In the Channel

A host of loan spells and a determination to get first-team football has seen Jervis appear for eleven different clubs since turning professional just five years ago. The forward even went as far as Turkey in 2013, signing for Elazığspor in a spell plagued by injuries and issues with player registration. For Jake, though, it is all just part of the learning experience. 

 

“It’s a league that everyone doesn’t know much about in terms of the football,” said Jervis. “It’s a good standard of football, and the fans are very passionate to say the least! 

 

“You’ve got teams you’re playing against like Galatasaray and Fenerbache, where it’s a crazy atmosphere. It’s definitely something that helped me in terms of my football side technically.”

 

“I had six months in Turkey where, because of my contract, I couldn’t even play, so I’m just looking to enjoy my football this season.

 

Jervis will go into his first campaign with the Greens with a much better mental grasp of the trials and tribulations of sport than most footballers of his age could not come close to. Rather than dwell on those negatives aspects, the striker is dead set on using it as a learning curve to ensure his time with Argyle is the most prosperous of his career to date.

 

“It helps you see the good of football and the bad of football,” said Jake. “Obviously it’s made me a better person for it, and I think it’s made me a better player.

 

“To have played in different leagues and different places definitely helps me, and I’ve used it as a positive thing. I’ve been places where we’ve done really well - I’ve gone on runs at Swindon where we’ve gone 16 or 17 games unbeaten – and then I’ve been somewhere I’ve not even been able to play.

 

“Everything has helped me towards where I am today.”