Martin James (footballer)
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Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Martin Joseph James | ||
Date of birth | 18 May 1971 | ||
Place of birth | Formby, England | ||
Position(s) | Defender, Midfield | ||
Youth career | |||
1987–1989 |
Preston North End | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1989–1993 | Preston North End | 98 | (11) |
1993–1994 |
Stockport County | 32 | (0) |
1994–1997 | Rotherham United | 43 | (0) |
1997–1998 |
Accrington Stanley | ||
1998–2000 |
Leigh RMI | ||
Total | 173 | (11 ) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Martin James (born 18 May 1971) is an English former professional footballer.
Preston North End
Martin joined Preston as an apprentice in July 1987, turning pro two years later. He was, along with Lee Cartwright, Lee Ashcroft and Adrian Hughes, a product of the Preston North End youth system of the late 1980s. A left sided defender or midfielder, James made his Preston debut in August 1990 in a 2–0 win over Chester City at Deepdale. He went on to play 41 games, scoring twice, for the Lilywhites in his first season in the first team.
For the next two years Martin became a regular fixture in the PNE first XI, becoming a firm favourite on the Deepdale terraces with his forays down the left wing. The team however were beginning to struggle and when in September 1992 manager
Stockport and Rotherham
Unlike Flynn however who enjoys near legendary status at Stockport Martin's stay at Edgeley Park was short lived. Indeed, his stay there lasted little under eighteen months before they too decided to cash in by selling him to Rotherham United again for £50k. During James time at County he had played 37 games without scoring and over half of his appearances were as a substitute. His stay at Millmoor was however a disappointment with Martin struggling with injury and loss of form. In three years with The Millers he played just 47 games ( 0 goals) before they in turn decided to release him at the end of his contract in May 1997. At the age of just 26 and after 201 games and 11 goals Martin found himself on the soccer scrapheap.
Non-league and Retirement
At first Martin moved into non-league football, first with
Martin is now running a successful sports agency, Sports 360, based in the North West. His clients include some of the UK's largest governing bodies, sports clubs and UK blue chip companies.
References
- Martin James, Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database