| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Sharp | ||
| Date of birth | 2 January 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Reading, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Unattached | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Aldershot/Reading FC | Andover | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2000-2003 | Hartlepool United | 49 | (2) |
| 2003-2005 | Falkirk | 34 | (1) |
| 2005 | Brechin City | 13 (Loan) | (1) |
| 2005-2006 | Torquay United | 32 | (0) |
| 2006 | Shrewsbury Town | 0 | (0) |
| 2006-2007 | Rochdale | 12 | (1) |
| 2007-2008 | Airdrie United | 8 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:18, 7 April 2008 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
James Sharp (born 2 January 1976 in Reading) is an English professional football (soccer) player, currently without a club. He typically plays as a left-sided centre-back but has occasionally been used as a left-back.
Sharp was a relative latecomer to the professional game, having signed his first contract at the age of 24, an event preceded by a spell at non-league Andover F.C. He started his professional football career with Hartlepool United in 2000. After 60 appearances in three years with Hartlepool & a player of the year award, Sharp fell out of favour at Hartlepool and moved to Scottish club Falkirk on a free transfer in 2003.
After a year-and-a-half with the Bairns, Sharp was loaned out to Brechin City in February 2005 until the end of the season. In which time, Sharp helped Brechin to the Division 2 title along with picking up a winners medal for Falkirk in same season as Falkirk claimed the Division 1 title. Sharp made his return to England with a free transfer to Torquay United in August 2005. Playing in 32 league matches in the 2005-06 season, Sharp was named captain of the club, but was released at the season's end.
After spending pre-season training with the club, Sharp was signed by Shrewsbury Town on a one-month contract on 8 August 2006. However, on 24 August 2006, Sharp chose to terminate the contract to pursue other options.[1] He had played just 10 minutes for Shrewsbury — the final ten minutes of the League Cup first round match at Birmingham City, where Birmingham won via a late goal.[2]
Sharp was subsequently signed by Rochdale, debuting for them on 2 September 2006 in the 1-1 draw at home to Hereford United. His first goal for the club came against Shrewsbury, on 30 September, just a month after leaving them.
He was released by Rochdale at the end of the 2006-07 season and was signed by Scottish Second Division club Airdrie United.After a spell of 6 months with Airdrie, Sharp was forced to retire from the Professional game through injury.[3]