Chris James (footballer)

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Chris James
Personal information
Full nameChristopher Paul James[1]
Date of birth (1987-07-04) 4 July 1987
Place of birthWellington, New Zealand
Height1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionCentral midfielder
Club information
Current clubKuopion Palloseura
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2008Fulham0(0)
2008–2009Tampere United19(4)
2008→ TPV (loan)1(0)
2009→ FC Ilves (loan)1(1)
2010Barnet2(0)
2011–2012APIA Leichhardt18(4)
2012–Kuopion Palloseura40(4)
National team‡
2004England U17
2005–2006England U19
2006–2009New Zealand U20[2]8(7)
2006–presentNew Zealand16(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 May 2010.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21 January 2014

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

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. James was offered a one-year contract extension by Fulham in 2007, however James declined the offer to pursue first team opportunities elsewhere.

In February 2008, he signed a 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 in his breakthrough season. He represented Tampere United in their 4 Champions League Qualifiers scoring 2 goals.

European Goals
# Competition Date Opponent Final Score Result Stadium
1 2008–09 Champions League Qualification 15 July 2008 Montenegro FK Budućnost Podgorica 2–1 Win Ratinan Stadion
2 2008–09 Champions League Qualification 6 August 2008 Slovakia 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.[3] 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 due to change of management at Barnet.

International career

James played for the England youth team representing them over 30 times at Under 16–18 levels 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 5 June 2006, which they lost 4–0.[4] He has made a number of appearances for his country since his debut,[5] 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.[6] 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,[7] but was not named in New Zealand's 2010 FIFA World Cup squad.

James returned to the national side for the 2013 OSN Cup.

International goals

Scores and results list New Zealand's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Reference
2. 13 November 2013 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico  Mexico 1–5 1–5 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs [8]
3. 20 November 2013 Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand  Mexico 2–3 2–4 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs [9]

Club career statistics

(correct as of October 2013)[10][11]
||-||-|
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Fulham 2004–2008 000000000000000
Tampere United 2008 17381000000001838
TPV (loan) 2008 100000000000100
Tampere United 2009 211000101420732
FC Ilves (loan) 2009 110000000000110
Barnet 2009–10 200000000000200
APIA Leichhardt 2011 18400000000001840
Kuopion Palloseura 2012 19412006205013462
2013 21011000000002201
Career 7912114007219211001713

Honours

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. p. 15. Retrieved 18 June 2013. 
  2. ↑ http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/james/profil/spieler_73728.html
  3. ↑ "Bees land New Zealand ace". Sky Sports. 26 March 2010. 
  4. ↑ Brazil 4–0 New Zealand
  5. ↑ "A-International Appearances – Overall". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 25 July 2008. 
  6. ↑ Brazil 4, New Zealand far from Zero
  7. ↑ "2009 Confederations Cup – New Zealand squad". FIFA.com. Retrieved 9 June 2009. 
  8. ↑ "El Tri take big step towards finals". ESPN. Retrieved 20 November 2013. 
  9. ↑ "Mexico clinch World Cup spot". ESPN. Retrieved 20 November 2013. 
  10. ↑ http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/chris-james/leistungsdaten/spieler_73728_2011.html
  11. ↑ http://int.soccerway.com/players/chris-james/31491

External links

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