| James Plant | |
| Full Name: | James John Plant[1] |
| Birth Date: | 3 November 2004[2] |
| Birth Place: | Werrington, Staffordshire, England[3] |
| Position: | Winger |
| Currentclub: | Port Vale |
| Clubnumber: | 21 |
| Youthyears1: | 2013–2022 |
| Youthclubs1: | Port Vale |
| Years1: | 2022– |
| Clubs1: | Port Vale |
| Caps1: | 32 |
| Goals1: | 2 |
| Years2: | 2022 |
| Clubs2: | → Nantwich Town (loan) |
| Caps2: | 6 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2023 |
| Clubs3: | → Salisbury (loan) |
| Caps3: | 10 |
| Goals3: | 3 |
| Club-Update: | 16:02, 13 April 2024 (UTC) |
James John Plant (born 3 November 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Port Vale. He has previously played on loan at Nantwich Town and Salisbury.
James John Plant was born on 3 November 2004 in Werrington, Staffordshire; his grandfather, Ian Powell, ran a food fan selling spit roasted chickens from his blue van in Stoke-on-Trent city centre for 40 years before his retirement in 2023.[4] He played for Werrington Tigers as a small child and had a trial with Crewe Alexandra before he joined Port Vale at under-nine level.[5] His elder brother, Matthew, played non-League football for Abbey Hulton United.[5]
Plant made his senior debut for Port Vale in a 1–0 victory over Stockport County in an EFL Trophy group stage game at Vale Park on 30 August 2022; he came on as an 86th-minute substitute for Tommy McDermott.[6] On 24 September 2022, he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Nantwich Town on a work experience loan, having been recommended to joint-manager Ritchie Sutton, who said Plant would bring "energy, enthusiasm, quality and a great attitude" to the "Dabbers" squad.[7] [8] Plant made his debut later that day, and was named as man of the match in a 2–0 defeat at Whitby Town.[9] He was praised by "Dabbers" supporters for his "creative playing style and energetic performances".[10] He found the experience tough and one that he learned a lot from.[5] On 31 January 2023, he joined Southern League Premier Division South club Salisbury on a work experience loan, alongside Tommy McDermott.[11] He was named as Player of the Match in each of his first two appearances for Salisbury and scored on his fourth appearance, a 3–0 win at Hanwell Town.[12] [13] He was named as the club's Player of the Month for February.[14] He received a career first red-card during a 3–0 victory at Metropolitan Police on 4 March.[15] On 30 March, it was announced that the loan deal had been extended until the end of the 2022–23 season.[16] He made his League One debut for Port Vale on 10 April, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute for Gavin Massey in a 0–0 draw with Oxford United.[17] He started his first League One game eight days later, impressing alongside Tom Conlon in central midfield in a 2–1 defeat at Ipswich Town after Tom Pett was ruled out due to injury.[5] [18] He signed his first professional (two-year) contract in April 2023; David Flitcroft, the club's director of football, said that "his ability, attitude, character and commitment to getting better is outstanding and is now a benchmark for all players who come through the academy".[19] Plant scored his first goal in the EFL in a 3–2 loss at Charlton Athletic on 29 April.[20]
Plant began the 2023–24 season strongly and was teasingly nicknamed "Son of Crosby" by his teammates due to manager Andy Crosby's fulsome praise for his attitude and performances.[21] He signed a new contract in November, before turning 19, to keep him at the club until at least 2027.[22] However, he dislocated his shoulder the following month and was ruled out of action for up to 12 weeks.[23] He made his return in a 3–0 defeat at Derby County on 2 March, where he was played out of position at left-wing-back.[24] He was praised by manager Darren Moore after again being played out of position on 10 April, this time playing at right-back against Ephron Mason-Clark in a 3–0 defeat at Peterborough United.[25]
Plant is a versatile player who is able to play as a forward, central midfielder, or wing-back.[26] He has a good temperament.[27]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Port Vale | 2022–23 | EFL League One | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2023–24 | EFL League One | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | EFL League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 32 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 46 | 2 | |||
| Nantwich Town (loan) | 2022–23[28] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Salisbury (loan) | 2022–23[29] | Southern League Premier Division South | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | |
| Career total | 48 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 63 | 5 | |||