Chris James (footballer)

Chris James

Chris James playing for All Whites vs Mexico
Personal information
Full name Christopher Paul James[1]
Date of birth (1987-07-04) 4 July 1987
Place of birth Wellington, New Zealand
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 None
Number -
Youth career
2000–2005 Fulham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Fulham 0 (0)
2008–2009 Tampere United 19 (4)
2008 → TPV (loan) 1 (0)
2009 → FC Ilves (loan) 1 (1)
2010 Barnet 2 (0)
2011–2012 APIA Leichhardt 18 (4)
2012–2013 Kuopion Palloseura 40 (4)
2014–2015 Sedan 6 (0)
2015 Ekenäs IF 10 (0)
2016 FC Haka 23 (4)
2017 Colorado Springs Switchbacks 4 (1)
National team‡
2004 England U17
2005–2006 England U19 9 (0)
2006–2009 New Zealand U20 8 (7)
2006– New Zealand 21 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 April 2017.
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 4 June 2014

Christopher "Chris" Paul James (born 4 July 1987) is a professional football player who currently plays for Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the United Soccer League. James represent New Zealand at international level. James is predominantly a central midfielder or deep lying playmaker, but is also able to play very well in offensive roles.

Club career

James' first professional contract was with Premier League side Fulham.[2] 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.[3]

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 three goals and also provided eight assists in his breakthrough season. He represented Tampere United in their four Champions League Qualifiers scoring two 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.[4] 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.

After his departure from his third Finnish side FC Haka, James was signed by second-tier American club Colorado Springs Switchbacks F.C. on a free transfer on January 12, 2017.[5] He was officially released from the club after making only four appearances due to injuries on July 27, 2017[6]

International career

James played for the England youth team representing them over 30 times at Under 16–18 levels[7] but has now chosen to play for the country of his birth, New Zealand.[8] 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.[9] He has made a number of appearances for his country since his debut,[10] 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.[11][12] 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,[13] 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 [14]
3. 20 November 2013 Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand  Mexico 2–3 2–4 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs [15]

Club career statistics

(correct as of November 2016)
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Fulham 2005–2007 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 21012100000002311
CS Sedan Ardennes 2014-15 600000000000600
Ekenäs IF 2015 10000000000001000
FC Haka 2016 23445010000002845
Switchbacks F.C. 2017– 000000000000000
Career 118162010117219211452218

Honours

New Zealand
Tampere United
Kuopion Palloseura
CS Sedan Ardennes

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. p. 15. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Chris James turns pro". Fulham Official Website. 21 July 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "James Aim". Fulham Official Website. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Bees land New Zealand ace". Sky Sports. 26 March 2010.
  5. ↑ "Switchbacks Sign New Zealand National Team Member Chris James to 2017 Squad". USL. 12 January 2017.
  6. ↑ SwitchbacksFC (2017-07-27). "OFFICIAL: Chris James has officially been released from the club.pic.twitter.com/5RJJDAThnE". @SwitchbacksFC. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  7. ↑ "James called up". Fulham Official Website. 23 June 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "James faces Brazil". Fulham Official Website. 26 May 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  9. ↑ Brazil 4–0 New Zealand
  10. ↑ "A-International Appearances – Overall". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  11. ↑ Brazil 4, New Zealand far from Zero Archived 6 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ "James scoops award". Fulham Official Website. 6 December 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "2009 Confederations Cup – New Zealand squad". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  14. ↑ "El Tri take big step towards finals". ESPN. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  15. ↑ "Mexico clinch World Cup spot". ESPN. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
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