James Dunne

James Dunne
Personal information
Full nameJames William Dunne[1]
Date of birth18 September 1989[2]
Place of birthFarnborough, England
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Portsmouth
Number21
Youth career
1998–2004Wimbledon
2004–2008Arsenal
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2008–2009Arsenal0(0)
2008–2009→ Nottingham Forest (loan)0(0)
2009–2012Exeter City110(6)
2012–2014Stevenage55(5)
2014→ St. Johnstone (loan)13(0)
2014–Portsmouth35(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:00, 25 April 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

James William Dunne (born 18 September 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays for Portsmouth as a midfielder.

Dunne started his career at Wimbledon's youth academy, before moving to Arsenal in 2004. Dunne spent four years progressing through the ranks at Arsenal, and was loaned out to Nottingham Forest in October 2008. He returned to Arsenal having made no first-team appearances for Forest, and was released by the North London side at the end of 2008–09 season. He joined Exeter City in July 2009, and went on to make over 100 appearances for the club over three seasons. In May 2012, Dunne joined League One club Stevenage, and was loaned to Scottish Premier League side St. Johnstone. After winning the Scottish Cup with the Saints, he signed with Portsmouth on 24 June 2014.

Career

Early career

Born in Farnborough, Hampshire, Dunne began his career in the Wimbledon academy.[4] Dunne spent six years at Wimbledon, before moving to Arsenal, along with Kieran Gibbs and Abu Ogogo, when Wimbledon disbanded in 2004 and relocated to Milton Keynes.[4] He played in both defensive midfield and right midfield for Arsenal's U18s on their way to the FA Youth Cup semi-final during the 2006–07 season, as well as playing regularly for the reserves.[5] After impressing while progressing through the youth ranks, Dunne signed a professional contract with Arsenal on 20 September 2007.[6] In October 2008, Dunne went on trial with Nottingham Forest, playing for the reserve side in a 2–1 win over Shrewsbury Town.[7][8] He signed for Nottingham Forest on loan shortly after, until January 2009, with a view to a permanent move.[9] However, he made no first-team appearances during the three-month loan spell, and returned to Arsenal in January 2009.[10] On his return to Arsenal, Dunne was told his contract would not be renewed when it expired in May 2009, and the club encouraged him to look for a new club.[11] He trialled with Charlton Athletic in February 2009, although no transfer materialised.[11] Dunne was released by Arsenal at the end of 2008–09 season, having made no first-team appearances for the club.[12]

Exeter City

Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Dunne spent pre-season with newly promoted League One side Exeter City, and signed for the club in July 2009.[13] He made his debut for Exeter in a 3–0 away defeat to Gillingham on 5 September 2009, playing the first 61 minutes of the match.[14][15] Dunne scored his first professional goal in only his third start, scoring in injury-time with a 30-yard "swerving drive" as Exeter secured a 3–1 win against Hartlepool United.[16] Dunne's second goal of the season came in March 2010; scoring a last-minute winner with a header at the back post in Exeter's 1–0 home victory over Bristol Rovers.[17] The goal gave Exeter their first league win in over two months.[17] He scored a further goal against Swindon Town a month later,[18] and went on to make 26 appearances for Exeter in his maiden season with the club[19] — with Exeter narrowly avoiding relegation by a point.[20] Dunne was ever-present for Exeter during the 2010–11 season, making 50 appearances in all competitions.[21] He scored one goal during the campaign, netting the only goal of the game in Exeter's 1–0 win over local rivals Plymouth Argyle in April 2011.[22]

Dunne's next goal for the club, his first goal of the 2011–12 season, was also against Plymouth, with the player scoring from just inside the area with a neat finish in a Football League Trophy tie, which Exeter would ultimately go on to win on penalties.[23] He also netted in a memorable 4–4 draw away at Sheffield United in October 2011.[24] Dunne's angled strike came with just four minutes remaining, and salvaged a draw for Exeter after they had trailed to Matt Phillips' second goal just moments earlier.[25] His third and final goal of the season, which also turned out to be his last goal for Exeter, came in the club's 3–1 home defeat to fellow relegation rivals Wycombe Wanderers on 20 March 2012.[26] Dunne was, once again, a permanent fixture in the side throughout the season, making 51 appearances and scoring three goals as Exeter were relegated back to League Two.[27][28] During his three years with the club, he scored seven times in 127 games.[10]

Stevenage

Dunne signed for League One side Stevenage in May 2012.[4][29][30] Although he was out of contract at Exeter, Stevenage still had to pay a fee for the player because Dunne was under 24 years of age.[4] The fee for Dunne was set by a tribunal after the two clubs failed to agree a price for the player.[31] This fee was later revealed as an initial £75,000, with a further £50,000 payment dependent on appearances.[32][33] The move reunited Dunne with then Stevenage manager Gary Smith, who had previously coached him during his time at Wimbledon.[30] He made a goalscoring debut in Stevenage's 3–1 home win over AFC Wimbledon in the League Cup, taking advantage of Seb Brown's goalkeeping mistake, tapping the ball into an empty net, to double Stevenage's lead shortly before half-time.[34][35] Dunne scored his second goal for the club in November 2012, netting with a 30-yard effort in a 3–2 away defeat to Rotherham United in the FA Cup.[36] Three days after his strike against Rotherham, on 6 November, Dunne was on the scoresheet once again, this time netting with a low drive, Stevenage's third of the match, in a 3–1 away victory against Yeovil Town.[37] His fourth goal of the season came in the club's first home game of 2013, rifling in a shot from 30-yards to give Stevenage the lead in an eventual 2–1 defeat to Doncaster Rovers.[38] Dunne added to his tally the following month, scoring from the edge of the area in another 2–1 home loss, this time to Oldham Athletic.[39] He scored in Stevenage's next match three days later, on 23 February 2013, his sixth of the campaign, in a 2–1 defeat to Shrewsbury Town at New Meadow.[40] Dunne made 45 appearances and scored six times in his first season with the club.[41] He won both the Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards at the end of the season.[42]

Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Dunne had attracted interests from Championship and League One clubs,[43] including Celtic,[44] Bristol City and Bournemouth.[45] Manager Graham Westley would sell Dunne and Lucas Akins if the price for the duo is right.[46] After not featuring for one match in the opening game of the season, Dunne made his first appearance of the season, coming on as a substitute in the 49th minutes, in a 1-0 loss against Swindon Town. Two weeks later, Dunne scored his first goal of the season in injury-time goal, to give Stevenage their first win of the 2012-13 season against Notts County.[47] A sustained injury in training, result Dunne being out for three weeks.[48] Expected to be out for three weeks, Dunne made his return, in a 3-1 loss against Carlisle United on 21 September 2013.[49]

Despite recovering from injury, Dunne lost his first team place under Westley and hadn't started a game since October, as the club continued to struggle in the league, near to the relegation zone. This is believed by Westley about the squad was being warned his under-performing squad that this affect their future at Stevenage[50] Dunne was overshadowed with the likes of Michael Doughty and Simon Heslop taking over his position in the starting eleven.[51] When the January transfer window open, Dunne was then being placed on the transfer list.[52] In all appearance for Stevenage, Dunne scored seven times in all 50 appearance.[53] It was later revealed that he was overshadowed in the first team because the club was unwilling to pay £50,000 to his previous club, Exeter City, if Dunne made one more appearance for the club and says he described being sidelined in the first team as so "sudden".[54] Following his return from a loan spell at St. Johnstone, Dunne signed a new contract, with a one-year deal with Stevenage.[55]

St. Johnstone (loan)

On 27 January 2014, Dunne joined Scottish Premiership club St. Johnstone on loan for the remainder of the 2013–14 season.[56] Dunne confirmed his move to Sky Sports Radio.[57]

Dunne made his debut in the fifth round of Scottish Cup and scored the final goal of a 4-0 victory over Forfar Athletic.[58] After the match, Manager Tommy Wright praised Dunne, quoting "he took the goal really well, it was a great finish."[59] Dunne established himself in the St Johnstone's team in central midfield. He played a significant part in the club's progress to the Scottish Cup final when he set up a goal for Stevie May to equalise against Aberdeen in the semi-final of Scottish Cup. St Johnstone would win 2-1 to reach their first Scottish Cup Final.[60] In the final of In the final of Scottish Cup, Dunne played the whole 90 minutes, as St. Johnstone beat Dundee United 2-0 to win the club's first Scottish Cup in their first final appearance.[61] Ahead of the final, Dunne said that St. Johnstone and Arsenal playing on the same day in the Scottish Cup and FA Cup final respectively was "weird", though he believed both clubs would win on the cup.[62] The club's chairman revealed that he tried signing Dunne permanently, but unexpectedly low takings from the final prevented this, quoting: "We made a bid for James Dunne at Stevenage but the figures I was given for the cup was nothing like the reality. That amount of money has not materialsed. It’s £120,000 less. The SFA take something like a 42 per cent cut of the figure I was given."[63]

Portsmouth

On 24 June 2014, Dunne signed a two-year deal with Football League Two side Portsmouth,[64] for a five-figure sum.[65] Dunne made his debut for the club, in the opening game of the season, playing the whole minutes as a central midfieldeer, in a 1-1 draw to Exeter City.[66] He scored his first Pompey goal in a 3-0 home win against Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.

Honours

St. Johnstone
Individual

Career statistics

As of match played 25 April 2015
Club Season League[A] FA Cup League Cup Other[B] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal
2008–09[67]
 0000000000
Nottingham Forest (loan)
2008–09[68]
 0000000000
Exeter City
2009–10[69]
 233200010263
2010–11[70]
 421101060501
2011–12[71]
 452202021513
Total 11065030911277
Stevenage 2012–13[72] 424112100456
2013–14[73] 131001000141
Total 555113100597
St.Johnstone 2013–14[74] 130410000171
Portsmouth 2014–15 351001010371
Career totals 213121027110124016
A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League.
B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League Trophy.

References

  1. ↑ "Search 1984 to 2006 – Birth, Marriage and Death indexes". Findmypast.co.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  2. ↑ "Profiles". Exeter City F.C. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  3. ↑ "James Dunne – ESPN". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Dunne and Arnold sign for Stevenage". Stevenage F.C. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "United set up classic Final". TheFA.com. 3 April 2007. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Arsene Wenger releases eight Arsenal players". The Telegraph. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "Forest check on Gunners trio". Sky Sports. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "Forest impressed by young Gunners". BBC Sport. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  9. ↑ Burton, Chris (24 October 2008). "Forest complete Dunne deal". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "James Dunne – Soccerbase". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Addicks trial for Dunne". Sky Sports. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  12. ↑ "James Dunne has joined Exeter City". Arsenal F.C. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  13. ↑ "Exeter sign ex-Arsenal midfielder". BBC Sport. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  14. ↑ "Gillingham 3–0 Exeter City". Exeter City F.C. 5 September 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  15. ↑ "Gillingham 3–0 Exeter". BBC Sport. 5 September 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  16. ↑ "Exeter City 3–1 Hartlepool United". Exeter City F.C. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Exeter 1–0 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 17 March 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  18. ↑ "Swindon 1–1 Exeter". BBC Sport. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  19. ↑ "Games played by James Dunne in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  20. ↑ "English League One 2009–2010 : Table". Statto.com. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  21. ↑ "Games played by James Dunne in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  22. ↑ "Exeter 1–0 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  23. ↑ "Exeter 1–1 Plymouth (Exeter win 3–0 on penalties)". BBC Sport. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  24. ↑ "Sheffield Utd 4–4 Exeter City". Sheffield United F.C. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  25. ↑ "Sheffield Utd 4–4 Exeter". BBC Sport. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  26. ↑ "Exeter 1–3 Wycombe". BBC Sport. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  27. ↑ "Games played by James Dunne in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  28. ↑ "English League One 2011–2012 : Table". Statto.com. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  29. ↑ "Stevenage sign James Dunne and Steve Arnold". BBC Sport. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  30. ↑ "Grecians seek Dunne tribunal". Sky Sports. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  31. ↑ "James Dunne compensation agreed". Stevenage F.C. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  32. ↑ "PFCC tribunal decisions". The Football League. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  33. ↑ "Stevenage 3–1 AFC Wimbledon". BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  34. ↑ "Stevenage FC 3–1 AFC Wimbledon". Stevenage F.C. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  35. ↑ "Rotherham 3–2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  36. ↑ "Yeovil 1–3 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  37. ↑ "Stevenage 1–2 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 12 January 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  38. ↑ "Stevenage 1–2 Oldham". BBC Sport. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  39. ↑ "Shrewsbury 2–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  40. ↑ "Games played by James Dunne in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  41. ↑ "S.A. Player of the Year 2012/13". Stevenage F.C. Supporters' Association. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  42. ↑ "Stevenage midfielder James Dunne attracts Championship & League One interest". Sky Sports. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  43. ↑ "Celtic interested in James Dunne". The Comet. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  44. ↑ "Transfer speculation: Stevenage's James Dunne interesting Bristol City and Bournemouth". Sky Sports. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  45. ↑ "Westley expects to lose duo". Sky Sports. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  46. ↑ "Notts County 0-1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  47. ↑ "Dunne injury blow for Boro". Sky Sports. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  48. ↑ "Akins two weeks away from return to training". The Comet. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  49. ↑ "Westley fires player warning". Sky Sports. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  50. ↑ "Starting places aren’t set in stone, says Doughty". The Comet. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  51. ↑ "Dunne set for Boro exit". Sky Sports. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  52. ↑ "Games played by James Dunne in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  53. ↑ "Scottish Cup: James Dunne set for St Johnstone debut after being frozen out at Stevenage". Daily Record. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  54. ↑ "Stevenage: Akins, Charles and Dunne sign deals". BBC Sport. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  55. ↑ "Saints Recruit Midfielder But Debut Goes On Hold!". St. Johnstone FC. 27 January 2014.
  56. ↑ "James Dunne moving to St Johnstone". Sound Cloud. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  57. ↑ "Forfar Athletic 0-4 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  58. ↑ "St Johnstone boss praises Dunne". The Comet. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  59. ↑ "Scottish Cup: Stevie May the hero in St Johnstone win over Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  60. ↑ "St Johnstone 2-0 Dundee United". Daily Telegraph. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  61. ↑ "Scottish Cup Final countdown: St Johnstone midfielder James Dunne desperate to feature on big stage after mixing it with Arsenal big guns". Daily Record. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  62. ↑ "Why Steve Brown won't splash the cash?". Daily Record. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  63. ↑ "Dunne and Poke join Blues". Portsmouth FC. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  64. ↑ "Transfer: James Dunne joins Portsmouth". Stevenage FC. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  65. ↑ "Exeter City 1 - 1 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  66. ↑ "Arsenal 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  67. ↑ "Nottingham Forest 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  68. ↑ "Exeter City 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  69. ↑ "Exeter City 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  70. ↑ "Exeter City 2011/2012 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  71. ↑ "Stevenage 2012/2013 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  72. ↑ "Stevenage 2013/2014 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  73. ↑ "St Johnstone 2013/2014 player appearances". soccerbase. Retrieved 15 February 2014.

External links