up an article informer Leo with out ever contacting and checking up on the player to see if we was really eligible.
In Hoyte case i believe some contact would have been made to find out if he is eligible(through parents). Plus if he was not interested Leo would nothave mentioned it in an article .
So he maybe has some type of interest
He also has not counted out the possibility of Aston Villa defender Jlloyd Samuel, West Ham striker Bobby Zamora as well as Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte who has Trinidadian parentage but ends up in the same problem as Zamora and Samuel as he has represented England at youth level and has already turned 21. He turns 22 in November and is currently on loan to Sunderland.
time metioning him.
thats all speculation and what you believe the source was for the ttff.
there has been no difference bw the situations - both players have been mentioned up by the ttff as elligible. who knows how they got their sources for either player. whatever it was it was a bad source, and bad reporting.
So again, its the same situation.
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Justin Hoyte is called up for Trinidad and Tobago
by Anthony Vickers, Evening Gazette.
JUSTIN Hoyte has been called up to play for Trinidad and Tobago.
Boro’s flying full-back has turned out for England at Under-21 level 18 times but is eligible to play for the Caribbean country and has accepted an offer to join their senior set up.
And if he can shrug off the hip injury that has sidelined him at Boro for the past six weeks, he could make his debut in a pair of friendlies later this month.
Hoyte has been pencilled in to play games at home to Belize and away in Peru as Trinidad and Tobago build up to this summer’s Central American Confederation tournament, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, staged in the USA in June.
The minnows, who qualified for the World Cup in 2006, are looking to bring in fresh blood and Hoyte ticks all the boxes for national head coach Hutson Charles.
Hoyte, pictured, has been in talks with TTFA chiefs over the past month and has agreed to sign up for the Soca Warriors.
Charles said of Hoyte: “Justin is a very good player and a very exciting prospect for our national team.
“These are the kind of players who have that hunger and that kind of interest that we want to include in our efforts to move forward.
“He is a player to give us some energy. Justin is a player we will be looking forward to seeing in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Trinidad’s squad for the two games also includes Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones, Port Vale midfielder Chris Birchall and former Spurs schemer John Bostock, now at MLS side Toronto.
Ipswich wideman Carlos Edwards has been excused the trip but will feature in the Gold Cup squad in the summer.
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Sttuueeepppssss! now they realize that their english hopes are gone, now they want to represent us taking away the place from ah young player to get some recognition and make some money and further their skills and career in a foreign league.
it seems like trinidad and jamaica is ah dumping ground for england hopefuls.
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Shaka did the same I think too. Birchall get call up. Next thing you hear Zamora want a sweat too.
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now they want to represent us taking away the place from ah young player to get some recognition and make some money and further their skills and career in a foreign league.
The national team is not anybody agent. Be the best, become the best or be quiet.
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Shaka did the same I think too. Birchall get call up. Next thing you hear Zamora want a sweat too.
Nah don't put Shaka in that
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Shaka did the same I think too. Birchall get call up. Next thing you hear Zamora want a sweat too.
Nah don't put Shaka in that
Why?
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Sttuueeepppssss! now they realize that their english hopes are gone, now they want to represent us taking away the place from ah young player to get some recognition and make some money and further their skills and career in a foreign league.
it seems like trinidad and jamaica is ah dumping ground for england hopefuls.
whose place is that carlos edwards?? ... he is the only real full back we have here
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Sttuueeepppssss! now they realize that their english hopes are gone, now they want to represent us taking away the place from ah young player to get some recognition and make some money and further their skills and career in a foreign league.
it seems like trinidad and jamaica is ah dumping ground for england hopefuls.
whose place is that carlos edwards?? ... he is the only real full back we have here
Says who??
daniel cyrus, curtis ganzales and kern cupid, with cupid being the least talented of the trio, are all right full backs.
breds, doh sleep on daniel cyrus and curtis gonzales, them fellas have plenty potential, they just need to join a good league and they will develop well.
another very good defender is caryle mitchell, that boy have the speed and the mental toughness to be a top defender.
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Former Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte impresses Notts County and will stay with club on trial
Nottingham Post
Dean Yates says Notts County will continue to assess trialist Justin Hoyte after the former Arsenal defender's impressive display against Alfreton.
The right-back produced two assists in the 3-2 victory, first crossing for Jimmy Spencer and then cueing up for Wes Atkinson.
The Magpies are looking to fill the right-back spot having released Mustapha Dumbuya at the end of last season.
And Hoyte, released by Millwall, did his chances no harm with first-team coach Yates confirming he will stay with the Magpies.
"Justin has come in as another lad who wants a trial," he said.
"That's the beauty of it, because they want to come in and they want to do well.
"Justin is a very experienced player and he's quality. I thought he did really well. He put some quality balls in.
"He will go and join in all the time, he's a fit lad. He's a great lad and we will have another good look at him this week.
"We'll see how he goes."
Hoyte has a terrific pedigree having represented England all the way up to under-21 level and also made 78 appearances for Arsenal.
A spell at Sunderland saw him make 27 appearances, before he joined Middlesbrough in a £3m deal and played 142 games, being a key player for then-boss Tony Mowbray.
He spent time on loan at Millwall and made the move permanent last year, but made just two appearances. Hoyte was released at the end of last season and is a free agent.
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Lovely. BraveHart will be happy.
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Dagenham & Redbridge sign Justin Hoyte
By Ned Keating (Barking and Dagenham Post)
Dagenham & Redbridge have added to their defensive ranks with the signing of Justin Hoyte.
The full back joins Daggers on a non-contract basis following a period training with the club and will wear the number 32 shirt.
Hoyte has played for a whole hosts of clubs in his career, including Arsenal, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Millwall, who released him in the summer.
The 30-year-old has achieved success during his career, winning up an FA Cup, a League Cup, two Community Shields and 12 international caps for Trinidad & Tobago.
Hoyte becomes the first new arrival in over at month at Victoria Road and manager Wayne Burnett was delighted to get his man.
“Justin’s a player with vast experience. He’s played at the top level and he will bring something to our group for sure. All credit to him because he’s a great person and he wants to continue to succeed,” Burnett told the club website.
Hoyte is not the first in the family to play for Daggers, with brother Gavin previously turning out for the club from 2012 until 2014.
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Justin Hoyte bids to revive career at League Two Dagenham
By Anthony Vickers (Gazette Live)
Justin Hoyte is trying to reboot his flagging career at Dagenham and Redbridge.
The former Boro full-back has signed on a non-contract basis with the north London League Two outfit.
He is hoping to get match fit and catch the eye after a year without any competitive action.
And if he doesn’t win a deal with the Dagger she hopes to prove his fitness to other clubs.
His last start was a year ago yesterday when he featured in a 3-1 home defeat for Millwall, one of just three games he played for the Lions last term.
Hoyte, now 30, had a month long spell training with Burton Albion earlier this season but didn’t do enough for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to offer a deal.
But he hopes that a spell with the Daggers will help him get back into the groove.
Daggers boss Wayne Burnett told the club’s official website: “Justin has been training with us for three weeks now.
“He’s a player with vast experience, has played at the top level and will bring something to our group for sure.
“All credit to him because he’s a great person and he wants to continue to succeed.”
Hoyte is set to make his debut on Saturday against Mansfield.
It has been a swift fall from grace for Hoyte.
Gareth Southgate signed him from Arsenal for £3m to replace the departed Luke Young in August 2008 and he was a regular at the Riverside for almost six seasons, playing 152 times and scoring twice.
He took a pay-cut to stay and signed a new deal under Tony Mowbray in 2012 and had a solid season.
But the following summer Mowbray brought in Frazer Richardson and said they were open to offers fro the Trinidad and Tobago international.
In 2013-14 he played just four times before being farmed out on loan to Millwall, then under Steve Lomas.
But he played just four times before Lomas was axed and Ian Holloway arrived and pushed him to the fringes and he was released last summer.
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I am at a loss to understand the deal with this player.
The fact that he struggles to find a club at the lower levels is very surprising. He seems a decent player every single time i see him play.
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Age and resale value as they perceive him
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Age and resale value as they perceive him
30 for a defender in the lower leagues cannot be an issue. Especially a player of high pedigree and experience.
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Milwall sign Carlos at right back and he's 102. Same team that drop Hoyte. So I eh know if age is really de issue.
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Hoyte happy to be back.
By Shaun Fuentes (Guardian).
English-born defender Justin Hoyte is back in the mix and he couldn’t be happier about being reunited with his teammates on the national senior team.
Hoyte entered the match against the United States in the second half and settled in quickly and proved to be a solid option for Stephen Hart off the bench.
“I think it was a great performance by the team and by the squad over the two games. Tonight was great the fans were fantastic as well. It’s really been a good week for us,” Hoyte said.
“But for me, I have to thank the coach and his staff for getting be back involved in the team again. It’s been a long summer for me.
I didn’t; have a club, trying to find one, just battling and training on my own and spending time with the family. I’m just happy to be back in the squad and among the great players we have in there.”
He described the mood on the team bench during the match before he took the field.
“It was a great atmosphere on the bench. We were all talking and jumping up and down when we could. It was fantastic and I just wanted to get on. I went for the warm up and then the manager called for me. I was over the moon when he called me and it was just a great feeling,” said the former England national youth team player.
He spoke about some of the factors that have made the team the strong unit that it is at the moment.
“I think the togetherness that we have is a big thing. We are fighting for each other and there is a great union. That’s going to push us forward. We’ve been playing with each other for a long time now. Whoever is playing on the pitch has been doing great and fighting for the team and whoever comes on is doing the same. These are all good qualities in the team that I think could really make this a successful campaign for us.”
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WATCH: Justin Hoyte says he's happy to be back with the Soca Warriors
https://www.youtube.com/v/B_vwRSVjvs0
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Justin Hoyte looks to help Dagenham & Redbridge follow Arsene Wenger's blueprint for FA Cup clash with Everton
By Joe Bernstein (Daily Mail)
Former Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte will pass on the wisdom of Arsene Wenger to his Dagenham & Redbridge team-mates before they play the biggest match of their lives in the FA Cup at Everton on Saturday.
Hoyte, 31, started his career as Ashley Cole's understudy at left back and can claim part-Invincible status having made his Gunners debut against Southampton in the game that began their record 49-game unbeaten run.
'Arsene Wenger used to tell me before matches to go out and envisage I was in the playground kicking a ball about with my friends,' revealed Hoyte.
'That was his philosophy because he believed players who were relaxed felt the freedom to perform at their best.
'I'm one of the players in the Dagenham dressing room who has experience of big grounds like Goodison Park so I will take it on myself to check everyone, particularly the younger players, is feeling good. I'll say the same as I was told, pretend you're going into the playground to have some fun.
'I've been lucky in my career. I supported Arsenal as a boy so to play for them was a dream come true. Ashley (Cole) and Sol Campbell were always there to help me with bits of advice and the best player for me was Patrick Vieira.
'On and off the pitch, he was the leader, you sensed it the first time you trained with them. Thierry Henry was there too, I was in awe of them to be honest when I started.'
Hoyte played 68 times for Arsenal before furthering his Premier League career with a £3million move to Middlesbrough in 2008. A later move to Millwall turned sour when he was frozen out by Ian Holloway but he jumped at the chance to resurrect his career this season, albeit in the lower reaches of League Two.
'It's been good for me to get a taste of the other side, having to clean my own boots, take my own kit home to wash,' he admits.
'Millwall was tough, I didn't play for a year and a few of the experienced players — Richard Chaplow, Danny Shittu and myself — weren't even allowed to train with the first team. I was never told why and people must have thought I had a bad attitude but that was never the case. Holloway told me to lose weight at one stage but nothing I did got me back into the team, and I wasn't the only one.
'I was grateful to join Dagenham and play regularly again. Our new manager John Still has put me in the middle of a back three where I have to be more of a leader and I'm enjoying it.'
Dagenham are 22nd in the table but won Still's first match in charge last Saturday and the new boss introduced a more direct style that could unsettle Roberto Martinez's side.
'The game at Everton is a shop window for the players to show what we can do, myself included,' added Hoyte. 'I'm only 31, there's no reason I can't play at a higher level again or go to another league like the MLS.'
Hoyte's FA Cup record is chequered. He played in Arsenal's run to the final in 2005 but watched from the stands as his team-mates beat Manchester United in Cardiff.
In 2009, he played in a quarter-final at Saturday's venue but Middlesbrough let a half-time lead slip as Everton beat them 2-1 en route to the final.
He hasn't won in four previous visits to Goodison. If he makes it fifth time lucky, Dagenham will be the FA Cup story of the weekend.
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Hoyte happy with Hart’s faith in him.
By Shaun Fuentes (Guardian).
English-born defender Justin Hoyte said he had no qualms over the decision by Stephen Hart to insert him into a right midfield position for the first World Cup qualifier against St Vincent and the Grenadines last month. Hoyte started both games for the “Soca Warriors” and later admitted the contest at Arnos Vale was a grueling one for him.
“The manager asked me if I could do the job in that position which was not nearly new to me because I’ve played there before and it was not a problem. I said I could do it. Obviously the game was a tough one with the conditions which saw us fell behind just before the half. But we got right back into it and went onto to secure the win which was most important,” Hoyte said.
“And then we came back to our home stadium and showed a lot of class in the way we dominated the game and finished them off. For me the main thing is the way this team is getting stronger every time we get together both on and off the football pitch. And even with new players coming in, everyone wants what is best for the team and there is a feeling of one love and unity among everyone. We’ll be taking this into the two games in September and then straight into the final round next year and onward to Russia,” Hoyte added.
The former Arsenal player is under contract with Dagenham & Redbridge until May.
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the only explanation this man doh get a runout with them lowly clubs..they in last place and still, hardly any run...so flies back to TT and go "You're my real lads, Coach Hart you the only coach I can relate to", so he musbe does walk in the club dressing room on the 1st day, an shouts. "Hallallyuhmuddac*, manager u too"..
oh gorm, BouBou, chill things out and get the man on the field nah. If he come back tune up, the music will be sweeter than Germany *wink
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Justin Hoyte has been released from Dagenham & Redbridge (http://www.daggers.co.uk/news/article/dagenham-and-redbridge-fc-released-list-2016-3113369.aspx) following their relegation from League Two to the National League.
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TRANSFER RUMOUR: Defender Justin Hoyte is close to signing with Scottish Premier League club, Kilmarnock FC. (http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/championship/rumour-mill-celtic-land-scott-sinclair-peterborough-fails-in-bid-for-jason-cummings-1-4196053)
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Hamilton to run the rule over former Arsenal and Sunderland defender Justin Hoyte
By Anthony Haggerty (Daily Record)
HAMILTON are running the rule over former Arsenal, Sunderland and Middlesbrough right back Justin Hoyte with a view to offering the player a permanent deal.
The Trinidad and Tobago internationalist, who has 18 caps for his country, is playing for the Lanarkshire side in an under-20 match at New Douglas Park against Motherwell tonight after impressing during a recent training stint with the Scottish Premiership side.
The 31 year-old started his career at the Gunners after making his way up through the academy ranks and signed professional forms for Arsenal in 2003 and was in the FA cup winning squad of 2004/05.
Hoyte spent five years at the Emirates where he made a total of 68 appearances and scored one goal.
He also enjoyed a loan spell at Sunderland in 2005/06 before signing for Middlesbrough in a £3 million deal in August 2008 where he spent six years at the Riverside making 162 appearances and scoring two goals.
He then moved on loan to Millwall and signed for the South East London outfit in January 2014.
The vastly experienced defender also turned out for Dagenham and Redbridge last season and is available as a free agent.
Accies boss Martin Canning has made no secret of the fact that he wants to bolster his squad especially in the defensive area and Hoyte could well fit the bill.
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Justin Hoyte’s potential deal with Hamilton Academical falls through
By Anthony Haggerty (Daily Record)
HAMILTON ACCIES will NOT be offering former Arsenal right back Justin Hoyte a permanent deal.
The Trinidad and Tobago international played for Hamilton in an Under-20 match at New Douglas Park on Monday night which ended in a 2-1 defeat against Motherwell.
The 31-year-old, who also played for Sunderland and Middlesbrough, had been training with the Lanarkshire club.
Accies boss Martin Canning is desperately keen to land an experienced defender but has decided against making an offer to Hoyte after personal terms could not be agreed between both parties.
Hoyte's representative Nicholas Nicholson said: "Personal terms were a stumbling block and we believe Hamilton have now turned their attentions elsewhere."
Accies are on the look-out for a new full-back after releasing Latvia international Antons Kurakins.
Canning started with midfielders Grant Gillespie and Darren Lyon in the wide defensive slots during their last weekend's 4-2 defeat by Motherwell on Saturday.
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On Reflection: Justin Hoyte - a player whose career tracked Middlesbrough's slow decline
By Anthony Vickers (gazettelive.co.uk)
There was an impressive list of legends on display as the Arsenal All Stars took on Milan Glorie in an August Emirates fund-raiser.
The visitors’ mouthwatering gallery of greats included true giants of the game: Cafu, Paolo Maldini, Edgar Davids and Paolo Di Canio.
The Gunners’ stellar side twinkled with top talent to leave the Arsenal faithful bursting with nostalgic pride and dreaming of a golden age: Overmars... Ljungberg... Petit... Kanu... Gilberto Silva... Justin Hoyte.
Wait! What? Run that by me again? Arsenal all time legend Justin Hoyte? That can’t be right surely. Did Ray Parlour drop out late on?
Hoyte will have been chuffed to bits to have pulled on the shirt again and just to have been on the same pitch as a K-Tel collection of household names.
And no doubt he zipped about athletically at right back for the full 90 minutes - but you can’t help but think a few hearts sank when he was announced incongruously before the game.
He may well have played for Arsenal 68 times - including an FA Cup final win, a League Cup defeat and games in the Champions League - he won’t feature in many tattoos.
And he hasn’t got a coveted slot on the larger than life ring of heroes depicted around the outside perimeter of the ground.
Although to be fair, Hoyte is written into Emirates’ history books: when he netted against Charlton in January 2007 he had become the first Englishman to score for Arsenal at the box fresh new ground.
For Hoyte, swaggering around in the swanky surrounds of the Emirates will have been in stark contrast to his previous outing.
Just a few weeks before that the fast fading full back, still just 31, turned out for Hamilton Academical Under-23 side in a pre-season friendly away at Motherwell.
He impressed boss Martin Canning in a two week trial and Accies were keen to sign him as defensive cover by the Scottish Premier League side - who’s wage ceiling is around the £1,000 a week mark - couldn’t make the numbers stack up.
So Hoyte is free agent, training alone and waiting for an opening in a lower league club - preferably within the London commuter belt - in need of a speedy right-back.
He is drifting and waiting, becalmed and waiting for January, a football ghost ship drifting.
His slide towards that frustrating inertia has been swift after his exit from Boro leaving barely a ripple.
He was released at the end of last season after Dagenham and Redbridge were relegated from League Two and axed most of their professional squad prior to a major rebuild.
He had played just 28 games. Which is 20 more than he played in two seasons at Millwall before that.
The ill-fated switch to the New Den had always had a whiff of desperation and impending car crash about it.
He was surplus to requirements at the Riverside and he wanted to move back South for family reasons - his partner, now fiancée, was a jobbing chorus girl in the West End - and so he jumped into the first London-bound life raft that floated past.
Unfortunately his smooth skill set polished by the Arsenal academy was in stark contrast to the grit, drive and spiteful battle-scarred passion demanded by the Millwall crowd.
He was roared at and barracked after failing to make leg-breaking tackles in his first few outings and quickly became a terrace target, soon slipping to the outer reaches of the squad, over-looked by a procession of bosses who wanted a full back with bottle who could tackle.
And to be fair, that is where his relationship with Boro fans floundered too. Most would admit he was a “good” player in technical terms but thought he lacked steel and that spark of spite that makes a winner.
He had a deft touch, neat close control, two feet, he could pick a pass, hold a line and play in both full-back slots. He was an academy player box ticking exercise.
And he had a serious burst of pace. He was a schoolboy sprint star who zipped up and down the touchline on a metaphorical moped.
That’s no surprise as he comes from a speedy gene pool. His mam Wendy won 4x100m Commonwealth gold in Brisbane in 1982 and only missed out on going to the LA Olympics in 1984 because she was pregnant with our future hero.
But for all his deft touches and hot-footed over-lapping, he was seen as being a faint-heart, a player who fancied himself as an artisan instead of a grafter, a non-contact Fancy Dan instead of a battler, an athlete at a time when the team needed spirit and steel and drive. He was seen as a mental weakling.
It was easy to draw the conclusion he shared some of the same delicately nurtured and polite Arsenal DNA as Jeremie Aliadiere.
When the heat was on he shrivelled. And for much of the time he was at Boro, the heat was on: mid-table slogging, a relegation, two years of managerial upheaval and failed play-off pushes. It was no time for a luxury player full of fancy flourishes but no fight.
I liked him. He was nice, humble, clean-living and unassuming bloke who knew he was lucky to be in a fantastic job.
And in his last season he did a good job. He even scored a worldy, a screamer against Sheffield Wednesday.
But my abiding memory will be the look of sheer terror in his eyes at St James’ Park for the Premier League do-or-die relegation clash in April 2009.
The press box was very low and just behind the dug-outs, perfectly placed to see the panic as he hared about aimlessly, avoid frontline responsibility on a night when Boro needed a win to survive.
Supports saw similar moments over the years and for them, there was no way back for Hoyte.
He was on a sticky wicket from the moment he arrived. And his career was seen by cynics as one that tracked the slow, sickening slide from an historic high towards a painful down-sized mediocrity.
He was brought in as a £3m project as the club cashed in on a solid, proven professional in Luke Young - a £6m exit to Aston Villa - and for many that was the start of a poorly managed decline that ended up with a long, cold and dark spell in Championship purgatory.
Hoyte wasn’t to blame for that of course. But if you are looking for cyphers of the shrinking, if you want milestones on the road to relegation, his arrival could well be one.
He arrived with a big reputation. He had won things, he had played in the Champions League, he was pencilled in as a possible England star and Sunderland were gutted Boro had snatched him as he had excelled there on loan. So hopes were high.
Those hopes were eroded slowly and surely as it dawned that his early tentative displays, his bedding in period, was as good as it was going to get. He was alright and no more.
In his first few years he was an insipid player on big money, the kind of non-productive benchwarmers ailing clubs acquire before the dead weight drags them down. But at Boro he was playing every week.
To be fair, he improved gradually after the arrival of Tony Mowbray when his pace was utilised more, he started to deliver the odd cross and crucially, he took a massive pay cut to sign a new deal.
But culturally the damage was done. Few fans were won over by marginally better displays that were that too little, too late and many thought he was still paid far more than he delivered.
He was eased out with barely a murmur from fans.
Mogga signed Frazer Richardson to replace him. Which is an indictment in itself.
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Justin Hoyte hoping to land League of Ireland Premier Division move with Bray Wanderers FC (https://buzz.ie/exclusive-former-gunners-defender-hoping-to-land-league-of-ireland-move/)
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Former Premier League defender Justin Hoyte joins FC Cincinnati
By Fumi Kimura (fccincinnati.com)
FC Cincinnati has signed Justin Hoyte, a former right-back for English Premier League club, Arsenal, for the 2017 season.
To add a player that has Premier League experience is a major addition to our squad,” commented Head Coach Alan Koch. “Justin’s personality and humbleness for someone who has already achieved a significant amount in the game is enriching for our group. Our younger players can use him as a mentor as they grow their careers. I also know that Justin is incredibly motivated to be successful here in North America and I look forward to working with him. He is a versatile defender and will compete for a starting position in our team immediately.”
During his time at Arsenal, he was part of the squad that won the 2003-04 Premier League championship. He also won the FA Youth Cup with Arsenal in 2001. Hoyte has made 80 premier league appearances, seven champions league appearances and has logged nearly 300 games as a professional.
After a brief stint with the Arsenal U18 team, Hoyte was transferred to the first team in 2003 and spent two seasons with Arsenal before being loaned to Sunderland. In 2008, he was acquired by Middlesbrough FC (Premier League) and played five seasons. In 2013, Hoyte was loaned to Millwall FC while the club was in the Championship, before being acquired by the South East London club the following year. Hoyte became a free agent in 2015 and signed on with Dagenham & Redbridge FC, of the National League before entering free agency and signing on with FCC.
Hoyte, from London, England, was a member of the England Youth national teams, competing on the U16, U19, U20, U21 sides and also logged 18 caps with the Trinidad & Tobago National Team.
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Congrats to Justin. Places him in a position to challenge for national team selection again, and that's a good thing for us. :beermug:
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WATCH: Justin Hoyte scores his first goal for FC Cincinnati in a 1-1 draw with Charlotte Independence
https://www.youtube.com/v/mL5dIo-c0Rc?start=55
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but what position is he playing in this setup, Tman ?
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but what position is he playing in this setup, Tman ?
In that game where he scored, he played at left back.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB-ZT6FXsAArLxP.jpg)
Tonight he is playing on the right side of a five-man midfield.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCiocZjWAAMH3qy.jpg)
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WATCH: Justin Hoyte’s game-winner caps off FC Cincinnati’s come-from-behind 4-3 win over Toronto FC II
https://www.youtube.com/v/zIlWFPZjGq0?start=169
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Justin Hoyte in Cincinnati
By Tony Awor (Pickles Magazine)
On a brisk Friday afternoon in the aptly named ‘Queen City’, I sit in an archetypical American restaurant located on the banks of the Ohio river awaiting the imminent arrival of a fellow Brit abroad. Cincinnati itself may not appear on most English people’s list of must see places in the United States however it is considered a major city that lives for its sports teams. The Cincinnati Reds, the oldest franchise in Major League baseball, and the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL are the two foremost teams in the city but in the last two years another team has been stealing all the headlines. Futbol Club Cincinnati or more affectionately known by the locals as ‘FCC’ only had its first competitive league game on 26 March 2016 and has since hosted Crystal Palace and Valencia at Nippert Park in front of record crowds. Fast forward 18 months this club is the reason I am sitting down to chat with former Arsenal starlet Justin Hoyte, who considers the current LA Galaxy left back Ashley Cole as his mentor, about his football journey from Leytonstone to ’the Natti’.
Justin arrives dressed in a black baseball cap and stylish bomber jacket with red patterned army fatigue design. He has come straight from training and noticeably seems in a good mood which always bodes well for an interview. After we greet each other with a handshake and I utter the words “what’s happening mate” there is a distinct air of familiarity and ease between us. Albeit being from opposite ends of London I put this down to us both being expats with similar accents and can instantly relate to one another. The fact that we are both English also does not go unnoticed by the waitress who has come over to take our drinks order. She appears very cheerful, enthusiastic and inquisitive about why we are in Cincinnati which Justin handles with the charm and banter of a media trained professional footballer. In the absence of the waitress we joke about her reaction to us and exchange stories of daily idiosyncrasies that we experience in this country when attempting to communicate with locals. The one that stands out for him is using the term ‘football boots’ which continually perplexes team mates and club officials whom only recognise them as cleats. Anyone who has been to America will be more than aware that interactions with them can tend to be very humorous and drawn out affairs before they fully comprehend what you are saying.
After the young lady returns with two glasses of water and food menus, the interview begins and I find out that Justin was born at Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone which coincidently is the same hospital as another famous expat who crossed the Atlantic. Not only was Justin born in the same hospital as David Beckham but both east Londoners share a similar football journey that started in London, took them to the north of England and found them calling America home in the twilight of their careers. He goes on to say “I grew up in Leytonstone so Leyton Orient was my local team and from there I also lived in Essex. A lot of footballers have come from my area”. The most notable ones being the aforementioned David Beckham and Paul Ince who both captained England with distinction at World Cups and European Championships. From his generation there are also several recognisable names who have made a name in the game. Former Charlton Athletic and Leeds United winger Lloyd Sam who now turns out for DC United was in the same school year. “We went to the same primary school, Fairlop Primary and played against each other, with each other and there were always little challenges with each other which was good.” From there he went onto Hainault High School were he would meet and represent the school, district and England U21 with Curtis Davis.
As we talk about his football beginnings, Justin reminisces with a fondness and passion all professional sports people have. The conversation thenceforth turns to his parents, upbringing and how Arsenal came about to set him on the path to a professional playing career. Some call it unique or special however I like to think of it as being fortunate to have two parents who were also elite Olympic athletes. Wendy Hoyte won a gold medal at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in the 4×100 and is still the current UK women’s 50m indoor record holder. From a genealogy and professional guidance standpoint it can be said that their sporting ability and experience contributed to Justin and his younger brother Gavin becoming professional footballers which he also attests to. “Yes I would say so. They were in sport all their lives and have given feedback on sport in general. Athletics is different to football but they have passed on their knowledge, experiences and coaching which can be applied to football. I used to do athletics also to keep my fitness and speed which has helped me throughout my career and still helps me now.” He continues “More so people that have been in the sports industry can better guide and help you through the tough times, so it’s been good to have family”.
As in most cases with professional footballers, Justin started as a striker for Redbridge United at Sunday league level where his pace and ability to beat defenders and score goals got him noticed at the age of 12. It was not long before an Arsenal scout approached Les Hoyte about the opportunity to bring his son to Highbury for training. Successfully impressing the coaching staff, he was signed and progressed through the Youth Academy, culminating in FA Youth Cup triumph in 2001 with a team that featured Jerome Thomas, Jermaine Pennant, Rohan Ricketts, Steve Sidwell, Jeremy Aliadiere and Moritz Voltz all of whom went on to establish themselves as Premier League players. “The squad that won it was great and one of the best teams I’ve ever seen. When you play with the likes of them you knew you was going to win every game. Me fitting into that team was easy, I just gave the ball to Jerome or Pennant and they done the rest. To be part of it was fantastic.” His professional debut came as an 18-year-old against Southampton in May 2003 in a game that they were already leading 6-1. “Pennant scored a hat trick and Pires scored as well. I remember getting the call a day before from Neil Banfield who said I would be involved in the first team. I thought I was just going along to be a squad player then found out I was on the bench. I got on at the end and for me being an Arsenal fan and supporter that came through the academy it was unbelievable. Going through the marble steps at Highbury was amazing…great feeling.” As he talks about his first professional outing a wry smile beams across his face as if he is suddenly transported back to that moment. I get a sense of pride and achievement emanating from him which is undoubtedly justifiable having just fulfilled a childhood dream for your club. He adds “It must have been adrenaline or something but I couldn’t even tell you who I lined up against because I was buzzing. Compared to youth team and reserves the level was a lot faster than I thought it would be and the quality of players was completely different”.
When asked about Arsene Wenger, Justin reflects on the man who gave him his chance in the game and speaks with the utmost gratitude. “For me as a coach he was great, the best thing he ever told me was ‘when you play just go out and play like you play with your friends in the park’. His take on it was that you got to this point by enjoying football so don’t change. Training with him everyday I learned a lot and his attention to detail about timing of your runs and passing into space was fantastic. I still take those things into games now.”
In the season following his professional debut came the “Invincibles” team that went the whole 2003/2004 season unbeaten and boasted Premier League stars such as Thierry Henry, Ashley Cole, Patrick Vieira, Cesc Fabregas, Dennis Bergkamp and Ray Parlour to name a few. Justin started the first game against Norwich City to kick off that campaign but the return from injury of Lauren saw him used as a back up which ultimately made it a developmental year for the youngster. His stand out memory of that team was “togetherness”. He explains that “they had everything on the field and off the field. I remember looking at them and seeing that they knew they were going to score, win or get the result they needed in every game no matter if they were down”. He even credits that team for making him the player he became. “Me coming in as a young player into this group raised my game and standards because I didn’t want to be the one looking bad in training.”
It is undeniable that training day in day out with players of that ilk would improve any young player, none more so than Thierry Henry. It is very difficult to leave out the Frenchman in any debate about greatest Premier League players of all time. Similarly, it would be difficult to do this interview without at least mentioning the Arsenal legend. Probed about his most memorable experience with the forever immortalised hero amongst gooners, Justin doesn’t have to think long or hard because it is a memory that he will personally remember for the rest of his life and is also written in the Premier League history books. “The one that stuck with me about him was my first goal for Arsenal at Emirates. I played a one, two with him to score and we were both celebrating, laughing and joking. He was happy for me because the week before he was playing UK Rap (Lethal B at the time) and I was buzzing he liked it, so before the game he put it on for me, so when I scored we carried on the celebration.” That goal against Charlton Athletic on 2 January 2007 would also go on to make Justin the first Englishman to score at the Emirates Stadium. He made 36 appearances for Arsenal that season including starting in the League Cup Final loss to Chelsea. That same year he would also be involved in another historic match between England U21 and Italy U21 on 24 March 2007. This fixture signaled the first official match at the new Wembley Stadium and saw him line up with current England internationals Gary Cahill, James Milner and Ashley Young.
Unfortunately, when it comes to football the highs are inevitably accompanied with times of difficulty and challenge. Every top sportsman in the world will tell you that it is at these times, and how you overcome them, when you should be judged. Justin speaks with no regret and almost looks back with a certain determination when asked why he left Arsenal for Middlesbrough in the summer of 2008. The plain and simple answer was “To get more games”. He elaborates “Basically I spoke to Wenger and he was honest with me and said at this stage in my career it’s best that I go out and play games. I could have stayed just to be part of the Arsenal team or just to say ‘I’m at Arsenal’ but for me personally I wanted to play more games and make a name for myself. I left on great terms and learned a lot there from being a kid wondering ‘will I ever make it’ to playing first team”. It was England manager Gareth Southgate who saw the potential in him and signed the youngster for a reported £3m. It is this period of his career where he considers himself to have become an established Premier League player and stayed for seven seasons at the Riverside Stadium making over 162 appearances until 2014.
After stints with Millwall and Dagenham & Redbridge respectively, his journey brings us to today and the Yard House Restaurant which is positioned directly in-between Paul Brown Stadium and The Great American Ball Park with a 350 yard walk in either direction to watch American Football or Baseball. From George Best and Pele to David Beckham and Thierry Henry, America has always had an allure for footballers from ‘across the pond’. Perhaps not for the quality of the league or level of play per se, so it is always fascinating to hear from players why they choose to come here.
“I visited America a lot as a youngster and always wanted to play here. At this stage in my career I just wanted another experience completely different to England where I’ve been all my life. It’s a different standard of living, different standard of facilities and different challenge of play.” As he talks unequivocally I cannot help but connect players that he knows personally or played with that may have indirectly or directly influenced his decision to see what the ‘American Dream’ has to offer. Lloyd Sam (DC United) as previously mentioned, Bradley Wright-Phillips (NY Red bulls), Liam Ridgwell (Portland Timbers) and Seb Hines (Houston) to name a few who currently ply their trade here. As I connect the dots, he echoes my thoughts “I’ve had friends that have come to America and done well; they have told me how they have enjoyed it and knowing the type of person I am, I would also enjoy it and fit in perfectly. I also lived with Kei Kamara when he was at Middlesbrough and he said I should give it a go”. When one thinks of America the obvious places that spring to mind are typically New York, Florida and California partly because they are popular British tourist destinations but also because these are the places that high profile players end up. What most Brits don’t realise is that there are 58 professional clubs across the country that compete in three different leagues. Major League Soccer (MLS) comprises of 22 teams whilst The United Soccer League (USL) has 29 and The North American Soccer League (NASL) fields 7. This brings me to my next question. Why Cincinnati, Ohio?
“The funny thing is, before I signed here I was trying to get to America for the past two years and put my name out to several teams. There were situations where there wasn’t a right back needed or they didn’t have any international slots left to bring in a foreign player which is fair enough. Luckily this year the manager of FC Cincinnati got in touch with me and told me to come over. The age I’m at they wanted to see what I’m like around the place and see that I’m not just here for a jolly up. All I needed was that opportunity and I backed myself that I will get a contract because that’s were I want to be and play.” Before he got to Cincinnati Justin is honest enough to admit that the only time he had ever heard of the city was when it was announced that the new club would be joining the 2016 USL season. Unlike in the UK or Europe it is common for a new club to be established in America so long as there is a benefactor or ownership group prepared to back it and spend the millions required as an ‘expansion fee’ to enter the league. Step forward Carl Linder III the billionaire businessman and CEO of American Financial Group who surmised that another professional club was needed in Ohio to rival Columbus Crew. The Club’s maiden season in 2016 proved to be a huge success under the management of former Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County midfielder John Harkes. On field performances took them to the quarter finals of the play offs and enabled them to break USL attendance records three times that year with 20,497 against Louisville City FC, 23,375 against Pittsburg Riverhounds and 24,376 against Orlando City B. The 2017 season saw John Harkes replaced by Alan Koch who sought to add experience to the squad and he brought in the former England U21 defender. Upon the signing the manager commented in the local media “to add a player that has Premier League experience is a major addition to our squad. For someone who has already achieved a significant amount in the game is enriching for our group. Our younger players can use him as a mentor as they grow their careers”.
As we sit here today FC Cincinnati once again made the quarter finals of the play offs but were knocked out by a familiar face to those back on the British Isles. West Ham’s child prodigy, Joe Cole now of Tampa Bay Rowdies played a full 90 minutes to help defeat Justin’s team 3-0 on 21 October. The club also had a magnificent run in the US Open Cup which is the oldest ongoing national ‘soccer’ tournament in the country and is their equivalent of the FA Cup. They reached the semi final. However as coincidence would have it, Justin would come up against the New York Red Bulls and one of his friends who initially encouraged him to come to America. Bradley Wright-Phillips bagged a brace in an exciting game that produced two world class goals from FC Cincinnati but was not enough as young Writey scored the winner in extra time to beat them 3-2. On the whole Justin can look back on his first USL season as a success having made 25 appearances and playing every game in their cup run. It is clear from speaking to him that he has really embraced America and the new environment. “One of the things I’ve enjoyed is that you will play a home game then travel to a new city and state which is completely different with regards to its culture and environment.” When asked to describe some of the main differences between football in England and America he said “it is a really good level with a lot of young players and the obvious difference is the way it’s set up here. I’ve played all my life on grass but everything here is turf so I had to get used to that”. Considering the size of the country which the most recent census taken in April 2016 has at 323,425,550 game planning by coaching staff also differs greatly. “Match day preparation is different to England because sometimes you might be on a 10-hour bus journey to another city, whereas in England the longest journey you’re doing is probably 3 hours on a train.” The most obvious question from any football enthusiast however ‘is the level as good as England?’. “If I was to compare it to back home I would say League One level. Players that I have come up against could probably cut it there, a few more in the championship and maybe one or two in the Premier League.”
As much as we tease the Americans for their use of the word soccer and other phrases that amuse the Brits it is fair to say that based on Justin’s experience and the fact that countless other Brits are playing here, their leagues are competitive and also dispel the misconception that they ‘cant play’. Justin’s observation during his first year in Cincinnati concurs with this and suggests that America really is the land of opportunity. Evidence in recent years further suggests it has become a country to resurrect your career or begin your career instead of yester year when it was just a place to end your career. The best two example of this are Jack Harrison and the aforementioned Bradley Wright-Phillips. Jack left the Manchester United Youth Academy as a 14-year-old and by the time he turned 18 was recognised as the best young player in the country before being drafted by Major League Soccer and is now a star player for Manchester City’s affiliate club New York City FC. Bradley on the other hand arrived on these shores at 27 years old having been released by Charlton Athletic. He was offered the basic salary of $50,000 per year as an incentive to prove himself. He finished his first full season as the League’s top goal scorer with 27 and equalled the long standing record for goals in a season. Needless to say he proved his worth and he is now considered a marquee designated player with the salary to match. When Justin says that he ‘loves it here’ it is not hard to see why and the benefits it can afford an English player looking for something new or different.
It is always difficult to judge how an interview will go but as I look out of the window to notice the sun is beginning to set on the Ohio River, I quickly realise that we have been talking for well over two hours. Justin was candid, honest and forthcoming throughout which made for a very good conversation with another football fan or friend rather than an interview.
I asked Justin to sum up his thoughts on his new city and the most eye opening thing for him off the pitch. “The city is fantastic; I haven’t seen it all but what I have seen is really nice. Just going downtown, the stadiums are close with big walkways near the water. The main thing for me has been without a doubt the fanbase for FCC. It’s crazy and unbelievable for a team that has only been going two years. The support they have from the whole city you’re not going to get that in many other places out here. I was lucky enough to see the marching before games and the love they got for us is unreal.” “I will also say that I have noticed how big everything is here from cars to food portions. How they do things is not small, it’s always big or an announcement so that’s been new.”
TA: “Who is the toughest opponent you have come across in USL this year?”
JH: “The young guy from New York Red Bulls…Tyler Adams, I think he’s a really good player with a lot of talent and ability. He can play right back, left back, centre back and number 10, he’s a big talent for sure.”
TA: “During the course of the season who have you rated the most and thought could play at a higher level?”
JH: “I don’t want to upset any team mates so I would say the striker for Charleston Battery, Romario Williams. Jamaican guy, he was always scoring goals and was a very effective striker.”
TA: “What is your biggest achievement of the season?”
JH: “Making the play offs. It’s all anybody cares about here and I didn’t realise that so to make it in my first season was special.”
TA: “What would you say is the most significant moment in your football career?”
JH: “Earning my first contract at Arsenal. Because at the time I was actually going to be released, no one knows this but Paul Davis said we should keep him he might turn out to be good. I then went from a striker to right back and that was the defining moment that changed the game for me.”
TA: “What was the most challenging moment in your career?”
JH: “Millwall!! I left Middlesbrough to go there and play but they sacked Lomas who brought me in. Ian Holloway came in and for whatever reason didn’t play me. Everything he asked of me I did but still couldn’t get in the team and when I did play I would get brought off at half time then told I was being protected from the fans. Some days I would have to train with the 16’s and not given a reason. So it was very challenging mentally. At the end of the day I didn’t kick up a fuss, I continued to train and be professional”.
TA: “Who is the best player you have ever played against?”
JH: “Arjen Robben! He’s a handful who can go left or right, cut inside or outside. He’s got everything. More often than not he comes inside from the right and everyone knows it but you still can’t stop it. When he was at Chelsea when I played him he was even faster.”
TA: “Who’s the biggest joker you have met in football?”
JH: “One team mate has to be Emanuel Eboue, he is a comedian. As a team I have to say the England U21 team I was in. There was Anton Ferdinand, Keiran Richardson, Ashley Young, Darren Bent, Nigel Reo-Coker, Leroy lita, Wayne Routlege. It was the funniest group of players I have ever been with. We had such a good team and the bonding was such a laugh on every trip”.
TA: “What does the future hold for you after playing?”
JH: I think I want to go into coaching. I’ve started my badges and would prefer to be a coach instead of a manager. I am also involved with an Energy drink called Youth Energy which is going really well. We are looking to launch in the US very soon so hopefully within the next few years it’s the drink everyone is drinking.
TA: “Who is Justin Hoyte the man today?”
JH: “Good questions!! I’m a player who has evolved from a young man at Arsenal to an experienced family man now and learned a lot of footballing and life lessons along the way”
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Former Arsenal and current FC Cincinnati defender Justin Hoyte reflects on Arsène Wenger
By Charlie Hatch (cincinnati.com)
Sunday concludes the 2017-18 English Premier League season, which also means it marks the finale of the league's longest-coaching tenure.
When the full time whistle blows between Arsenal and Huddersfield Town, the 22-year reign of Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger will cease – and likely never be outdone. And while the French coach has delivered three league titles, though none recently, he's transformed the London club into one of the most recognizable brands on the planet.
In a modern era of expensive transfer fees and rapid coaching turnover, Wenger prioritized youth development and long-term consistency. The former economist tried keeping costs lower and gave homegrown talent an opportunity for success.
Current Futbol Club Cincinnati right back Justin Hoyte was one of those homegrown talents.
Joining the Arsenal youth academy at 9 years old, Hoyte was there pre-Wenger and eventually worked his way into the first team on an annual basis. Reflecting on his time following FC Cincinnati's practice Wednesday, the defender said Wenger's changes and influence are far greater than any score lines could reveal.
"It was a massive transition," Hoyte said. "I was a young kid at the time, but seeing how Arsenal developed under him is completely different from how it used to be. ...Nutrition, diet, the speed the way Arsenal used to play, the way he coached, the players. Everything was set out and he completely changed the whole structure, even through the youth team."
Progressing through the youth academy, Hoyte also played for the English youth national team at multiple age levels. On May 3, 2003, he made his Premier League debut as an 18-year-old in a 6-1 Arsenal home win over Southampton. Hoyte was subbed on in the 89th minute.
The following season, he made two League Cup appearances and was a late sub in an EPL match once more. That Arsenal squad was the only Premier League club to ever finish a season unbeaten.
"He gave me my Arsenal debut, ya know?" Hoyte said. "In that sense, I have to look at him and say thanks to him, because without him, I wouldn't of had that. At that time, he kept pushing me forward and pushing me into the first team and gave me the opportunity to play in the first team for the team I love. So for that, I thank him."
Even when Hoyte's time was limited due to considerable depth at right back and he went to Sunderland on loan, he returned to Arsenal and Wenger openly told the press he wanted Hoyte to fight to make the starting lineup.
Between 2003-2008, when he made 34 league appearances and played in the UEFA Champions League as a 20-year-old. Hoyte was one of the young, promising English players in the Premier League. He also became the first Englishman to score at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in a 4-0 win over Charlton Athletic in 2007.
Eventually, though, he left Arsenal in 2008 for Middlesbrough, another EPL side. Bacary Sagna and Emmanuel Eboué, the two right backs Hoyte competed with for appearances, combined to feature in 345 Arsenal league matches. Hoyte made 83 total EPL appearances.
"There's a lot of players who might not have made it at Arsenal who are still playing in football," Hoyte said. His own brother, Gavin, played once for Arsenal and just finished his season with Eastleigh FC in the English lower leagues. "And no matter what happens, even if they don't make it at Arsenal, they're still making their living or career out of football and doing something they love.
"He guided them. ...There's a lot of players that have come through Wenger that people wouldn't realize even started at Arsenal. He's done a fantastic job with the youth team, with the first team, with the reserve team and all the teams, really."
As for Hoyte, who continued playing in England, the 33-year-old has made 28 total United Soccer League appearances for FC Cincinnati since he arrived in March 2017. This season, he's started in eight of the club's nine USL matches and has earned three clean sheets.
Cincinnati, which lost 4-1 to Charlotte Independence on Saturday night, sits first in the Eastern Conference standings for the first time in the club's three-year history.
Hoyte, who said he might become a coach in a few years, said he still remembers the advice Wenger shared with him from his time at Arsenal.
"He always told me to play free and just enjoy the game," Hoyte said. "The more I get older, the more I understand that."
It's evident the defender's playing style, which provides reliable defending, in addition to an offensive aspect that regularly sees Hoyte joining in on attacking chances or goal-scoring opportunities.
The former Arsenal man still keeps his boyhood club close. He said personal pride and passion for the London team will always remain, regardless of who he's currently playing for. And as Hoyte knows, the departure of Wenger doesn't mean the end of Arsenal.
"I used to be a part of the team," Hoyte said. "I was there for a long time. I was part of the youth team, part of the first team. So for me, it's a great club. And I was there when Arsene was there. Obviously I'm not there now, but he's a part of what made me the person I am today in football."
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FC Cincinnati to make announcement next week amid MLS expansion race.
ESPN
FC Cincinnati on Tuesday will make a "significant announcement" as the club inches closer to becoming the next expansion team in Major League Soccer.
A club release about an event next week did not go so far to confirm its purpose, but the announcement is widely expected to be the formal confirmation that FC Cincinnati has won the expansion slot to become MLS' 26th team. MLS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
MLS commissioner Don Garber and Cincinnati mayor John Cranley will be in attendance at the announcement at Rhinegeist Brewery beginning at 5:30 p.m., with a news conference to follow.
The league, which is looking to add four teams in two rounds of expansion, invited 12 cities to submit bids over a year ago. Nashville won the first slot in December, leaving Cincinnati, Detroit and Sacramento as finalists to vie for the other spot in the initial wave.
In January, MLS also formally awarded a long-expected expansion team to David Beckham's group in Miami in a separate process. Nashville and Miami both used similar language to Cincinnati's "significant announcement" ahead of their respective expansion confirmations.
Sports Illustrated reported that FC Cincinnati would start playing in MLS next season at its current USL home -- the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium -- which would put it into the league before both Nashville and Miami, which are aiming for 2020 starts. Such a plan would once again give MLS an even number of teams, assuring that all clubs could play every weekend.
The club made major strides toward constructing a new stadium in recent months, winning approval from the Cincinnati City Council to cover $34.8 million in infrastructure costs for the team's otherwise privately financed 21,000-seat, $212.5 million venue in the West End neighborhood.
FC Cincinnati has been a major success story since joining the USL in 2016, averaging over 21,000 fans in 16 home games last season, and beating two MLS clubs in the U.S. Open Cup in front of more than 30,000 fans.
On April 7, the club set a USL record with 25,667 fans for its home opener against defending champion Louisville City. It has averaged just under 24,000 fans in its other three home league games this season.
The Sacramento Republic, a fellow USL club and expansion hopeful, appeared to accept that Cincinnati's bid was completed but vowed to keep pursuing its own slot.
"We remain laser-focused on our objective of bringing MLS to Sacramento and the news today does not deter our efforts nor does it hurt our chances of reaching our goal. Our bid to join MLS is alive and well," the club said in a statement.
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Justin Hoyte joins FC Cincinnati in MLS
fccincinnati.com
FC Cincinnati has signed defender Justin Hoyte ahead of the club’s debut season in Major League Soccer. Hoyte, 34, is currently one of two players to have multiple years of FC Cincinnati experience coming into this season.
As a foreign player, Hoyte will occupy an international roster spot on Cincinnati’s 2019 MLS roster.
“I’m really, really excited. It’s been a long-term goal of mine to play in MLS,” Hoyte said. “I’m excited to make the move with Cincinnati after two great years with the organization. It’s exciting times ahead for the club and for me.”
An experienced defender, Hoyte has made 349 appearances, scored six goals and added 15 assists across all competitions in his 17-year professional career. The London native originally signed with FC Cincinnati on March 29, 2017. In two seasons with the Orange and Blue at the USL level, Hoyte made 47 appearances, including 44 starts, scored two goals and added four assists.
“Over the course of the last two years with this club, Justin has proven time and time again that age is just a number,” Koch said. “He has made a lot of sacrifices to be part of this group and is very respected by his teammates. He leads through actions in how he prepares for training and games, and that professionalism rubs off on everyone on the team."
Hoyte was a key component in FC Cincinnati’s 2018 USL Regular-Season Championship campaign. He made 28 appearances, all starts, and contributed two assists on the year. In addition, he was one of just four FC Cincinnati players to log at least 2,500 minutes played on the season.
Primarily an outside back, Hoyte began his professional career in 2002 with Arsenal after spending nine years in the Gunners’ academy. The London native went on to make 68 appearances and record a goal and an assist across all competitions with Arsenal from 2002-08. In addition, he also played in the Premier League for Sunderland on a season-long loan, where he made 27 starts and recorded one goal in 2005-06.
Following his time at Arsenal, Hoyte signed with Middlesborough, where he made 162 appearances and tallied two goals and added nine assists across all competitions from 2008-13. After being loaned out to Milwall for the 2013-14 Championship season, Hoyte joined the club permanently for 2014-15. He went on to make a combined eight appearances for Millwall from 2013-15. In 2015, Hoyte signed with League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge and went on to make 28 appearances across all competitions in his one season with the Daggers.
After representing England at various youth national team levels, Hoyte made his senior international debut with Trinidad and Tobago in 2013. He has 18 career caps and most recently made an international appearance in 2016.
The next time Cincinnati takes the field, it will be as MLS’ 24th team in 2019 when the club debuts in the top professional league in the U.S. and Canada. Season tickets for the 2019 season are now on sale at fccincinnati.com/tickets.
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. For more information about FC Cincinnati tickets - including 2019 season tickets - call 513-977-KICK (5425) or visit fccincinnati.com/tickets.
Transaction: FC Cincinnati signed D Justin Hoyte as a free agent on Dec. 10, 2018.
JUSTIN HOYTE
Pronunciation: HOYT
Jersey Number: 32
Position: Defender
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
Birthdate: Nov. 20, 1984
Birthplace: London, England
Hometown: London, England
Last Club: FC Cincinnati (USL)
Nationality: England
MLS Roster Status: International Player
Twitter: @justinhoyte84
How Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Dec. 10, 2018
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:applause:
Merited.
I would like to see Justin coach in the US or Canada after he hangs up his boots.
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:applause:
Merited.
I would like to see Justin coach in the US or Canada after he hangs up his boots.
Why?
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Deeks, the signing of these players is sort of an "arms race". Acquire them discreetly, get them to the battlefield asap, possibly before others could acquire their services and announce your intention to dominate or expand one's possibilities with them.
Enthusiasm can lead to errors. Sorry for Ahmed that it happened, but as has been pointed out, the BFA's "visa issue" is vetting/navigating player eligibility.
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:applause:
Merited.
I would like to see Justin coach in the US or Canada after he hangs up his boots.
Why?
Because he has a better chance of acquiring a meaningful position as a change agent in the US or Canada than he would in England. And, I think he is a thoughtful player with something to offer. Having been in the US and understanding the conditions, I think his background in the English game combined with that appreciation of North America could make him a marketable commodity.
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Congrats to Hoyte, MLS contracts are hard to come by. Think he's too old to represent us in the GC? I mean he's an experienced defender playing consistently at a higher level than most of our players.
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:applause:
Merited.
I would like to see Justin coach in the US or Canada after he hangs up his boots.
Why?
Because he has a better chance of acquiring a meaningful position as a change agent in the US or Canada than he would in England. And, I think he is a thoughtful player with something to offer. Having been in the US and understanding the conditions, I think his background in the English game combined with that appreciation of North America could make him a marketable commodity.
Yes I tend to think along the same linse about his upbringing and experience in England where I would argue he would have a more natural instinct for the game. Bringing that to the US as a coac, havng played here and having made connections (not to mention the respect the English have in Football) should give him an advantage.
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Arsenal to FC Cincinnati: Justin Hoyte's adventure continues
By Adam Bate (skysports.com)
Justin Hoyte is enjoying his adventure with MLS newcomers FC Cincinnati. Adam Bate caught up with the former Arsenal defender to look back on memories of the Invincibles and ahead to an exciting new challenge.
It was a tough introduction to Major League Soccer for expansion team FC Cincinnati as they were beaten 4-1 away to Seattle Sounders on the opening weekend of the season. It doesn't get any easier either as they travel to Atlanta United to take on the champions on Sunday, but for one veteran defender this is the return to the big time that he craved.
Justin Hoyte made 68 appearances for Arsenal early in his career, even featuring in their famed 'Invincible' season. He last played in the Premier League for Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough in 2009 and went on to represent Dagenham and Redbridge in League Two before embarking upon this American adventure. The decision has been vindicated.
"I made an amazing choice to come out here and I am really enjoying it," Hoyte tells Sky Sports. "Getting back in a top league is a major achievement and it's something I wanted to do. I am lucky enough to be part of something big here. Playing in front of 25,000 to 30,000 is like being back in the Premier League really. For me, it's perfect. It was a great decision."
Hoyte is into his third year with FC Cincinnati but it's very different this time around with the team joining MLS. "There is more interest from all around the world," he explains. "We could sense that last year and it is only growing now with the facilities and everything else. MLS just means more support and more people coming together to get behind us.
"There is a major buzz, not just inside the club but in the whole city. This is what Cincinnati has been waiting for since the club was formed and the franchise was built."
The 34-year-old Londoner, who is also a Trinidad and Tobago international, has thrown himself into life in Ohio. "You just have to be open to it," he says. "I have really got into NFL - I go to watch the Bengals whenever I can - and I watch the NBA too. I watch the Premier League in the morning and then on the nights it's NFL and NBA. It works out perfectly."
So do the days of playing alongside Thierry Henry and the rest feel like a long time ago now? "It was a long time ago but I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was an Arsenal fan and I still am. I'm a boyhood fan who achieved my dream of playing for the first team so I will always look back on it fondly. Even now people ask me about Arsenal and what it was like."
Hoyte's one appearances for the Invincibles came as a late substitute for Robert Pires in a 3-0 win away to Birmingham but there were plenty of highlights. He won the Community Shield, played in a win over Tottenham, made 10 appearances in the Champions League, and even scored a Premier League goal for the club against Charlton in January 2007.
Henry led the celebrations after that one, but there are lots of names that Hoyte can drop to his younger team-mates if he were so inclined. "Some of the younger ones don't know them all because they weren't the big, big names like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi," he says. "But lots of them ask me what it was like at Arsenal and in the Premier League."
He adds: "It's kind of strange because I was the youngster in the team back then and now I'm the experienced player. I think I'm the third oldest on the team. You have to try to become that role model who can help the young players and pass something on."
They will need that experience this season. On the pitch, it's Hoyte's versatility that is important, playing in the full-back positions or as part of a back three. "That's my role now, really, to be used in different positions," he explains. "I just want to help the team any way I can." Off the pitch, the challenge will be to ensure that everyone enjoys the ride.
"I think we just need to focus on getting the mentality right in the group and enjoying the experience the best that we can," he says. "In America, the main goal is to get to the play-offs and, being a new team, that's what you want to do. People aren't saying we are going to get to the play-offs but I do think we are capable of shocking a few teams."
As for Hoyte, he just wants this journey to continue. "The ambition is to enjoy it, take it all in and play as many games as possible," he adds. "My ultimate goal is to stay here for as long as I can. As long as they want me in Cincinnati, I will look to stay. As long as my body tells me I can carry on I will carry on because I still love this game."
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Justin Hoyte is living his American dream
By Charlie Hatch (fccincinnati.com)
Justin Hoyte has a tendency to make debuts in difficult circumstances.
On April 9, 2017, Hoyte started for FC Cincinnati at the Bethlehem Steel in his first USL appearance. It was a promising display that saw the left back buccaneering forward into opposing territory and creating attacking opportunities.
That lasted 12 minutes.
Hoyte injured his hamstring, was substituted and the visitors’ backline essentially collapsed 10 minutes later when center back Austin Berry was shown a red card. FCC lost, 2-0.
On April 13, 2019, Hoyte started for FC Cincinnati at LAFC. It was another promising display – this time at right back. The 34-year-old fullback joined attacking possessions and defended well. Despite another 2-0 loss, the performances from Hoyte and the team as a whole were positive and something to build on.
“It was great,” he said after his MLS debut. “Having been here for three seasons now, it’s a great feeling, obviously. When I first came on trial, the long-term ambition of the club was to get into MLS and that was also my ambition to get to MLS, and try to get to MLS with Cincinnati.
“That’s what I’ve done. It was a great achievement and one I’ve really enjoyed.”
Hoyte made his second appearance this season Saturday night at Red Bull Arena, where the Orange and Blue lost 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls. But once again, Hoyte produced a solid performance. And with the club in the midst of a three-game, eight-day tour that crosses the country, there’s a chance the English defender can see more minutes moving forward.
It’s an amazing achievement, especially for someone whose career started in 2002. But it’s even more impressive considering Hoyte’s career and time with Cincinnati began with a phone call.
Looking for another chance
Earlier in his career, Hoyte played for Arsenal’s “Invincibles” – the only club in English Premier League history to finish a season unbeaten. Eventually, he became a regular starter in the world’s best soccer league.
But that was in the past.
After playing with Dagenham and Redbridge, an English club that was relegated to the fifth-tier National League after the 2015-16 season, Hoyte was contemplating his options.
“It was a decision of what do I do,” Hoyte said. “I was stuck between being finished playing or do I continue?”
He kept playing.
Hoyte submitted his resume to multiple clubs, including teams in Major League Soccer. Nothing materialized, which eventually led him to Ireland. There, he trialed with Bray Wanderers, but it fell through.
Then he received a call from Alan Koch at FC Cincinnati.
“If I’m honest, I didn’t know too much (about FCC),” Hoyte said. “I just knew it was a new franchise that was building something special. I looked at the stadium and what they were doing around the club.
“When I first came here, I spoke to a few people, looked at the stadium and looked at the training facility where we trained, spoke to the manager and spoke to the staff. It was great what they were saying.
“The future project of what the club was doing really interested me and it was why I wanted to be a part of it. They gave me an opportunity to come on trial and I just took it, grabbed it and I’m going to keep on going until the journey finishes.”
A week after the call with Koch, Hoyte went on trial. He signed a contract on March 29, 2017.
Climbing the soccer ladder in the States
FC Cincinnati’s rise as a third-tier soccer club into an MLS franchise in four seasons is a remarkable phenomenon, and the layers feel limitless.
But what’s often overlooked most during the club’s rise is the rise of the players themselves.
When Hoyte was offered a trialist opportunity, he was looking for a career revival in the same way FCC originals Corben Bone and Jimmy McLaughlin were.
Most of the players Cincinnati recruited in the team’s first two seasons were former MLS players who had some experience in USL. Offering Hoyte – a former Premier League defender – an opportunity in 2017 a was massive move for the club. Once he signed, Koch called his new player a “major addition.”
But it was an equally large opportunity for Hoyte, too.
Back at a club, he needed match fitness again. He also needed to acclimate to a new country and moving an ocean away from his family.
It didn’t help that the hamstring injury he picked up in his team debut kept him sidelined until May 31 (when FCC beat Louisville City FC in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup).
“Having that time out of being in football for so many years and trying to battle mentally, you find out a lot about yourself, Hoyte said. “You find out a lot of the people who stick with you in the tough times and who stick with you through the strong times.”
During his two seasons with Cincinnati in the USL, Hoyte made 47 appearances, which included 44 starts, two goals and four assists.
When the club had its 23-game unbeaten streak in league play last season, the Englishman was a mainstay at right back and deserved a chance to join FC Cincinnati in MLS.
“It’s an awesome story,” Koch said of the defender. “I think those are amazing football stories when you have a guy that’s had a fantastic career and was obviously getting a little bit older and had gone down the leagues in England, but wanted to explore other opportunities and reached out to a lot of different groups and no one was really that willing to take a gamble on him.
“To be fair to Justin, he had to take a gamble on himself. He came out on trial, impressed us on that trial and he’s grown and he’s just continued to improve. It’s a beautiful story.”
After Hoyte made his MLS debut against LAFC, Koch offered more praise for his fullback. In the same game that Frankie Amaya made his second MLS appearance as a teenager, Hoyte was making his league debut as a 34-year-old who’s climbed from the lower tiers of English football to first-tier American soccer.
It was his 350th professional appearance.
“We’re worried about the development of young players, but he’s an older guy who’s got his game back and continues to grow,” Koch said.
Although Hoyte has only played twice through nine matches, he’s been an integral part of FC Cincinnati’s plans this season.
He’s a leader on and off the field – an example of how a professional can handle himself, face adversity and create opportunities to grow.
“He’s a role model for our entire group, not just for your young players, but for all the players and how you deal with adversity in this game,” Koch said. “For him to be playing at this high of level at this point in his career is a testament to who is he as a person and who he is as a player.”
Moving forward, Hoyte said the most important objective this season is proving his quality and getting minutes on the field. Because he’s played both outside back positions and worked as a center back during preseason matches, Hoyte is a utility man who consistently delivers solid performances.
He’s now the third-longest serving player at FC Cincinnati and the only one still on the roster who joined in 2017. Not bad for someone who contemplated retirement three seasons ago.
“It’s just gone uphill, really,” Hoyte said. “I knew once I got an opportunity to come to America, I was going to take it. I did. That’s all I ever wanted.”
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Was Sunday the end for Hoyte at FC Cincinnati?
By Rob Peirce (cincinnatisoccertalk.com)
FC Cincinnati right back Justin Hoyte posted what appears to be a goodbye message on his social media account before Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Orlando City SC in the club’s home finale.
Was it a final goodbye?
“We’ll see, we’ll see,” Hoyte said while taking a break from signing autographs after the game at Nippert Stadium. “We’ll see how things work.”
Hoyte was named to the 18-man matchday roster as a possible substitute on Sunday but was not called into the game by coach Ron Jans. He has not played since starting against Vancouver on Aug. 3. If indeed it was Hoyte’s last time dressed in orange and blue, it ends a three-year run with the club.
He said the message was “just because of the memories we’ve had knowing that it would be my last game at the stadium. It was just to say thank you for the memories we’ve had and just the support they’ve shown me but shown everyone at the club who have been through the good times and bad times.”
Hoyte’s career started in his native London. He made one appearance with the 2003-2004 Arsenal side that went through the Premier League undefeated. With stops at Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Millwall in England’s upper flights, he made 25 appearances with League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge in 2015-2016 before coming across the pond as a trialist with FC Cincinnati to start the 2017 USL season.
“Coming here on trial was never easy because what I’ve done in the past, you’re thinking you come in on trial, you don’t know what you’re in for,” Hoyte said. “I’m just happy it all worked out. I thanked the club and the general manager and the staff for giving me the opportunity first and foremost. A lot of teams said no, and Cincinnati was the one that choose me and gave me the opportunity.
“It’s been a good time. From coming on trial now to playing in the MLS is where I wanted to be and where I wanted to play. I’ve loved every minute of it, whether we’ve won or lost.”
Hoyte made his first start in the third match of the 2017 season at Bethlehem Steel but left with an injury in the 14th minute. As he recalled Sunday, he found himself wondering what was next.
“I didn’t know what I was in for,” Hoyte said. “I thought it was going to be a hard time for me, but the medical staff did wonders and I wasn’t out for too long. And I think after that time I played nearly every game really from there on. It was just up to me to keep fit and keep healthy.”
Hoyte scored two goals in the 2017 season — an equalizer in the 45th minute on June 10 against the Charlotte Independence and the game-winner in the 86th minute in a 4-3 victory at Toronto FC II on Oct. 14. He also played a critical role in the club’s U.S. Open Cup run that year.
Hoyte was a mainstay on the back line in 2018 with 28 appearances, helping FC Cincinnati to a then-unprecedented USL run and regular-season championship. Though he didn’t log any goals last year, he was always known on social media to be open on the right.
He did convert a penalty kick against Nashville SC to help FC Cincinnati advance in last year’s USL quarterfinal round — one of his top memories.
“Every moment is a great one, from the first time I made my debut to winning against Nashville, taking that penalty,” Hoyte said. “That was a great moment. I was dying to score, dying to perform well. I wanted to give back a goal to the fans. Putting away that PK in the playoffs, I think that will probably be the memory that will stick with me with the celebrations after (advancing in the shootout). And obviously winning the trophy with the USL team — winning the title, which was something fantastic.”
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Thank You, Justin
By Charlie Hatch (fccincinnati.com)
To Justin,
A lot’s been written about how you got to FC Cincinnati, but how you got to the Queen City is rarely mentioned.
By the time you arrived as a trialist, you arrived with a more impressive playing pedigree than any player to wear the Orange and Blue shirt. You were once one of Arsenal’s young, promising players, and an English Premier League regular. That is truly a remarkable achievement.
And yet you never mention it.
Many players have represented FCC, but none have been classier. From the moment you signed until now, when your time playing for club has finished, you’ve been respectful, hard-working and appreciative.
We’re appreciative we got to see you play.
Through three seasons, you went from a hamstring injury in your first start at Bethlehem Steel into becoming an MLS regular who played across the FCC backline. While you didn’t play every match, you provided consistency and enjoyment with every appearance.
No outside back has ever been as beloved. When you sprinted up the sideline, you brought fans to their feet. And when the ball was on the other side of the field, supporters made sure to tell your teammates you’re still open.
You came to FC Cincinnati because they were the only American club offering you an opportunity. But once you got here, you became a first-choice player on the field and a better representative of the team off it.
People often talk about the growth of young Frankie Amaya, FCC’s youngest player. But what people don’t know – or don’t talk about – is you’re his biggest fan and going through a career renaissance yourself. Please take pride in that.
In three seasons, we hope Cincinnati has become home. We hope you’ve been as proud to wear the team shirt as we’ve been fortunate to watch you play in it. Don’t consider this a goodbye. It’s only a thank you and hopefully, until next time. Everyone in Orange and Blue can’t wait to see you again soon.
Thank you for taking the chance to move across the world to play for us, because you believed in yourself and you believed in this club.
In your final interview at Nippert Stadium, you mentioned how proud you were to earn the 2018 USL Supporters’ Shield, but then quickly said it’ll be forgotten when more trophies are won. You’re wrong.
There may be future trophies and future players winning them, but there will only be one Justin Hoyte, and we’re grateful he spent so much time playing for us and making us proud.
Thank you, Justin.
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From Arsenal history maker to competing with Beckham - Justin Hoyte's road to Miami
By Charles Watts (gosl.com)
Former Gunners defender Justin Hoyte talks to Goal about joining Miami Beach Club de Futbol and having David Beckham's new franchise on his doorstep.
It’s been close to 17 years since Justin Hoyte came off the bench during Arsenal’s 6-1 win against Southampton at Highbury to make his senior debut for the club he grew up supporting.
To this day, Hoyte still looks back on that night as the most special of his long career. It was a night when all his hard work came to fruition, but also the night his parents’ sacrifices were rewarded.
His father, watching from the stands, lost his watch during the excitement of seeing his son jog out onto the pitch to join the likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira as they closed out a game which would be the first of Arsenal’s historic 49-match unbeaten run.
“That was so special for me,” Hoyte told Goal .
“My mum lived on the same road as Highbury when I grew up, my dad used to travel everywhere with me getting me to games as a kid. So getting on that field, to make it to the first team, it was something special.
“I did have to buy dad a new watch though.”
Hoyte was just 19 when he replaced Jermaine Pennant for the final few minutes of that game against Southampton. Now aged 35, he is approaching the twilight days of a career which has seen him play for the likes of Middlesbrough, Millwall and FC Cincinnati along the way.
But he’s not ready to hang up his boots yet, with the former Gunners defender having just made the move to Miami Beach Club de Futbol in South Florida.
It’s a club that is just getting started and - for Hoyte - it’s an opportunity to share experiences and continue to develop ahead of the next stage of his career.
“It’s another opportunity for me, a challenging one,” he said. “It’s a new team that is starting up in the lower leagues, so it’s something to grow and develop.
“I’m doing work not just on the field, but off the field as well, which is something I want to do when I retire. I can play here and also work on the business side, help build a club and develop the brand, that’s what drew me to this team.”
Hoyte added: “When you’ve been playing for so long, you don’t really get to see the business side of the game. But when you get to actually be involved in the building of a club from scratch, it’s crazy.
“I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do yet when I retire. Sometimes I want to be a coach, sometimes I want to be a manager, a scout, a technical director. I just don’t yet, so at the moment I’m trying to do everything to see what I like the most.
“I’m going to play for as long as I can, but whenever I finish training I’ll be helping out doing different bits to help the club grow and to get the name out there.
“It’s different, it brings you out of your comfort zone of just being a player. It keeps you going, keeps your mind active all the time.”
Miami Beach Club de Futbol has just become a new member of the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) which is the equivalent to non-league in England. But, with Italian investment behind it, the club has ambitions of joining the United Soccer League, a professional structure which sits just below Major League Soccer in the U.S.
It is an interesting time in Miami when it comes to football, with David Beckham’s new Inter Miami franchise ready to begin its first ever season in MLS, once the coronavirus-enforced suspension is out of the way.
Having such illustrious neighbours on their doorstep could be seen as a negative for those trying to get a relatively new and small club off the ground, but Hoyte is looking at things from a different perspective.
“I’ve not seen David yet, but hopefully I will meet up with him one day because he knows how they built the club so it will be interesting to see how they’ve done it,” said Hoyte.
“I think having Inter Miami in MLS is a great thing, not just for him - but for all the other teams in Miami and the kids who want to go on and become a player themselves.
“A few years ago, no-one would really think about football in Miami but now you see footballs everywhere.
“It will help us because those kids will want to get into Beckham’s team, but not everyone can get into that team, so where else can they go? We have to make sure they know there are other teams out there.”
The new UPSL season was due to get underway this month, but the start date has now pushed back until April at the earliest - with all fixtures suspended amid the coronavirus crisis.
When it does get underway, it will be Hoyte’s third campaign in the States, having left England in 2017 to join FC Cincinnati.
And it will be a far cry from his days at Arsenal, where he made 55 appearances in all competitions having progressed through the youth ranks before being given his opportunity by Arsene Wenger in the first team.
Having made his debut at the end of the 2002-03 season, Hoyte - who was a striker when he was first spotted by Arsenal as a nine-year-old while playing for Sunday League team Redbridge United - was a constant presence around the senior squad during the 2003-04 'Invincibles' campaign.
He only made one league appearance in that title-winning campaign, but still felt like he played his part in the historic success.
“Even training with that group every week was a great experience,” he said. “Being an Arsenal supporter you dream of those things and then when it actually happens, you think ‘wow, I’m really here now’.
“It was all about learning for me, just seeing how they did things on a day-to-day basis, how they trained and applied themselves.
“Even though I only played one game in that season, I was still part of the training group every week. It was amazing.”
Hoyte added: “[Dennis] Bergkamp was unbelievable, just a great player who saw everything before anyone else.
“[Patrick] Vieira was the leader who led by example. He looked after everybody, whether it be the first-team players, the youth-team players or all the staff members. He looked after them and made sure they were well.
“For me, that was the sort of leader it took to make that sort of run. You needed someone like that for everyone else to look up to.”
Hoyte’s most successful season at Arsenal came in 2006-07, the first following the move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium.
The defender made 36 appearances in all competitions and scored his only goal for the club.
It came on January 2, 2007, during a 4-0 win against Charlton when he raced onto a Thierry Henry pass before rolling a calm finish past Scott Carson from a tight angle.
For Hoyte, it was a special moment and it’s one that ensured his name will forever be etched into the Arsenal history books as he became the first English player to score for the Gunners at their new home.
“It’s an unbelievable thing to have,” he said. “As an Arsenal fan, you have hopes of making the first team, hopes of scoring for the club. But having that record also is something that can never be taken away from me.
“It’s something that has gone into history, it will be there forever so, for me, it’s something I can say to my kids and my family, 'look what I achieved'.”
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Ex-Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte on the future of the MLS, its soccer pyramid and being a resident in Beckham-land
By Jordan Davies (The Sun)
OVER THE POND, in the land of the American dream and celebrity soccer, livelihoods and careers are about to be crushed.
The MLS, renowned across the globe for attracting the biggest names since its inception in 1994, has not been immune from the devastating fight against coronavirus.
On March 12, the league was suspended immediately for a minimum of 30 days, before extending that to mid-May just a week later.
And as that deadline inches closer, Justin Hoyte – now a Miami resident – has eagerly observed the reaction time of both the league and the country.
The former Arsenal defender has built another life in the US, spending two years at FC Cincinnati before taking a step down to the UPSL this year with Miami Beach CF as a player-coach.
He feels the MLS will survive the economic effects of the pandemic – and, in fact, come out stronger as the call for soccer in a country once dominated by other sports grows daily.
But in getting his first taste of life in the boardroom of a club in the American Conference, where life-changing decisions are made, he fears for the rest of the soccer pyramid.
Hoyte, 35, said: “It’s scary as no one knows what’s happening next.
“Will certain players be able to stay? What about our players out on loan for instance – what happens with their loan agreement? If clubs don’t want to buy them what happens?
“We will be expecting funds for those players and have planned around that but that could now be cancelled.
“It is a horrible and unthinkable time for players who are on short term contracts. If the season is called off come June are you still going to be paid or even be at the club?
“This situation has never happened to anyone in sport so no one knows how to handle the situation. It is a guessing game.
“At the end of the day a lot of clubs in these divisions may not be able to survive. It is not something that will be fixed overnight and to make the money back will be impossible.”
'SPORT IS LIFE OVER HERE'
Unlike the Premier League and English football, US-based players in the top flight are contracted to the MLS governing body, rather than individual clubs.
Designed to cut costs for individual franchises, who are then able to attract separate multi-million investors who become MLS shareholders, the sport is no stranger to profitability.
Hoyte said: “Sport is life here for most people. It is on 24/7.
“You wake up early in the morning to watch the Premier League, and then you spend the rest of the day watching baseball, basketball and NFL.
“Sure, people will be nervous being in a packed stadium again but once it is up and running the sport will carry on growing. The hope is it will once again trickle down to the lower leagues.”
At present there is no clause being discussed by Major League Soccer to allow player salaries to be reduced in case of an event like a pandemic.
But Hoyte – who has close ties with players still in the MLS – reveals that there are serious question marks over the country's premier division and whether they will continue to pay out.
He explained: “I don’t think the league is too sure what to do, and clubs and players are in limbo land.
“They don’t know what is next, they may get paid this month but what about next month?
“The authorities need to decide soon whether players are taking cuts or not, or getting cut themselves, but that could take weeks.
“As far as I know no one has taken a pay cut as of now. The league has stopped and they got paid last month, but whether that continues is up in the air.
“They have to keep fit and active right now and if the league starts up again in the next month or so then they will be expected to be ready.”
It could not come at a worse time; the MLS announced in February that a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) had been negotiated, which would include raising the investment for transfers and wages.
And it could also not come at a worse time for David Beckham, whose new side Inter Miami CF have seen their debut season – now scheduled to finish in December – interrupted.
That has not Beckham-mania taking over Miami, however.
Hoyte laughs: “Miami is more than just the luxury lifestyle and fast cars and beaches, but you can see why movie stars and sports legends love it here.
“Beckham is the talk of the place right now. He is on every billboard and sign.
“I have seen so many people wearing the jerseys and hats and people will ask: ‘Oh isn’t that Beckham’s team?’.
“He has had such an impact in a short space of time and once he gets his stadium done then it will be a huge thing for soccer not just in Miami but the whole country.”
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Justin Hoyte joins Cincinnati Soccer Talk as co-host, analyst
By Cincinnati Soccer Talk
It’s still uncertain when the 2021 MLS season will begin or when FC Cincinnati’s new West End stadium will open. But one certain thing is when those things happen, Cincinnati Soccer Talk will be ready.
CST announces today the addition of former FC Cincinnati right back Justin Hoyte as a co-host and analyst. Hoyte reunites with 2018 teammate Michael Lahoud and becomes the third former club employee to join CST.
Hoyte earned his way onto FC Cincinnati’s roster as a trialist in 2017, playing three seasons for the Orange and Blue. He was integral to the club’s run to the U.S. Open Cup semifinal that year and had 28 appearances in 2018, helping the team lift the Supporters Shield trophy.
Before coming to Cincinnati, Hoyte’s began his career in his native London, making an appearance for the 2003-2004 Arsenal side that went through the Premier League unbeaten. He also made stops at Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Dagenham & Redbridge.
“During my time with FC Cincinnati I’ve always had a special connection with the fans and I’ve always admired what the guys at Cincy Soccer Talk were doing to connect the fans with all things going on with FC Cincinnati and the rest of the soccer world,” Hoyte said. “So I feel like joining the team will be a great opportunity to share my knowledge, experience and passion for not only the game of soccer but the chance to reconnect with the amazing fans of FC Cincinnati again.
“I’m extremely excited to join the Cincy Soccer Talk team as it’s something I am passionate about, and when it comes to soccer it’s something I can talk about all day long every day of the week. I look forward to joining the great team that Cincy Soccer Talk already has as well as joining former teammate and good friend Mike Lahoud as a fellow analyst.”
CST founder Nick Seuberling points to the addition of Hoyte as another step in CST’s progression.
“One of my goals over the past couple of years was to bring on people who had experience playing or coaching soccer at a very high level,” Seuberling said. “We’ve done that with Coach Brad Gough, D.J. Switzer and Michael Lahoud. Now we’re adding Justin Hoyte, someone who has experience not just playing in MLS and USL, but the Premier League in England. It doesn’t get much higher than that. Can’t wait for him to get started with us.” Seuberling said.
Hoyte is currently back home in England with his family but will be returning soon to the States to resume his season for the Palm Beach Stars of the UPSL who are currently competing in the UPSL Division 1 playoff. Once his season wraps up you can expect to see Hoyte hop into the podcast rotation, featuring in a number of our programs.
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Ex Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte on Viera, Ashley Cole and The Invincibles
By Dan George (gunnerstown.com)
Two first half hattricks from Jermaine Pennant and Robert Pires, leading Southampton 6-1 and the clock strikes to the 89th minute of Southampton’s miserable visit to Highbury in May of 2003. The Arsenal faithful arise to applaud the efforts of hattrick hero Pennant as he leaves the field of play to be replaced by a young right back named Justin Hoyte.
Following 368 club appearances resulting in a Premier League and FA Cup, the Trinidad and Tobago international sat down to reflect upon an exciting career, specifically the part at Arsene Wenger’s invincible Arsenal. A boyhood Arsenal fan himself, Hoyte describes making his Arsenal debut as an “amazing experience”
“To get an appearance in that game was something you always dreamed of. That was one goal I always wanted to achieve and achieved, playing for my boyhood team. That’s just amazing, I mean I can’t think of anything better than that. Even though my dad’s a Man United fan it’s still crazy I was able to achieve my goal to play for Arsenal”.
Hoyte speaks many times throughout about his love for Arsenal and he says that dates right back to his early childhood.
“I remember me and my best mate Jerome we got on the train and went down to Highbury and we were following the team bus with our flags, scarves and Arsenal shirts. My mum used to live on the same road as Highbury and when Arsenal used to win things, go on the bus and parade around Islington, I used to be one of the fans chasing after the bus.”
Over the years, Arsenal have seen promoting youth as one of their priorities and their Academy as a key asset to the football club. Just a few to mention include Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere and more recently, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe. More specifically however, surrounding his debut and the build up to it, Hoyte says he doesn’t remember much about the actual tie but more the pre match and anticipation.
“To be honest I don’t remember much of it I just remember being on the bus with some of the players- Ashley Cole, Jermaine Pennant and just going in with them, talking to them about the experience, going up the marble stairs. I remember trying to find my dad in the crowd and he said he lost his watch jumping up when I actually got on but it was great, that experience will stay with me forever.”
Arsenal football club have been the home of some iconic players over the years, the likes of Thierry Henry, Patrick Viera and Dennis Bergkamp starred for the Gunners. Hoyte was an up and coming player during the invincible season as his debut only took place the campaign just prior to the unbeaten glory.
Hoyte was within this environment daily, despite only making one Premier League appearance and two league cup appearances that campaign, the right back was training with the first team.
“It was the hardest time for me as a player to break into that team, you see what these players have achieved, you see what they have done in the game, after that, you see what they’ve done for Arsenal, the way they changed Arsenal. It’s so hard to replace them, even if you get one game in that team, you know if the other player is fit then he’s going to play. So to replace a player like Lauren or to even knock him off his pedestal, it’s the hardest thing possible. So for me it was to learn from them day to day in training, take little bits from them, learn their personality and what they do and learn that winning mentality”.
With all the stars in and around the training ground, Hoyte feels some regret that he didn’t stake more of a claim and push for his place in that team. With world class competition in front of him however, that wasn’t the easiest of tasks.
“It was hard for me to break in and to bring out my own personality, because I’m looking at those players and for me still as a huge Arsenal fan like flipping hell I’m here with Henry, Viera, Ashley Cole, Lauren and I should have been like right I’m in this team, let me stay here, I was still in awe of some of the players. But it was amazing what the players did and it was hard to knock them off.”
As a young player within the side, and such a high pressured setting, Hoyte pays tribute to two players in particular that he took inspiration from. First, the Invincible captain and current Crystal Palace manager Patrick Viera. The Midfielder played 34,410 minutes for the north London club. Over 397 appearances scoring 32 goals and 44 assists throughout his time in the capital. Viera’s trophy record speaks for itself also winning three League titles, five FA cups, a Champions League with Inter Milan alongside the World Cup and European Championship with the French national team. Those are just a few highlights to mention in Viera’s trophy cabinet.
“He would treat you the same no matter if you were in the first team or an up and coming player, a reserve team player training with the first team or in the academy training with the first team. He really took you in and showed you how it was to be an Arsenal player. He looked after everybody, spoke the same, with respect and everyone looked up at him as he was the boss, never arrogant and his personality spoke for itself. He really looked after everybody on that training field. I really looked at that and him as a key role model. He changed the way that I approached my career really”.
Being a fullback as well as Hoyte, the other name he mentions was none other than Ashley Cole. The English Left back also had a very decorated career however a fair measure of his success came after a controversial move to London rivals Chelsea where he went on to win the lucrative Champions League trophy, a Premier League trophy, the Europa League and four FA Cups.
Cole did also taste success with Arsenal, winning Two League titles and three FA cups in N5. The left back’s move to SW however sparked fierce controversy after he came up through the Arsenal academy before moving to one of their biggest rivals. Cole was however a member of the Arsenal invincible squad and left a lasting impression on Hoyte in particular during his time there. When asked who acted as a mentor as such to him at Arsenal, one name leaves his lips without hesitation.
“Ashley Cole for me was the one person I always looked at, as I was going through the academy even as I was playing my first few games, he took me under his wing and I got to learn from him and he kind of had a similar experience to me, going out on loan before coming back to play at Arsenal on a regular basis. I didn’t reach the heights that he did but I still got to play alongside him and actually learn how he operates and how he plays the game and it was great to have him. For me he was my key role model”.
Being a young player with such talent ahead of him however, it would be a monumental challenge for anyone coming in to even get close to pushing for the first team, bearing in mind this Arsenal side were pushing for league titles at the time and fighting for all competitions, only the youngsters with the very best attitude would stand a chance.
“One of the first things I remember was Pat Rice saying to me you just need to go over and not be shy and pretend you’re not an academy kid. You need to go and show these players that you actually deserve to be here, you need to walk, train and run like them and they will take to you. If you go over like flipping hell, im with the top players here and I don’t deserve to be here, then you wont be. Go out there and put your own personal stamp on things and you be who you are then you will definitely deserve it. It’s a bit of arrogance but that is what Arsenal was at the time”.
Of course, the Invincibles cannot be mentioned without referring to the mastermind and professor behind the great achievements, Arséne Charles Ernest Wenger. Wenger was the ultimate manager, winning three League titles, Seven FA Cups and seven English Super cups with Arsenal. The Frenchman stole all the headlines in September of 2002 claiming that “It’s not impossible to go through a whole season unbeaten” before following through and guiding his side to an iconic 49 games unbeaten.
Wenger was incredibly passionate about promoting youth throughout his tenure at Arsenal, having an influence on some of the biggest Premier League stars as they came through. Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Perise, Abou Diaby and Ashley Cole were just a few to mention from that generation of whom he gave chances to impress and express themselves at Highbury. All of these players have sung the praises of their manager through their careers and Hoyte is no exception.
“Training with Wenger, he didn’t say too much but when he spoke to you he spoke with respect, told you exactly what he wanted and he told you to play like you were playing with your friends in the park. When you play with your friends you play with freedom, excitement, joy and a smile on your face. If you take that into training or a game then you play in the same way. If you go into the game without these characteristics however, you won’t play to your best and perform.
He also bought you into the team for a reason. They’ve picked you for your qualities and if you bring that into every game and training session then you’ll go far.
It was great to have him as a mentor, as a trainer and as a coach. His attention to detail was second to none and you can see why Arsenal achieved such great things. He was a great coach for me and one person that helped me in my career.”
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Families in Football: Justin and Gavin Hoyte
By Dale Ventham (lastwordonsports.com)
Welcome to Last Word on Football’s ‘Families in Football’ series. Over the next few weeks, we take a look at siblings, cousins and even parents and children that have played the beautiful game. Some have played cup finals together while others have been on opposing sides. Today, we focus on brothers Justin and Gavin Hoyte.
Justin Hoyte
Defender Justin Hoyte came through the Arsenal academy after joining as a nine-year-old and worked his way into the first team under Arsene Wenger. The right-back signed a professional deal and made his debut as a late substitute in a 6-1 win over Southampton a year later.
Justin played in the 2004 Community Shield victory over Manchester United and made his first Gunners start in a 4-1 win away to Norwich City.
Hoyte was linked with a move away from north London to Ipswich Town but Wenger wanted to keep the full-back in the Premier League. Instead, he joined Sunderland on loan and scored one goal from 31 appearances, which came against rivals Newcastle United.
Upon his return to Arsenal, Justin netted his first Gunners goal in a 4-0 win over Charlton Athletic. He ended the season with 36 appearances but a League Cup final defeat to Chelsea.
Hoyte moved to Middlesbrough in 2008 but was unable to help the club avoid relegation from the Premier League. Despite that, the defender stayed at the Riverside Stadium for five seasons before returning to London to join Millwall.
This was where his career in England began to peter out, making just a handful of appearances for the Lions and Dagenham & Redbridge before moving to the United Soccer League, where he spent two seasons with FC Cincinnati.
Despite making 58 appearances for England at various youth levels, Justin represented Trinidad and Tobago at senior level. He earned 18 caps and came as runner up in the 2014 Caribbean Cup.
Gavin Hoyte
Similarly to his older brother, defender Gavin Hoyte was also part of the Arsenal academy, although his stay in north London wouldn’t last as long.
He made his first-team competitive debut in a 6-0 League Cup win over Sheffield United. The defender also played against Wigan Athletic and Burnley in the same competition before making his Premier League debut against Manchester City.
That would be his fourth and final appearance for the Gunners before spending time away on loan at Watford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Lincoln City and AFC Wimbledon.
He finally left north London and joined Dagenham & Redbridge in League Two, where he made 77 appearances over two seasons, before moving to Gillingham in League One.
The defender spent one season in Kent before turning out for Barnet, although injury limited his game time. From there, Gavin dropped into non-league and played for Eastleigh, and Dagenham again and Maidstone United, where he still plays.
Like his older brother, Gavin represented England at youth levels, finishing as runner up in the UEFA European U17 Championship and UEFA European U19 Championship before playing three times at senior level for Trinidad and Tobago.
Games Played Together and Against
Justin and Gavin Hoyte have played just two times together, with both matches ending in defeat for Trinidad and Tobago. They have never been on opposing sides.
Interesting Facts
Justin and Gavin Hoyte are the sons of British sprinters Wendy Hoyte and Les Hoyte (who was born in Trinidad and Tobago). Their uncle, Trevor Hoyte, reached the 200m final at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and their cousin, Chris Clarke, is also an elite sprinter.
Justin made one league appearance in Arsenal’s 2003/04 Premier League-winning season, which was not enough to qualify him for a medal.
On his first start for Arsenal, Justin conceded a penalty in the Gunners’ 4-1 win over Norwich. His first Arsenal goal against Charlton was the first scored by an Englishman for the club at the new Emirates Stadium.