Chris James (footballer)

Chris James
Personal information
Full name Christopher Paul James
Date of birth 4 July 1987 (1987-07-04) (age 24)
Place of birth Wellington, New Zealand
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Attacking Midfielder
Club information
Current club APIA Leichhardt
Number 23
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2004–2008 Fulham 0 (0)
2008–2009 Tampere United 19 (4)
2008 → TPV (loan) 1 (0)
2009 → FC Ilves (loan) 1 (1)
2010 Barnet 2 (0)
2011– APIA Leichhardt 18 (4)
National team‡
2005–2006 England U19
2006–2009 New Zealand U20 6 (6)
2006–2009 New Zealand 12 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 May 2010.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 May 2010

Christopher "Chris" Paul James (born 4 July 1987) is an association football player who plays for APIA Leichhardt in the NSW Premier League. Before injury, James represented New Zealand at international level. James, predominantly an attacking midfielder, is also able to play very well on both sides of the field as a left or right winger.

Contents

Club career

James' first professional contract was with Premier League side Fulham. Although he never made a senior first-team appearance, he made many appearances for the reserve side. Offered a one-year contract extension by Fulham in 2007, James declined the offer to pursue first team opportunities elsewhere.

In February 2008, he signed two-year contract with Tampere United. Even though the 2008 season wasn't a very successful one for his team, James debut season was impressive, in 17 league games he scored 3 goals and also provided eight assists.

European Goals
# Competition Date Opponent Final Score Result Stadium
1 2008-09 Champions League Qualification 15 July 2008 FK Budućnost Podgorica 2-1 Win Ratinan Stadion
2 2008-09 Champions League Qualification 6 August 2008 FC Artmedia Petržalka 4-2 Loss NTC Stadion
Last updated 10 April 2010

James was signed by Football League Two side Barnet in March 2010 on a free transfer subject to international clearance.[1] James made his first team debut as a late substitute in a 3-1 home victory over Chesterfield on 5 April 2010. James was released at the end of the season.

International career

He played for the England youth team but has now chosen to play for the country of his birth, New Zealand. Ricki Herbert included him in the All Whites squad just days after receiving international clearance to play for New Zealand for the friendly match against then-World Champions Brazil on June 5, 2006, which they lost 4–0.[2] He has made a number of appearances for his country since his debut,[3] playing the likes of Charlton Athletic and Sevilla in friendlies. He also scored a consolation goal against Sevilla which was calmly slotted away.

Impressive performances in these matches has won him the New Zealand Soccer International Young Men’s Player of the Year award for 2006.[4] He was a member of the New Zealand under-20 team that qualified for the under-20 World Cup in Canada, scoring seven goals in six games including a hat-trick against Samoa. It was the first time New Zealand had a team qualify for the under-20 world cup.

James was named as part of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup New Zealand squad to travel to South Africa,[5] but was not named in New Zealand's 2010 FIFA World Cup squad.

Career statistics

All-Time Club Performances
Club Season Premier League FA Cup Carling Cup Europe Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Fulham F.C.
(FA Premier League)		 2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
Club Total 0 0 0 0
Club Season Premier League Finnish Cup League Cup Europe Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Tampere United
(Finnish Premier League)		 2008 19 4 4 2 23 6
Club Total 19 4 4 2 23 6
Club Season Division 1 Finnish Cup League Cup Europe Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
TPV
on loan from Tampere United
(Finnish First Division)		 2008 1 0 1 0
Club Total 1 0 1 0
Club Season Premier League Finnish Cup League Cup Europe Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
FC Ilves
on loan from Tampere United
(Finnish First Division)		 2008 1 1 1 1
Club Total 1 1 1 1
Club Season League Two FA Cup Carling Cup League Trophy Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Barnet F.C.
(Football League Two)		 2009–10 2 0 2 0
Club Total 2 0 2 0
Career totals 23 5 4 2 26 7
Last updated 10 April 2010

Honours

References

  1. ^ "Bees land New Zealand ace". Sky Sports. 26 Mar 2010. http://origin.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11750_6055137,00.html. 
  2. ^ Brazil 4-0 New Zealand
  3. ^ "A-International Appearances - Overall". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id1708.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-25. 
  4. ^ Brazil 4, New Zealand far from Zero
  5. ^ "2009 Confederations Cup - New Zealand squad". FIFA.com. http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/teams/team=43978/squadlist.html. Retrieved 9 June 2009. 

External links

New Zealand squad – 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
New Zealand squad – 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup