James Tomkins (footballer)

James Oliver Charles Tomkins (born 29 March 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Premier League club Crystal Palace. He has represented England at all levels up to the under-21 team and represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.[4] He is a product of the West Ham youth academy.

James Tomkins
Tomkins playing for West Ham United in 2015
Personal information
Full name James Oliver Charles Tomkins[1]
Date of birth (1989-03-29) 29 March 1989[2]
Place of birth Basildon, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.92 m)[3]
Playing position(s) Centre back[2]
Club information
Current team
 Crystal Palace
Number 5
Youth career
1997–2008 West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2016 West Ham United 206 (8)
2008 → Derby County (loan) 7 (0)
2016– Crystal Palace 99 (8)
National team
2004–2005 England U16 4 (0)
2004–2006 England U17 13 (0)
2006 England U18 1 (0)
2007–2008 England U19 8 (0)
2009 England U20 1 (0)
2009–2011 England U21 10 (0)
2012 Great Britain 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:50, 8 February 2020 (UTC)

Club career

West Ham United

Early years and club debut
Tomkins playing for West Ham United in 2008
Tomkins playing for West Ham United in 2010

Aged seven, Tomkins was spotted while playing for his local Sunday League side and signed into West Ham United's youth academy. Initially a striker, he eventually switched to his current position in central defence. He signed scholarship forms in 2005. Prior to making his first-team debut, his career had been marred by several injuries.

Tomkins made his Premier League debut on 22 March 2008 in a 1–1 draw away to Everton.[5] Although his costly slip allowed Yakubu to score the opening goal,[6] He made five more starts and a substitute appearance. As first choice centre backs James Collins, Danny Gabbidon and Matthew Upson were all out injured during various times in the season, he enjoyed an extended run in the first team for the remainder of the season, winning the Young Hammer of the Year for 2007–08.

2008–09 season

On 27 November, Tomkins signed for Derby County on a five-week loan spell.[7] He made his debut for Derby in their 3–0 away defeat to Burnley on 29 November 2008.[8] He played 8 times in all competitions for Derby County during his loan spell, before being recalled to West Ham on 31 December 2008 by manager Gianfranco Zola.[9] After his stint with Derby, he started to feature regularly with the Hammers first-team. On 21 March 2009, he started and played the full 90 minutes alongside Jonathan Spector in a 1–1 draw with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Initially desputising for the injured Collins, he managed to stake his claim ahead of the Welsh international, and on 4 April 2009, scored his first senior goal, a header from Mark Noble's corner, in a 2–0 win over Sunderland.[10][11] The same month, he and several fellow youth products were awarded long-term contract extensions.

2009–10 season

After the departure of James Collins and with Danny Gabbidon injured, Tomkins retained his place in the starting eleven at the beginning of the 2009–10 season, losing it to new signing Manuel da Costa for several games. He regained his place, starting alongside captain Matthew Upson.[12] He was named Man of the Match by Sky Sports as he and Upson helped keep the Hammers' first clean sheet of the year in the away draw against Aston Villa on 17 January 2010.[13]

2010–11 season

Tomkins made 28 appearances in all competitions in the 2010–11 season scoring once against Manchester City at Upton Park. On 1 January 2011, he made his 50th first-team appearance for West Ham in a 2–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.[14]

2011–12 season

It was the 2011–12 season that Tomkins found his feet in the West Ham United first team, forging a partnership at the back with New Zealands Winston Reid. He scored the first goal in the 4–0 win against Watford at Vicarage Road and also received WHUFC player of the month for August, the opening month of the season. During the 2011–12 season, he was linked with a £4 million move to both Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle United of the Premier League, but the speculation soon ended about his future when he signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal at West Ham on 21 January running until summer 2016.[15] After signing he also proved his commitment and love for the club by saying "I'm a local boy and have come through the ranks at the club and loyalty is a far bigger currency to me than money".[16] For his outstanding performance in the 2011–12 Championship season he was voted by his fellow professionals into the PFA Championship Team of the Year, along with fellow Hammer Mark Noble.[17] He was also voted runner-up Hammer of the Year by West Ham fans, losing out to Mark Noble.[18][19]

2014–15 season

In 2015, Tomkins signed a new, long-term contract which would keep him with West Ham until 2020.[20] Shortly after he dislocated his shoulder in training, an injury which was expected to keep him from playing for several weeks.[21] In March, he received surgery for the same injury.[22] He played 25 games in all competitions for West Ham including three FA Cup games.[23] He scored a single goal, in a 2–1 away win against West Bromwich Albion on 2 December 2014.[24] His shoulder injury kept him out of the side from March 2015, finally returning for the last game of the season, replacing Reece Burke in the 69th minute, a 2–0 away defeat to Newcastle United.[25]

2015–16 season

Tomkins opened the 2015–16 season by scoring the third goal in a UEFA Europa League game on 2 July 2015. West Ham won the game against Andorran team Lusitanos 3–0 with him as captain and with the other goals coming from Diafra Sakho.[26] On 16 July 2015, he scored another UEFA Europa League goal in the 1–0 win over Bikirkara in the 90th minute.[27] In the second-leg, in Malta, on 23 July 2015, he was sent-off after pushing Birkirkara's Nikola Vukanac as West Ham went through to the next round, 5–3 on penalties.[28]

Crystal Palace

On 5 July 2016, Tomkins joined London rivals Crystal Palace on a five-year deal for a fee of £10 million.[29] He had played for West Ham for over 20 years from boyhood right up to 2016, he made 243 appearances for West Ham's senior team.[30] In October 2019, Tomkins signed a contract extension keeping him at Crystal Palace until the end of the 2021–22 season.[31]

International career

England U21

Tomkins has represented England at U15,[32] U16,[33] U17, U19 and U21 levels[4] and played in every match of the 2008 UEFA U-19 Championships along with club mate Freddie Sears. His U21 debut came on 8 June 2009 in the 7–0 home win against the Azerbaijan U21 team.[34][35] He was called up for the 2009 UEFA U-21 Championships as back up after the withdrawals of first-choice centre backs Steven Taylor and David Wheater through injury. After the tournament, he was recalled to the squad and regularly partnered Michael Mancienne in defence. He was called up for several European Championship qualifiers but withdrew after being ruled out with an injury sustained during training.[36]

Great Britain Olympic team

After the success of the 2011–12 Championship season, where Tomkins was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year and was the runner-up for the Hammer of the Year, he was called for the final squad for Great Britain's Olympic football squad for the London Olympics 2012.[37][38] He played twice for the Great Britain Team. On 20 July 2012 he played the first half in a 2–0 defeat to Brazil in a warm-up game[39] and on 29 July 2012 in a 3–1 victory against UAE.[40] He blamed his inclusion in the Olympic squad and lack of games on a loss of form at the start of the 2012–13 West Ham season.[41]

Personal life

Tomkins was born in Basildon, Essex.[2] On 23 December 2013 Tomkins was charged with the assault of a police officer, resisting arrest and being drunk and disorderly following an incident on 22 December at the Sugar Hut nightclub in Brentwood, Essex. He was bailed until 9 January 2014 to appear at Basildon Magistrates Court.[42] Tomkins averted the need for a trial by pleading guilty to assaulting a police constable, being drunk and disorderly in a public place and obstructing a constable. On 29 September 2014, he was fined £7605.[43]

Career statistics
As of 8 February 2020[44]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United 2007–08 Premier League600000——60
2008–09 Premier League1213000——151
2009–10 Premier League2301020——260
2010–11 Premier League1913060——281
2011–12 Championship44400003[lower-alpha 1]0—474
2012–13 Premier League2612010——291
2013–14 Premier League3100040——350
2014–15 Premier League2213000——251
2015–16 Premier League2502110—4[lower-alpha 2]2323
Total 2088141140304224311
Derby County (loan) 2008–09 Championship700000——70
Crystal Palace 2016–17 Premier League2432010——273
2017–18 Premier League2830020——303
2018–19 Premier League2911000——301
2019–20 Premier League1811000——191
Total9984030——1068
Career total 31416181170304235619
  1. 3 appearances in Championship play-offs
  2. 4 appearances & 2 goals in UEFA Europa League

Honours

West Ham United

  • Football League Championship play-offs: 2012

Individual

References
  1. "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. "James Tomkins". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  3. "James Tomkins". Crystal Palace F.C. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  4. "James Tomkins Player Profile". West Ham United F.C. Archived from the original on 17 February 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  5. McNulty, Phil (22 March 2008). "Everton 1–1 West Ham". BBC. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  6. "Premier League: Everton 1–1 West Ham". The Guardian. London. 24 March 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  7. "Young defender Tomkins signs". Dcfc.premiumtv.co.uk. 27 November 2008. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  8. "Burnley 3–0 Derby". BBC News. 29 November 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  9. "Tomkins loan at an end". Dcfc.premiumtv.co.uk. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  10. Phillips, Owen (4 April 2009). "West Ham 2–0 Sunderland". BBC News. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  11. Lacey, David (6 April 2009). "Premier League: West Ham 2–0 Sunderland". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  12. "Master and apprentice join forces to save Hammers". Waltham Forest Guardian. 18 February 2010.
  13. "Villa held by Hammers". skysports.com. 17 January 2010. Archived from the original on 28 January 2010.
  14. "James Tomkins | West Ham United". West Ham United F.C. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  15. "Tomkins commits to Hammers". Sky Sport. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  16. "Tomkins is a happy Hammer". Sky Sports. 29 January 2012.
  17. "Due collect awards". West Ham United F.C. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  18. "Noble voted Hammer of the Year". West Ham United F.C. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  19. "Awards Dinner proves a huge hit". West Ham United F.C. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  20. "James Tomkins: West Ham defender signs new deal until 2020". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  21. "James Tomkins dislocates shoulder to deepen West Ham injury woes". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  22. "West Ham defender James Tomkins has surgery on shoulder". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  23. "Games played by James Tomkins in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  24. "West Brom 1–2 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  25. "Newcastle United 2–0 West Ham United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  26. "West Ham vs Lusitans match report: Diafra Sakho gives Hammers winning start to marathon season". The Independent. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  27. "West Ham United 1–0 Birkirkara FC". BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  28. "FC Birkirkara 1–0 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  29. "Tomkins Joins Palace". Crystal Palace F.C. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  30. "Five Talking Points – Crystal Palace | West Ham United". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  31. "Contract extensions confirmed for Tomkins and Benteke". CPFC.co.uk. 17 October 2019. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  32. "James Tomkins". 4thegame.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  33. "James Tomkins wants West Ham to get through Christmas still in Champions League places". Basildon Echo. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  34. "Tomkins earns England under21s call up". Basildon Recorder. 29 May 2009.
  35. "England U21 7–0 Azerbaijan U21". BBC News. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  36. "Pair withdraw from U21s". West Ham United F.C. 12 November 2009. Archived from the original on 15 November 2009.
  37. "Tomkins in Team GB frame". West Ham United F.C. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  38. "Tonks get Team GB call". West Ham United F.C. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  39. "Great Britain 0–2 Brazil". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  40. "Great Britain 3–1 UA Emirates". london2012.com. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  41. "I wasted my time at the Games: Tomkins blames Team GB for losing Hammers place". Daily Mail. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  42. "West Ham's James Tomkins charged with police assault". BBC Essex. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  43. Wilson,Jeremy (29 September 2014). "West Ham United defender James Tomkins fined £7,605 for assaulting police officer". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  44. James Tomkins at Soccerway
  45. "Arsenal striker Robin van Persie named PFA Player of the Year". BBC Sport. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
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