| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Richard Clapham | ||
| Date of birth | 7 December 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | Lincoln, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Left back | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1994–1998 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1 | (0) |
| 1997 | → Leyton Orient (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 1997 | → Bristol Rovers (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 1998 | → Ipswich Town (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 1998–2003 | Ipswich Town | 195 | (8) |
| 2003–2006 | Birmingham City | 84 | (1) |
| 2006–2008 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 26 | (0) |
| 2007 | → Leeds United (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2008 | Leicester City | 11 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Notts County | 70 | (3) |
| 2010–2011 | Lincoln City | 23 | (1) |
| 2011 | Kettering Town | 3 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:11, 19 September 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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James Richard "Jamie" Clapham (born 7 December 1975) is an English footballer who plays as a left-back, most recently for Conference National side Kettering Town.
Clapham has notably played in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur, Ipswich Town and Birmingham City. He has also played for Leyton Orient, Bristol Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester City, Leeds United, Notts County and Lincoln City.
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Clapham was born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. His career started at Tottenham Hotspur, although he only made one appearance for the club, a 2–1 defeat to Coventry City on May 11, 1997. Prior to that single game, he had had loan spells at Leyton Orient (six games between January 29 and February 22, 1997) and Bristol Rovers (five games between March 27 and April 26 of the same year).
The next season saw him loaned out to Ipswich Town for two months between January 9 and March 12, 1998, the move then becoming permanent for a fee of £300,000. He made a total of 175 full and 20 substitute appearances in the league for Ipswich and scored eight goals, the most notable coming from his left-footed free kicks. In 1999, he was voted Ipswich Town's "Player of the Year". He also tasted European action with the club, playing 12 games in the UEFA Cup in two successive campaigns, 2001–02 and 2002–03.
Ipswich Town's relegation in 2002 led to the club going into administration and created a need to sell players. Clapham was one such player as he was sold.
He joined Premiership club Birmingham City for £1.3 million in 2003 after four years at Portman Road. He settled into the team and was a virtual ever-present until a hamstring injury forced him out in December 2003. His recovery was hampered when he suffered shingles during February 2004, and he was unable to return until April.
In the following two seasons, he remained a squad player with competition for his slot from a number of players, such as Stan Lazaridis and Julian Gray, limiting his appearances. In May 2006, he was released by the club as they slipped from the top flight. In all, he played 84 league games over three seasons, scoring once (against Manchester United).[1]
In July 2006, Clapham had a trial with Sheffield United and played 75 minutes of a pre-season clash with Rotherham United. Clapham also received interest from his former club Ipswich Town before choosing to sign for Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2006 on a two-year deal. He played in just 26 league games during the 2006–07 season, without scoring, and was put on the transfer list at the end of it.
However, there were no takers for the defender in the close season and he began the 2007–08 campaign still at Molineux. He was loaned out to League One Leeds United in August 2007 and remained at Elland Road for three months, becoming Leeds first choice left back, the club was given a 15 point deduction at the start of that season and Clapham was instrumental at playing a part in Leeds' impressive early season form.
He failed to break back into Wolves first team after his return and was released to join Leicester City on January 31, 2008.[2] Clapham was released by the club in May 2008.
After a period training with West Bromwich Albion in July, managed by former Ipswich team mate Tony Mowbray, he joined Southend United on trial but was not offered a contract.[3] After two weeks' training with Notts County, he signed a short-term deal with the League Two club in September 2008,[4] then in January 2009, he signed an 18 month contract extension to keep him at the club until May 2010. He and seven other players were released at the end of the 2009–10 season.[5]
He signed a one-year contract with League Two club Lincoln City in July 2010.[6] In May 2011 he was not offered a new contract after a mass clear out of players following the club's relegation from the Football League.[7]
In August 2011 he signed for Kettering Town after trialling with the club.[8] Following the departure of manager Morell Maison and appointment of Mark Stimson, Clapham departed the club in September 2011.[9]
Clapham's father, Graham, and grandfather, Bert Wilkinson, were also professional footballers.[10]
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