Cameron Jerome

Jerome made his debut as a 66th-minute substitute against Colchester United at St Andrew's on 5 August.

However, it was a debut to forget, as he was sent off within five minutes of entering play elbowing an opponent in the face.

He netted his first goal for Birmingham against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on 12 September.

Cameron Zishan Rana-Jerome (born 14 August 1986), known as Cameron Jerome, is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Bolton Wanderers.

Jerome played under Wilkinson in Grimsby's youth system, but after Wilkinson left Blundell Park to take up his position with Cardiff in October 2003, Jerome was released by replacement Neil Woods for being a disruptive influence.

Jerome began his career as a trainee with Huddersfield Town, Grimsby Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough before signing a professional contract with Cardiff City in the summer of 2004.

Described by the BBC as "one of Cardiff's rising stars", Jerome made his debut in a 0–0 draw with Leeds United on 2 October 2004, as a substitute for Andy Campbell.

He scored his first professional goal in his second senior appearance in League Cup tie against Bournemouth, before going on to score seven goals in 32 appearances in the 2004–05 season, and was in a good run of form in the 2005–06 season, finishing top scorer for Cardiff with 20 goals.

His hot form earned him a contract with second-city club Birmingham City.

The move not only benefitted Jerome but also helped Cardiff as they used the transfer money to sign Michael Chopra, Stephen McPhail and Glenn Loovens.

He quickly became a regular at Ninian Park and after scoring 20 goals in the 2005–06 season he was signed by Birmingham City for a fee of £3 million.

Jerome signed for Birmingham City on 31 May 2006, for a transfer fee reported as an initial £3 million, potentially rising to £4m.

Jerome scored his first Premier League goal after 32 seconds of the away match against Derby County on 25 August 2007; his second goal of that game confirmed Birmingham's first win of the 2007–08 season.

He finished the season as Birmingham's second top goal scorer with 7 goals in 33 games as Birmingham were relegated.

However, the Blues immediately bounced back in the 2008–09 season by finishing second in the Championship.

Jerome's 10 goals in 45 appearances were only bettered by veteran partner Kevin Phillips in the Birmingham attack.

He scored the first goal in the West Midlands derby match against Wolverhampton Wanderers as Birmingham won 2–0.

In July 2009, Jerome signed a new five-year contract with the club.

He scored a spectacular first goal of the 2009–10 season to give his club a 2–1 lead against Liverpool, described as "the kind of goal that only the likes of Gerrard usually scores at Anfield"; he "fended off the irritation of Mascherano and unleashed a thunderous shot which dipped over keeper Reina."

Jerome hit a purple patch as the Blues notched up a club-record fifteen consecutive games unbeaten in the Premier League, scoring crucial goals against Stoke City, Manchester United and two versus Blackburn Rovers.

His tenth goal of the season, a header from James McFadden's cross, came in a 5–1 defeat away to Manchester City.

Two weeks after the final game of the season, Jerome's goals total rose to 11 when he was awarded an extra goal by the Dubious Goals Committee for his attempt against Burnley, which had originally been given as an own goal by Brian Jensen.

He spent five years at St Andrew's where he experienced two promotions and two relegations and also helped the side win the 2011 Football League Cup.

Jerome joined Stoke City in August 2011 for a fee of around £4 million and was mainly used as an impact player by Tony Pulis.

Jerome was a 92nd-minute substitute as Birmingham won the 2011 League Cup, defeating favourites Arsenal 2–1 at Wembley Stadium.

On 31 August 2011, the last day of the transfer window, Jerome signed a four-year contract with Premier League club Stoke City for an undisclosed fee, believed by Sky Sports to be £4 million.

He scored on his Stoke City debut in the UEFA Europa League against Dynamo Kiev to earn his side a 1–1 draw away from home.

He scored against Maccabi Tel Aviv in a 3–0 win but was then sent off for two bookable offences.

Jerome scored his first League goal for Stoke against Wigan Athletic on 31 December 2011; it was his first league goal for more than 13 months.

He was used in a squad rotation system by manager Tony Pulis, something which he admitted he would have to accept.

He continued to make an impact as a substitute, scoring against West Bromwich Albion and Everton.

However, he began to vent his frustration at his lack of starts.

The 2012–13 season began with Jerome again on the bench and almost joining Blackburn Rovers on loan.

After not figuring in new manager Mark Hughes' plans Jerome joined Crystal Palace on loan for the 2013–14 season.

Jerome joined Norwich City in August 2014, and after 138 appearances in three-and-a-half years, he signed for Derby County in January 2018.

After a spell at Turkish club Göztepe, he joined Milton Keynes Dons in October 2020 on a free transfer and spent 18 months with Luton Town before signing for Bolton Wanderers in January 2023.

Jerome was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, and is of Grenadian descent.

As a youth, Jerome played for Stile Common, alongside Anthony Griffith, Fraizer Campbell, and Reuben Noble-Lazarus, who all went on to enjoy careers as professional players.

Griffith and Jerome also played for Yorkshire Counties.

Jerome later joined home town club Westend Juniors before moving on to Huddersfield Town as a junior, then moved on via Grimsby Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough to gain a contract at Cardiff City, after being recommended by reserve team manager Paul Wilkinson.