*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 Smith
Appearances: 3 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 1st September 1985
Position: Centre-back
Season of first appearance: 2005/06
Season of last appearance: 2005/06
Also played for: Cambridge United (0), St.Albans City, Welling United, Gravesend & Northfleet, Ebbsfleet United, Farnborough Town, Boreham Wood, Thurrock, Maldon & Tiptree, East Thurrock United and AFC Sudbury
6' 1" tall defender who began his career as an apprentice at Cambridge United and played for the U's reserves during their time as a Football League club before being released at the end of the 2003/04 season.
In the summer of 2004 James signed for St.Albans but only made one Conference South appearance in August 2004 before joining Welling in October 2004.
He was sent off twice in Conference South games for the Wings during 2004/05 and in March 2005 James played for an FA Representative side against an Isthmian League X1.
In June 2005 Gravesend & Northfleet paid Welling a four-figure fee for James with two additional four-figure payments also due to me made based on appearances. He signed a two-year full-time contract with the Conference club and the Fleet's manager Liam Daish said "He is physically and mentally strong and I have no doubt that he has the ability to progress through the ranks of football."
In September 2005 James joined Margate on loan having only played once for Gravesend in the early weeks of the 2005/06 campaign and he made his debut at centre-back in a 1-1 draw at Walton & Hersham in the Isthmian League Premier Division on 1.10.05. The Thanet Times said he "did well" and James also wore the number five shirt in Margate's next match - a 1-1 draw with Billericay at Hartsdown Park on 4.10.05. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said "his quality stood out in the centre of defence" and manager Chris Kinnear said "He's a real trier and not one of those loan players who'll go to a club and not try as hard as they can. He's very committed."
James sat out Margate's next two games as they were cup ties that Gravesend didn't want him to take part in and he also missed a league match before returning to the side in a 2-1 defeat against Fisher at Dulwich on 24.10.05. He ended up with a black eye after an incident involving Fisher's former Margate loanee Leroy Griffiths and James then returned to Gravesend having made three appearances.
He soon established himself as a first team player at Stonebridge Road and James was still with the club when it changed its name to Ebbsfleet ahead of the 2007/08 season. In May 2008 he was part of the side that beat Torquay 1-0 to win the FA Trophy at Wembley as Ebbsfleet became the first Kent club ever to triumph in the competition.
On 2.6.08 James won his first cap for the England non-league team when he played 85 minutes of a 2-0 win over Barbados at the National Stadium in Bridgetown in front of a crowd of 3,100 and later in 2008 he became England's captain.
In June 2009 James left Ebbsfleet to join Southern League Premier Division Farnborough after the Fleet imposed budget cuts. He'd played over 100 games for the club.
James played a key role as Farnborough won the Southern League title during 2009/10 and then finished as runners-up in the Conference South during 2010/11. He made 81 appearances (four as sub) and scored 11 goals before moving on to Conference South club Boreham Wood in July 2011.
In September 2011 James left Boreham Wood to join their Conference South rivals Thurrock and after a brief spell there he signed for Isthmian League Division 1 North club Maldon & Tiptree.
James played twice for Maldon and then linked up with East Thurrock in November 2011.
He made his debut for the Rocks as they lost 5-0 at Margate in an Isthmian League Premier Division game on 29.11.11 but only played twice more (once as sub) before leaving the club in January 2012.
James then signed for Division 1 North outfit AFC Sudbury and scored once from 12 league outings before the end of the 2011/12 campaign.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
ILC |
KSC |
| |
|
2005/06 (MFC) |
3 (51) |
0 |
0 |
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (14TH OF 22) |
3QR |
2QR |
3R |
SF |