Adam May (footballer) explained

Adam May
Fullname:Adam John May[1]
Birth Date:6 December 1997[2]
Birth Place:Southampton, England[3]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Forest Green Rovers
Clubnumber:19
Youthyears1:2005–2015
Youthclubs1:Portsmouth
Years1:2015–2020
Clubs1:Portsmouth
Caps1:15
Goals1:0
Years2:2015
Clubs2:Gosport Borough (loan)
Caps2:4
Goals2:0
Years3:2016–2017
Clubs3:Sutton United (loan)
Caps3:20
Goals3:1
Years4:2018
Clubs4:Aldershot Town (loan)
Caps4:12
Goals4:3
Years5:2019–2020
Clubs5:Swindon Town (loan)
Caps5:9
Goals5:1
Years6:2020
Clubs6:Boreham Wood (loan)
Caps6:2
Goals6:1
Years7:2020–2024
Clubs7:Cambridge United
Caps7:115
Goals7:9
Years8:2024–
Clubs8:Forest Green Rovers
Caps8:0
Goals8:0
Club-Update:14:46, 27 April 2024 (UTC)

Adam John May (born 6 December 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for club Forest Green Rovers.

Club career

Portsmouth

Born in Southampton, May progressed through Portsmouth's youth categories. He signed a two-year scholarship contract on 4 July 2014.

May made his League Two debut on 18 April 2015, coming on as a late substitute for fellow youth graduate Ben Close in a 0–1 home defeat against Bury.[4] On 1 August he signed a one-year professional deal with Pompey, being promoted to the main squad.[5]

Gosport Borough (loan)

On 30 October 2015, May was loaned to Gosport Borough for a month, making four appearances and scoring no goals.[6]

Sutton United (loan)

In October 2016, May joined National League side Sutton United on loan, initially for one month and later extended to the end of the season. He made his debut for Sutton on 25 October in a 2–2 draw at home against Maidstone United.[7]

On 14 January 2017, May scored his first senior goal in an FA Trophy second round away tie against Worthing, a game which ended 2–2;[8] he also scored in the replay on 25 January, netting a vital extra time winner for Sutton, capping a man of the match performance.[9] He was part of the team which knocked out Championship side Leeds United 1–0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup, putting Sutton into the fifth round of the competition for the first time in the club's 118-year history,[10] and appeared in the fifth round tie, a 0–2 defeat to Arsenal on 20 February.[11]

On 22 April, May scored his first league goal with a 20-yard strike in a 5–2 victory over Chester.[12] At the end of the season May won the Young Player of the Year award.[13]

2017–18 season

Following his successful loan spell at Sutton United, May played a prominent part in Portsmouth's 2017–18 pre-season, with new manager Kenny Jackett keen to integrate young players into the first-team squad. Due to the departure of club captain Michael Doyle, May began the new season as first-choice midfield partner to Danny Rose in Jackett's preferred 4–2–3–1 formation.

2018–19 season

At the start of the 2018–19 season, May signed for Aldershot Town on a loan deal until the 5 December 2018.[14] He made 12 league appearances for the club before being recalled slightly prematurely by Jackett for Pompey EFL Trophy round 2 match against Arsenal U21s on 4 December, in which he hit the upright and the crossbar across both halves.[15] May was awarded man of the match and Portsmouth went on to win the game 2–1.[16] [17]

Swindon Town (loan)

In June 2019 he joined Swindon Town on loan.[18] He scored his first Swindon goal on his debut in an EFL Trophy tie against Chelsea U21s on 6 August 2019.[19] May was recalled in January 2020.

Cambridge United

In September 2020, May joined Cambridge United on a free transfer.[20] He scored his first goal for Cambridge, away to Morecambe in a 5-0 win in League Two.[21] May was also a huge part of Cambridge success in getting promotion. on 13 May 2022, May signed a new contract.[22] During Cambridge's 2-1 defeat to Bristol Rovers in October 2022 May picked up a knee injury which required reconstruction which would keep him out for the remainder of the 2022–23 season.[23]

On 1 May 2024 he was transfer listed.[24]

Forest Green Rovers

On 3 July 2024, May joined National League side Forest Green Rovers on a free transfer.[25]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Portsmouth2014–15League Two1000000010
2015–16League Two1010001030
2016–17League Two0000102030
2017–18League One130001040180
2018–19League One0010004050
Total1502020110300
Gosport Borough (loan)2015–16National League South4000000040
Sutton United (loan)2016–17National League201400052293
Aldershot Town (loan)2018–19National League123000000123
Swindon Town (loan)2019–20League Two90001031131
Boreham Wood (loan)2019–20National League2100000021
Cambridge United2020–21League Two383102050463
2021–22League One385512050506
2022–23League One131001020161
2023–24League One260200020300
Total1159815014014210
Career total177141418033323218

Honours

Portsmouth

2018–19[26]

Cambridge United

Notes and References

  1. News: EFL: Club list of registered players . English Football League . 88 . 20 May 2017 . 26 April 2018.
  2. Web site: Harris: Others can follow May's Pompey footsteps. Portsmouth News. 23 April 2015. 23 May 2015.
  3. Web site: Pompey sign new batch of scholars. Portsmouth FC. 2 July 2014. 18 April 2015.
  4. Web site: Portsmouth 0–1 Bury. BBC Sport. 18 April 2015. 18 April 2015.
  5. Web site: May pens pro deal. Portsmouth FC. 1 August 2015. 1 August 2015.
  6. Web site: Pompey midfielder joins Gosport Borough. Portsmouth News. 30 October 2015. 5 July 2016.
  7. News: Sutton United 2 Maidstone United 2. 25 October 2016. 27 October 2016. BBC Sport.
  8. News: Worthing earn late Trophy replay in front of bumper crowd. 14 January 2017. 14 January 2017. Worthing Herald.
  9. News: Sutton boss praises Worthing after FA Trophy thriller. 25 January 2017. 26 January 2017. Worthing Herald.
  10. News: Sutton United 1 Leeds United 0. 29 January 2017. 31 January 2017. BBC Sport.
  11. News: Sutton United 0 Arsenal 2. 20 February 2017. 7 March 2017. BBC Sport.
  12. News: Sutton United 5–2 Chester. 22 April 2017. 23 April 2017. BBC Sport.
  13. Web site: Player of the Year awards . 23 April 2017 . Sutton United FC . 25 April 2017.
  14. Web site: Shots loan midfielder . Aldershot Town F.C. . 20 September 2018 . 1 February 2019 .
  15. Web site: Player Update . Aldershot Town F.C. . 6 December 2018 . 1 February 2019 .
  16. Web site: Midfielder pleased with professional Portsmouth showing against Arsenal . David . Brawn . Portsmouth News . 4 December 2018 . 1 February 2019 .
  17. Web site: Jackett: Adam May can become a Portsmouth regular . Lewis . Mason . Portsmouth News . 7 December 2018 . 1 February 2019 .
  18. Web site: Adam May: Swindon sign Portsmouth midfielder on loan. 11 June 2019 . BBC . 12 September 2019.
  19. Web site: Flashes of excellence, but Swindon Town lose to Chelsea U21s in EFL Trophy opener at the County Ground . 6 August 2019 . swindonadvertiser.co.uk . 12 September 2019.
  20. Web site: Midfielder May signs for the U's. 4 September 2020 . Cambridge United . 27 January 2021.
  21. Web site: Match Report: MORECAMBE 0-5 CAMBRIDGE UNITED. 19 September 2020 . Cambridge United . 27 January 2021.
  22. Web site: Adam May extends U's stay . 13 May 2022 . Cambridge United . 13 May 2022.
  23. Web site: 2022-10-20 . U's midfielder ruled out for remainder of season . 2022-10-22 . Cambridge Independent . en.
  24. Web site: 2024-05-01 . Cambridge United: Ryan Bennett, Lyle Taylor among seven to leave . 2024-05-01 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  25. Web site: Adam May joins FGR. www.fgr.co.uk. 3 July 2024. 3 July 2024.
  26. News: Portsmouth 2–2 Sunderland . Adam . Williams . BBC Sport . 31 March 2019 . 6 May 2019.