Craig James (footballer, born 1982)

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

Craig James

James playing for Harrogate Town in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Craig Peter James[1]
Date of birth	(1982-11-15) 15 November 1982
Place of birth	Middlesbrough, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Playing position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2004	Sunderland	1	(0)
2002–2003	→ Hibernian (loan)	22	(2)
2003–2004	→ Darlington (loan)	10	(1)
2004–2006	Port Vale	73	(1)
2006–2007	Darlington	23	(0)
2007	→ York City (loan)	8	(0)
2007–2008	Livingston	29	(0)
2008	Barrow	0	(0)
2009–2011	Harrogate Town	48	(4)
Total		214	(8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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.[3] He was forced to return to Sunderland because of a knee injury in April 2003.[4] He joined Darlington on a month-long loan in November 2003,[5] which was later extended for a second month.[6]

He was signed by Martin Foyle's Port Vale on a one-month loan in March 2004.[7] 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.[8] He made a total of 33 appearances for the club in his first full season at the club. 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.[9]

James was re-signed by Darlington in August 2006.[10] He signed for York City of the Conference National on loan for the rest of the 2006–07 season in March 2007,[11] and 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.[12][13]

He signed for Scottish First Division side Livingston on a one-year contract in August 2007, after a successful trial period with the club.[14][15] He was released at the end of his contract in May 2008.[16] He signed for Conference Premier team Barrow on a one-month contract in September.[17] He had a trial with former club Darlington in July 2009, but he was not offered a contract after failing to impress.[18]

James's next club would be Conference North side Harrogate Town. His debut for Town came on 31 October 2009 against Redditch United.[19] 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.[20]

Career statistics

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sunderland	2002–03[21]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2003–04[22]	First Division	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
Hibernian (loan)	2002–03[21]	SPL	22	2	2	0	1	0	0	0	25	2
Darlington (loan)	2003–04[22]	Third Division	10	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	1
Port Vale	2003–04[22]	Second Division	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
	2004–05[23]	League One	30	1	0	0	1	0	2[lower-alpha 1]	0	33	1
	2005–06[24]	League One	35	0	5	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	42	0
	Total		73	1	5	0	2	0	3	0	83	1
Darlington	2006–07[25]	League Two	23	0	2	0	2	0	2[lower-alpha 1]	0	29	0
York City (loan)	2006–07[25]	Conference National	8	0	0	0	0	0	2[lower-alpha 2]	0	10	0
Livingston	2007–08[26]	Scottish First Division	29	0	4	0	1	0	0	0	34	0
Barrow	2008–09	Conference Premier	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Harrogate Town	2009–10	Conference North	22	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	24	1
	2010–11[27]	Conference North	26	3	1	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 3]	0	28	3
	Total		48	4	1	0	0	0	3	0	52	4
Career total			214	8	14	0	7	0	10	0	245	8

1. Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy.
2. Appearance/s in the play-offs.
3. Appearance/s in the FA Trophy.

References

1. Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 320. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
2. "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2005/06". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
3. "Hibs sign Hungarian international". BBC Sport. 30 August 2002. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
4. "Early Hibs exit for James". BBC Sport. 23 April 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
5. "James joins Quakers". BBC Sport. 13 November 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
6. "James staying with Quakers". BBC Sport. 18 December 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
7. "James joins Vale on loan". BBC Sport. 19 March 2004. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
8. "James signs Vale contract". BBC Sport. 2 April 2004. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
9. "Port Vale release defender James". BBC Sport. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
10. "Darlington complete double swoop". BBC Sport. 1 August 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
11. "McEwan in triple transfer swoop". BBC Sport. 22 March 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
12. "Five set to depart club". Darlington F.C. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2007.
13. "York boss releases eight players". BBC Sport. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2007.
14. "Livingston add new pair to squad". BBC Sport. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
15. "Craig James Signing Confirmed". Livingston F.C. 4 August 2007. Archived from the original on 9 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
16. "Livingston release five players". icwestlothian.icnetwork.co.uk. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
17. "Defender in – striker out at Barrow". Non-League Daily. 6 September 2008. Archived from the original on 27 August 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
18. "Quakers want Franks and Waghorn". BBC Sport. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
19. James makes debut for Town – Harrogate Town Website
20. James, Bowey and King released from Harrogate Town – Harrogate Town Website
21. "Games played by Craig James in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
22. "Games played by Craig James in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
23. "Games played by Craig James in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
24. "Games played by Craig James in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
25. "Games played by Craig James in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
26. "Games played by Craig James in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
27. Craig James at Soccerway

External links

• Craig James at Soccerbase