| Jack Ainsley | |
| Birth Date: | 17 September 1990[1] |
| Birth Place: | Ipswich, England |
| Position: | Centre-back |
| Currentclub: | Felixstowe & Walton United |
| Youthyears1: | 2002–2009 |
| Youthclubs1: | Ipswich Town |
| Years1: | 2009–2013 |
| Clubs1: | Ipswich Town |
| Caps1: | 4 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2009 |
| Clubs2: | → Rushden & Diamonds (loan) |
| Caps2: | 1 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2010 |
| Clubs3: | → Histon (loan) |
| Caps3: | 2 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2013 |
| Clubs4: | → Chelmsford City (loan) |
| Caps4: | 15 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2013–2016 |
| Clubs5: | Lowestoft Town |
| Caps5: | 109 |
| Goals5: | 22 |
| Years6: | 2016–2018 |
| Clubs6: | Leiston |
| Years7: | 2018–2019 |
| Clubs7: | Felixstowe & Walton United |
| Years8: | 2019–2023 |
| Clubs8: | Stowmarket Town |
| Years9: | 2023– |
| Clubs9: | Felixstowe & Walton United |
| Nationalyears1: | 2006 |
| Nationalteam1: | England U17 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 3 |
| Club-Update: | 15:04, 18 May 2023 (UTC) |
Jack Ainsley (born 17 September 1990) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Felixstowe & Walton United.
Born in Ipswich, Suffolk,[2] His father George Ainsley and brother Stuart Ainsley also were at Ipswich as youngsters but never broke into the first team. Ainsley first started his career as a striker with an impressive goal ratio at youth level but since his professional contract Ainsley has currently adapted to right back or centre back.
Ainsley signed a one-year professional contract on 9 June 2009 with Ipswich Town despite interest from a number of Premier League clubs. Ainsley made his debut for Ipswich Town in a 3–3 draw with Shrewsbury Town after extra time in the League Cup, which was won 4–2 in a penalty shootout.[3]
On 30 April 2010 he signed a one-year extension with the club. On 7 August he made his Football League debut replacing Mark Kennedy in the 89th minute in a 3–1 win over Middlesbrough. In April 2011 he was awarded an initial six-month contract extension by the club.[4]
Ainsley made his first league start for Ipswich, playing as a centre back in their 7–1 away defeat to Peterborough on Saturday 21 August 2011.On 20 December 2011 Jack Ainsley signed a new contract keeping him at Portman Road until June 2013.
On 6 November 2009, Ainsley went on loan to Rushden & Diamonds. He only made one appearance which angered the then Ipswich manager Roy Keane and the local press. Keane quoted in a press conference: "He certainly won't be going back there. None of our players will be going there. It's not the first time that club's done that to a player. Not at this club, but I've spoken to other managers. If a club comes in and we feel he might get a reasonable chance we might send him out again, which is why we send them out on loan. When a player's really not given an opportunity then you have concerns. But, as I say, I think it's happened to one or two other players who've gone there. There's a bit of history with their manager Justin Edinburgh you see. There's a bit of history with everyone.".
On 19 November 2010, Ainsey went on loan to Histon, struggling at the foot of the Conference National, on a one-month deal. He went straight into their squad for the match at Luton Town on 20 November 2010, but could not prevent the side from losing 5–1; Histon were relegated, having finished bottom of the table, at the end of the season.[5]
On 26 February 2013, Ainsley joined Conference South side Chelmsford City on a month's loan.[6] On 27 March the loan was extended until the end of the season.[7]
In July 2013, Ainsley signed a two-year contract to play with Isthmian League Premier Division side Lowestoft Town.[8] This will see him line up alongside his brother Stuart, who was already at the club.[9]
In February 2016, Ainsley joined Isthmian League Premier Division side Leiston.[10]
In June 2018, Ainsley signed for Felixstowe & Walton United.[11]
In June 2019, Ainsley signed for Stowmarket Town.
He returned to Felixstowe & Walton United in May 2023.[12]
On 30 June 2006, Ainsley was called into the England U17's squad playing in the Nordic Cup. Ainsley scored on his debut against Sweden in a 4–2 win and then scored two as England defeated Norway 2–1. Ainsley won four caps scoring three goals but England lost in the final to Denmark 4–0.
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Ipswich Town | 2009–10 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2012–13 | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |||
| Rushden & Diamonds (loan) | 2009–10 | Conference Premier | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Histon (loan) | 2010–11 | Conference Premier | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Chelmsford City (loan) | 2012–13 | Conference South | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |||