*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
James Sherman
Appearances: 3+2 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 27th February 1989
Position: Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 2010/11
Season of last appearance: 2010/11
Also played for: Hobart Zebras (Australia), Whittlesea Zebras (Australia), Melbourne Knights (Australia), Glenorchy Knights (Australia), Whitstable Town, Herne Bay and Ramsgate
Gritty Australian born in Tasmania who was a highly-decorated youth player and played for Australia's Schoolboys side. James also captained the Eastern Region youth team as well as leading Southern Tasmania at Under-15, Under-16 and Under-19 level. In addition he played for the Tasmanian State Representative and Victorian Schoolboys Under-19's teams.
James started his senior career with Hobart Zebras (sometimes known as Tilford Zebras) of the Tasmania-based T-League and he was in their reserve team as a 15 year-old during the 2004 season.
In January 2007 he moved on to Whittlesea Zebras of the Victoria League and in May 2007 James had a trial with A League outfit Adelaide but wasn't signed by the club.
In the summer of 2008 he tried his luck in England and played in two friendlies for Scunthorpe before featuring in several pre-season matches for Port Vale. At that time James said "I'm not naive to think it's not going to be hard to get a professional contract, so I'm not getting ahead of myself. But I'm optimistic, and I figure that if I train hard and show the gaffer what I can do, then it's his call, but I'm hopeful to play for a big club such as Port Vale."
He wasn't offered a deal by Port Vale so James then returned to Whittlesea and spent a few more months with them up to December 2008.
In January 2009 he signed for Melbourne Knights of the Victorian Premier League and it was there that James met former Margate striker Ian Pulman who was also in the Knights squad at the time. They shared accommodation in Melbourne until James moved on to Glenorchy Knights at the end of 2009.
He joined up with his brother Tom at Glenorchy and they played in the Tasmanian Southern Premier League. At that time James was a trainee at a carpet company and in March 2010 he scored a first half hat-trick in a 4-3 home win over New Town Eagles. That was James' last game in Australia and shortly afterwards he travelled to England again to seek out a club.
His former Melbourne team-mate Ian Pulman recommended James to Margate manager Iain O'Connell and after featuring in several pre-season friendlies he was signed in August 2010. A few days before the start of the 2010/11 campaign Iain O'Connell spoke to the Isle of Thanet Gazette about James and said "Tough-tackling midfielder who's nicknamed himself the Shermanator, like the bloke out of American Pie."
James made his debut in midfield as Margate drew 2-2 with Canvey Island at Hartsdown Park in the Isthmian League Premier Division on 21.8.10 and thus became the fourth Australian ever to play for the club. The Thanet Times said he was "a yard or two off the pace on his Ryman Prem debut and might've gone in the book in the first minute of the game after chopping down James Rowe". James was substituted at half-time and missed Margate's next game.
He returned to action in a 1-1 draw with visitors Maidstone on 30.8.10 but after that James only featured once as a substitute in the next five matches. On 25.9.10 he played from the start as Margate drew 1-1 with Kingstonian in an FA Cup tie at Hartsdown Park and James then came on as a sub in the replay on 27.9.10 - a game Margate lost on penalties after the match finished as a 1-1 draw after extra time. It was his last outing for the club and James was released a few days later. Iain O'Connell said "Jim's a smashing lad and I would like to thank him for his effort here at Margate. But I know he was looking for first team football and at the moment I can't offer him that. I wish Jim the best of luck at his next club." He'd made five appearances (two as sub) without scoring before his departure.
After leaving Margate James linked up with Isthmian League Division 1 South club Whitstable and spent the remainder of the 2010/11 campaign there. He made 17 league appearances (five as sub) without scoring for the Oystermen before asking to be released at the end of the season.
In the summer of 2011 James signed for Kent League outfit Herne Bay and he played eight times for them (twice as sub) without scoring before rejoining Margate in October 2011.
On 22.10.11 James scored twice in his first outing for Margate's reserves as they lost 4-3 to Woodstock Sports at Hartsdown Park and he was a fixture in the second string for the rest of the 2011/12 campaign but never featured in the first team.
James moved on to Division 1 South club Ramsgate ahead of the 2012/13 season and after starting out in the reserves he made his senior debut in October 2012. On 10.11.12 James was sent off inside the first half-hour of a 2-0 defeat at Sutton in the FA Trophy and he finished 2012/13 having scored five times in 32 outings (13 as sub) in all competitions for the Rams. James stayed with Ramsgate for the start of the 2013/14 campaign too.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
ILC |
KSC |
| |
|
2010/11 (MFC) |
3 (49) |
2 |
0 |
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (16TH OF 22) |
2QR |
2QR |
2R |
1R |
|