James Poole (footballer) explained

James Poole
Fullname:James Alexander Poole
Birth Date:20 March 1990[1]
Birth Place:Stockport, England
Position:Midfielder, Striker
Currentclub:Dandenong Thunder
Youthyears1:2005–2006
Youthclubs1:Macclesfield Town
Youthyears2:2006–2008
Youthclubs2:Manchester City
Years1:2008–2011
Clubs1:Manchester City
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2009–2010
Clubs2:Bury (loan)
Caps2:9
Goals2:0
Years3:2010–2011
Clubs3:Hartlepool United (loan)
Caps3:3
Goals3:1
Years4:2011–2014
Caps4:96
Goals4:14
Years5:2014–2015
Caps5:4
Goals5:0
Years6:2014–2015
Clubs6:Dover Athletic (loan)
Caps6:17
Goals6:1
Years7:2015–2017
Caps7:52
Goals7:21
Years8:2017–2019
Caps8:34
Goals8:2[2]
Years9:2019
Clubs9:Hyde United (loan)
Caps9:4
Goals9:0
Years10:2019–2021
Caps10:16
Goals10:5
Years11:2022–
Caps11:5
Goals11:1
Club-Update:00:52, 10 April 2022 (UTC)

James Alexander Poole (born 20 March 1990) is an English footballer. He is primarily a striker but can also play left-wing and as an attacking midfielder. Since 2015 he has worked for City Football Group as a scout, but has combined this role with appearing for a series of non-league sides at the same time.

Playing career

Manchester City

After joining Manchester City's academy from Macclesfield Town's center of excellence for a small fee, he went on to be part of the Manchester City FA Youth Cup winning side in 2007–08 which beat Chelsea[3] and signed a new one-year contract in March 2010.[3]

Having joined Bury on loan on 25 March 2010 until the end of the 2009–10 season,[4] he made his debut on 27 March in a Football League match against Aldershot,[1] going on to make 9 appearances for the club, before being sent-off in the last league match of the season.[1]

Hartlepool

On 13 October Poole joined Hartlepool United on a one-month loan deal,[5] which was later extended by a month. Poole made 6 appearances at Hartlepool, scoring his first goal in senior football in the League 1 game against Brighton & Hove Albion.[6] In December 2010, Poole returned to his parent club, Manchester City.

On 13 May 2011, Poole made a permanent move to Hartlepool for the 2011/12 season, signing a two-year contract. He stated in the Hartlepool Mail newspaper that he wanted to sign even more when he saw experienced midfielder Nolberto Solano was signing on the same day.[7]

He scored a wonder goal on his first permanent game for Hartlepool away to MK Dons in a 2–2 draw.[8] James scored two goals in his fifth league game against Rochdale which saw him score a 20-yard volley in a 3–1 win to give Hartlepool their first win of the season after four consecutive draws.[9] After a few appearances on the bench, Poole returned to the Hartlepool United team and scored 2 away to Chesterfield. His first, a spectacular left-footed strike made the scores 2–2 and his second proved to be Hartlepool's winner, a close range header in the second half.

Poole won Hartlepool's Goal of the Season award for 2012–13 for his goal in a 2–1 win against Notts County in February 2013, with Poole saying: "I think I would have to say it's probably the best goal I've ever scored. It might not look the best because it doesn't fly in to the top corner from thirty-five yards or anything, but technically I was really pleased with the goal".[10] This goal also made national headlines after the two Hartlepool goalscorers were named Hartley and Poole.[11] The goal was nominated for the Football League's Goal of the Year at the 2014 Football League Awards[12] but was unsuccessful as Franck Moussa won the award.

Poole signed a new contract with Hartlepool in 2013.[13] He began the 2013–14 season under new boss Colin Cooper playing in a midfield role but lost his place in a CAM position to Luke Williams.

Poole left the club in July 2014 turning down a new contract.[12]

Bury

Poole went on trial with Melbourne City in pre-season but signed for Bury on non-contract terms in August 2014.[14]

Poole joined Conference side Dover Athletic on loan in November 2014.

Semi-professional

In September 2015 he joined Salford City.

In May 2017 he joined Altrincham and earned an Evo Stik League winners' medal in his first season. In 2019, he spent a month on loan at Hyde United, making four appearances before returning to Altrincham.[15]

After moving to Australia, Poole signed for Preston Lions in 2019.

Off-field career

After leaving Bury, Poole began working for City Football Group, owners of previous club Manchester City, in a scouting role.[16] While there he combined his duties with playing for several non-league sides.

In June 2019 he moved to Australia to head up the Australian branch of CFG's Scouting and Recruitment department, based at Melbourne City FC.[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 14 April 2010 . Player profile: James Poole . Soccerbase.
  2. http://www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/statistics.htm
  3. Web site: 25 March 2010 . Poole pens new deal and Bury loan move . Manchester City F.C. . 14 April 2010 . 8 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160308234433/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/news/reserves-news/2010/march/james-poole-signs-contract-extension . dead .
  4. News: 25 March 2010 . Bury snap up Manchester City youngster James Poole . BBC Sport.
  5. News: 13 October 2010 . Manchester City striker James Poole joins Hartlepool . BBC Sport . 17 October 2010.
  6. News: 13 November 2010 . Hartlepool 3 – 1 Brighton . BBC Sport.
  7. News: Pools seal Poole capture . Sky Sports . 13 May 2011 . 13 May 2011.
  8. News: 6 August 2011 . MK Dons 2 – 2 Hartlepool . BBC Sport.
  9. News: 28 August 2011 . Rochdale 1 – 3 Hartlepool . BBC Sport.
  10. News: 2 May 2013 . VIDEO: Poole strike named Hartlepool United fans' goal of the season . Hartlepool Mail.
  11. Web site: Peter Hartley and James Poole both score as Hartlepool beat Notts County.
  12. News: 1 July 2014 . James Poole Leaves Hartlepool United . Hartlepool United.
  13. News: 13 August 2013 . James Poole targets Hartlepool United payback . Hartlepool Mail.
  14. News: 14 August 2014 . James Poole 'backs himself' in sink-or-swim contract . Bury Times.
  15. Web site: James Poole – Hyde United.
  16. Web site: James Poole . linkedin.com . 11 January 2020 .
  17. Web site: Living in a Land Down Under Altrincham Football Club. altrinchamfc.com. 2019-07-11.