Craig James (footballer, born 1982) explained

Craig James
Fullname:Craig Peter James[1]
Birth Date:15 November 1982[2]
Birth Place:Middlesbrough, England
Height:[3]
Position:Defender
Years1:2002–2004
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Clubs1:Sunderland
Years2:2002–2003
Caps2:22
Goals2:2
Clubs2:Hibernian (loan)
Years3:2003–2004
Caps3:10
Goals3:1
Clubs3:Darlington (loan)
Years4:2004–2006
Caps4:73
Goals4:1
Clubs4:Port Vale
Years5:2006–2007
Caps5:23
Goals5:0
Clubs5:Darlington
Years6:2007
Caps6:8
Goals6:0
Clubs6:York City (loan)
Years7:2007–2008
Caps7:29
Goals7:0
Clubs7:Livingston
Years8:2008
Caps8:0
Goals8:0
Clubs8:Barrow
Years9:2009–2011
Caps9:48
Goals9:4
Clubs9:Harrogate Town
Totalcaps:214
Totalgoals:8

Craig Peter James (born 15 November 1982) is an English former footballer who played as a defender.

James started his career with Sunderland in 2002. Following loan spells at Hibernian and Darlington, he moved on to Port Vale two years later. James transferred to Darlington permanently in 2006 but was loaned out to York City the following year before signing with Livingston. After a season with Livingston, he joined Barrow without making an appearance. He returned to the game with non-League Harrogate Town in 2009, where he stayed for two years.

Career

James started his career with Sunderland. He was signed by Scottish Premier League side Hibernian on a year-long loan in August 2002.[4] He was forced to return to Sunderland because of a knee injury in April 2003.[5] He joined Darlington on a month-long loan in November 2003,[6] which was later extended for a second month.[7]

He was signed by Martin Foyle's Port Vale on a one-month loan in March 2004.[8] The next month, James was signed by Vale on a two-year permanent contract; as the previous loan deal was agreed before the transfer deadline, the deal could be made permanent.[9] He made 33 appearances for the club in his first full season. In his second season at Vale Park, he made a total of 42 appearances but was released by the club at the end of his contract.[10]

Darlington re-signed James in August 2006.[11] He signed for York City of the Conference National on loan for the rest of the 2006–07 season in March 2007.[12] He was an ever-present in the team's starting line-up. In May 2007, he was released by Darlington and was not offered a contract at York.[13] [14]

He signed for Scottish First Division side Livingston on a one-year contract in August 2007 after a successful trial period with the club.[15] [16] He was released at the end of his contract in May 2008.[17] He signed for Conference Premier team Barrow on a one-month contract in September.[18] He had a trial with former club Darlington in July 2009 but was not offered a contract after failing to impress.[19]

James's next club would be Conference North side Harrogate Town. His debut for Town came on 31 October 2009 against Redditch United.[20] His first goal for the club arrived against Gainsborough Trinity in a 2–0 win on 13 February 2010.

James was released from Harrogate in May 2011 after his contract was not renewed for the new season.[21]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland2002–03Premier League0000000000
2003–04First Division1000100020
Total1000100020
Hibernian (loan)2002–03SPL222201000252
Darlington (loan)2003–04Third Division101000000101
Port Vale2003–04Second Division8000000080
2004–05League One301001020331
2005–06League One350501010420
Total731502030831
Darlington2006–07League Two230202020290
York City (loan)2006–07Conference National80000020100
Livingston2007–08Scottish First Division290401000340
Barrow2008–09Conference Premier0000000000
Harrogate Town2009–10Conference North221000020241
2010–11Conference North263100010283
Total484100030524
Career total2148140701002458

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hugman, Barry J. . The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005 . Queen Anne Press . 2005 . 320. 1-85291-665-6 .
  2. Web site: Sunderland AFC – Statistics, History and Records – from TheStatCat . thestatcat.co.uk . 1 November 2022.
  3. Web site: FootballSquads – Port Vale – 2005/06 . footballsquads.co.uk . 24 June 2019.
  4. News: Hibs sign Hungarian international. BBC Sport. 30 August 2002. 23 March 2007.
  5. News: Early Hibs exit for James. BBC Sport. 23 April 2003. 23 March 2007.
  6. News: James joins Quakers. BBC Sport. 13 November 2003. 23 March 2007.
  7. News: James staying with Quakers. BBC Sport. 18 December 2003. 23 March 2007.
  8. News: James joins Vale on loan. BBC Sport. 19 March 2004. 23 March 2007.
  9. News: James signs Vale contract. BBC Sport. 2 April 2004. 23 March 2007.
  10. News: Port Vale release defender James. BBC Sport. 10 May 2006. 23 March 2007.
  11. News: Darlington complete double swoop. BBC Sport. 1 August 2006. 23 March 2007.
  12. News: McEwan in triple transfer swoop. BBC Sport. 22 March 2007. 22 March 2007.
  13. News: Five set to depart club. Darlington F.C.. 3 May 2007. 3 May 2007.
  14. News: York boss releases eight players. BBC Sport. 16 May 2007. 16 May 2007.
  15. News: Livingston add new pair to squad. BBC Sport. 4 August 2007. 4 August 2007.
  16. News: Craig James Signing Confirmed. Livingston F.C.. 4 August 2007. 4 August 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070809005920/http://www.livingstonfc.co.uk/newsdet.php?news_id=802&type_id=1. 9 August 2007.
  17. News: Livingston release five players. icwestlothian.icnetwork.co.uk. 1 May 2008. 30 May 2008.
  18. News: Defender in – striker out at Barrow. Non-League Daily. 6 September 2008. 6 January 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120827041522/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=52305. 27 August 2012.
  19. News: Quakers want Franks and Waghorn. BBC Sport. 23 July 2009. 23 July 2009.
  20. http://www.harrogatetown.com/cgi-script/csNews/csNews.cgi?command=viewone&id=105&database=News%20Archives%202009%2d10%201%2edb James makes debut for Town
  21. http://www.harrogatetown.com/cgi-script/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=Latest%20News.db&command=viewone&id=1462&op=t James, Bowey and King released from Harrogate Town