Keaghan Jacobs vows to deliver Third Division title

Mar 4 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

KEAGHAN JACOBS delivered a stack of pizzas to the Almondvale boardroom earlier this season but now the 20-year-old midfielder has pledged to hand over the Third Division championship to the same place come May.

The Livingston wonderkid is enjoying a superb season at the hub of the side’s creative unit, but, off the pitch, the teenager still earns an extra crust by delivering pizzas in the West Lothian town and, earlier this season, his drop-off point was none other than the club’s boardroom.

Jacobs has become Livingston’s Mr Consistency and it is no surprise that the stats show he has figured in every single Livi match so far this season.

He has sparkled in the title favourites’ rise to the top of the table and is surely among the frontrunners for club and Third Division Player of the Year.

His brilliant displays at the heart of the Livi midfield have even alerted Scotland Under-21 boss Billy Stark, who exclusively revealed to the Courier in November that he is keeping an eye on the South African-born youngster, who is eligible for Scotland under the new eligibility rules.

The Livi dynamo didn’t do his chances any harm by scoring a stunning goal in the 2-1 win over Queen’s Park at Hampden under Stark’s watchful eye and he admits he’d love a chance to fulfil his Dark Blue dream.

“I still deliver pizzas for a bit of cash on the side, which I enjoy doing, although one of my deliveries was to the Livingston boardroom,” said Jacobs.

“The guys didn’t say much when I was dropping them off though and they just had a wee laugh about it with me.

“It’s been a great season for the team and also for me personally.

“We started the season quite poorly but we recovered well and have been on a good run which has taken us to the top of the league.

“I’ve been involved in the starting line-up most weeks and that has helped my confidence.

“Luckily I’ve managed to maintain a good level of performance as well which has helped me and the team.

“The goal against Queen’s Park was the best I’ve scored for the senior side and it was great it came at Hampden.

“Billy Stark hasn’t spoken to me personally but I am eligible for Scotland under the new rules and if the chance came up to play for the national team, I’d jump at it as I’ve lived in Livingston since I was nine.”

While the likes of Andy Halliday and Robbie Winters have hogged the headlines, Jacobs has continued to go about his business with minimum fuss.

And though he has already amassed a staggering 29 competitive games this season, he is showing energy levels each week as if it were the opening day of the season.

If the Lions do go on to be crowned champs, it will be their first honour since the League Cup in 2004 but Jacobs reveals it will be nothing new to the likes of himself, Halliday, Cammy MacDonald and David Sinclair, who have made a habit of winning things.

He added: “A few of us in the first team won the Under-19 League two years in a row, so for us all now to be playing senior football and win the Third Division title would be extra special.

“Quite a few of us all came through together and won the leagues but, of course, winning something at senior level would be amazing.

“It would mean everything to win the title, especially as I’ve been involved almost every week as well.

“It would be good for the fans, who have been through a lot over the last year.

“I think it is fair to say it is our title to lose now after we beat East Stirlingshire and then they lost their next two matches as well.

“Nobody here is getting carried away and we are keeping our feet on the ground but if we can keep winning matches, then the title will be ours.

“The two games against East Stirlingshire at Almondvale will be massive for us and beating them will go a long way to deciding the title.”