Joss Labadie-Cedar Herald Index

Joss Christopher Labadie (born 30 August 1990) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Solihull Moors.

Career

Early career

Born in Croydon, Labadie began his football career with West Bromwich Albion. He joined their academy in 2006 after being spotted playing for Barking Abbey College of Sport and being invited for a trial. In the 2007–08 season, he played 19 times for Albion's reserve team, scoring three times. This earned him his first professional contract in the summer of 2008, on a one-year deal with the option of a second season.

Joss Labadie

Before he was able to break into the Albion first team, he was sent on loan to League Two side Shrewsbury Town on 1 January 2009. He played for Shrewsbury two days later in a league match against Bradford City at Valley Parade, in a game which finished 0–0. He subsequently fractured his foot in training and returned to West Brom less than a week after he had left the club. He returned to Shrewsbury on an initial month-long loan on 3 August. He made his first appearance of the 2009–10 season in a 3–1 victory over Burton Albion, during which he scored a free kick from 30 yards. After extending his loan spell until January, Labadie scored on 12 September 2009, in a 2–0 win over Crewe Alexandra. After adding three more goals against Northampton Town, Cheltenham Town and Morecambe, where he was sent-off during the match, Labadie returned to West Brom in November, with Shrewsbury manager Paul Simpson saying, "I've been disappointed with his recent attitude."

Joss Labadie

Later the same year, Labadie had another loan spell in League Two, this time with Cheltenham Town. He made his Cheltenham Town debut on 21 November 2009, where he started the whole game, in a 1–0 loss against Morecambe. A handful of first-team appearances led Labadie to have his loan spell extended on two occasions, all the way to February. He made eleven appearances for the side before returning to his parent club in February.

Joss Labadie

West Brom released Labadie on 14 May 2010.

Tranmere Rovers

On 24 March 2010, Labadie signed for Tranmere Rovers on loan until the end of the 2009–10 season. He made his club debut during a 3–0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. He did not score his first goal until 17 April 2010 in a 3–1 win over Exeter City. He scored again in a 2–1 loss against Brentford three days later. Labadie also scored against Stockport County in the last game of the season. Tranmere Rovers survived relegation by one point.

On learning of his release from West Bromwich Albion at the end of the 2009–10 season, the club immediately made a contract offer to Labadie. On 20 May 2010 he signed a two-year contract with Tranmere. Since joining the club on a permanent basis, Labadie was a first team regular, although he was plagued by injuries, He was sent-off for violent conduct during a 1–0 win over Notts County on 20 November 2010. After serving a two-match suspension, Labadie scored on his return against Rochdale on 1 January 2011 despite losing 3–2. However, during a 2–0 loss against Milton Keynes Dons on 15 January 2011, he was booked for "simulation" or diving in the first half. Manager Les Parry insisted that he is not a cheat. Despite this, he scored again in a 2–1 loss against Brentford on 22 February 2011. After serving his suspension on two occasions, Labadie, nevertheless, made the total of 37 appearances and scored twice in his first permanent season at the club.

In the 2011–12 season, Labadie started the season well when he scored two goals against Notts County and Sheffield United He then scored two goals against Stevenage and Bury. However, Labadie's first team opportunities were soon limited. He was on the substitute bench with a foot injury. Despite this, he scored again on 24 March 2012, in a 2–0 win over Exeter City. After the match, Manager Ronnie Moore commented on Labadie's performance: "Joss took his opportunity well." After finishing his second season, making a total of 31 appearances and scoring five times in all competitions, Tranmere Rovers released him at the end of the 2011–12 season.