Angharad James (footballer)

Angharad Jane James (born 1 June 1994) is a footballer who plays as a midfielder for NWSL club Orlando Pride and internationally for Wales.[2] She previously played for FA WSL clubs Everton, Yeovil Town, Notts County Ladies, Bristol Academy, and Arsenal. James was Women's Players' Player of the Year for Wales in 2017[3] having previously been twice named Wales Women's Young Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014.[4] She was also the only player from Wales to be selected in the Uefa 'Team of the Tournament' following the Uefa Women's Under-19 Championship of 2013.[5]

Angharad James
James playing for Wales in October 2020
Personal information
Full name Angharad Jane James[1]
Date of birth (1994-06-01) 1 June 1994
Place of birth Haverfordwest, Wales
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Orlando Pride
Youth career
Manorbier Ladies FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Arsenal 0 (0)
2012–2016 Bristol Academy 74 (4)
2016–2017 Notts County 15 (0)
2017 Yeovil Town 4 (1)
2017–2019 Everton 35 (0)
2019–2021 Reading 36 (2)
2021 North Carolina Courage 17 (1)
2022– Orlando Pride 0 (0)
National team‡
2011– Wales 93 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 November 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 December 2021

Club career

Arsenal

James was signed to Arsenal Ladies' Academy in 2010 at the age of 16, after playing for Manorbier Ladies in her native Pembrokeshire.[6] Her first team debut for Arsenal came in the 6–0 home UEFA Women's Champions League win over Bobruichanka Bobruisk on 5 October 2011.[7] She substituted on for Gilly Flaherty after 63 minutes.[8]

Bristol City

Ahead of the 2012 FA WSL season, James signed for Bristol Academy from Arsenal Ladies along with Melissa Lawley.[9] She went on to make her Bristol Academy debut on 22 April 2014 as she came in for Molly Clarke in a 0–1 home defeat to Lincoln Ladies.[10]

Notts County

James signed for Notts County Ladies F.C. from Bristol City W.F.C. in March 2016 ahead of the 2016 season.[11] She cited her desire to continue playing in WSL1 after Bristol's relegation to FA WSL 2 as a main factor in her moving clubs. Bristol manager, Willie Kirk, said of James and her move, "You never want to lose top players, but following relegation it was inevitable that we would lose a few. Angharad played a big part in the club's successes over the past few seasons and at only 21 has bags of potential and can achieve a lot in the game... Angharad made her intentions to stay in WSL1 known to me very quickly so we have been planning for this for a while now."[12]

Yeovil Town

On 16 May 2017, following the folding of Notts County, James signed for newly promoted WSL 1 side Yeovil Town L.F.C. for the remainder of the FA WSL Spring Series.[13]

Everton

In July 2017, James left Yeovil to join Everton.[14]

Reading

In July 2019, James left Everton to join Reading.[15]

James captained Reading on 7 October 2020 in their 4–0 win over Charlton in the League Cup[16] She scored her first goal of the 2020/21 season on 23 January 2021. The goal came in only the second minute of the game against Aston Villa.[17] The following week they beat title-chasers Manchester United 2–0 away from home.[18]

North Carolina Courage

On 24 February 2021, Reading announced that James had agreed to join North Carolina Courage of the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). James would join the club on completion of the 2020/21 WSL Season.[19]

James made her Courage debut on 23 June 2021 when she started against Louisville. The Courage went on to win 2–0 with Head Coach Paul Riley commenting, "She has a great range of passing and a great engine. She plays intelligently with the ball, and for me, she was one of the highlights of the night".[20]

Angharad James scored her first NWSL goal on 25 September 2021 against NJ/NY Gotham FC[21] She was also awarded Player of the Match for her performance.

James made 17 appearances during her debut NWSL regular season and had a passing accuracy success rate of 80.7%, one of the highest in the league. [22]

Orlando Pride

Having been traded to San Diego Wave FC in exchange for roster protection during the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft on 8 December 2021,[23] James was subsquently traded to Orlando Pride along with a league record $275,000 in Allocation Money in exchange for Alex Morgan eight days later.[24]

International

James made her senior international debut, aged 17, as a late substitute in a 2–2 draw with Scotland in Edinburgh on 27 October 2011.[7]

In January 2012 James was named in the provisional Team GB squad for the 2012 Olympics.[25] She played in over 50 matches for Wales U16s, 17s and 19s and in the European U19s finals in Wales where she was selected for a European Select Squad at the end of the tournament.

James has stated on numerous occasions that if she was selected she would want to play for Team GB at the Olympics.[26]

Personal life

On 23 December 2020, James announced her engagement to fellow professional footballer Amy Turner.[27]

Career statistics

Reading
As of match played 9 May 2021[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reading 2019–20 FA WSL 1412060221
2020–21 2211030261
Total 3623090482
Career total 3623090482

    References
    1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/01/2015 and 31/01/2015". The Football Association. p. 5. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
    2. Diamond, Drew (14 August 2020). "Exclusive: Angharad James and Being an International Star". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
    3. "Former Arsenal midfielder wins FA Wales player's player of the year award". Daily Cannon. 3 October 2017.
    4. "Double delight for Angharad". tenby today. 10 October 2014.
    5. "Angharad makes UEFA select team". tenby today. 17 January 2014.
    6. "Angharad is 'gunner' play for top academy". Western Telegraph. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
    7. "Welsh debut for Angharad". Western Telegraph. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
    8. "Arsenal 6-0 Bobruichanka". UEFA. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
    9. "More new signings". Bristol Academy WFC. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
    10. "Bristol Academy vs. Notts County 0 - 1". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
    11. "Angharad James: Notts County Ladies sign Wales midfielder from Bristol City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
    12. "Angharad James joins Notts County LFC". bristolcitywfc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
    13. "Angharad James: Yeovil Town Ladies sign Wales international midfielder". BBC Sport. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
    14. "Angharad James: Everton Ladies sign Wales midfielder". BBC Sport. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
    15. "Angharad James signs for Reading FC Women". readingfc.co.uk.
    16. "Team News Reading v Charlton". twitter.com.
    17. "Angharad James heads Reading into a second-minute lead". BBC.
    18. "Manchester United's WSL title hopes suffer a big blow as Reading pull off a stunning win". BBC.
    19. "Angharad James: Wales and Reading midfielder to join NWSL side North Carolina Courage". BBC.
    20. "Match Recap: Courage 2-0 victory over Racing Louisville". nccourage.com. 23 June 2021.
    21. "Match Recap: NY/NJ Gotham FC". nccourage.com. 25 September 2021.
    22. "NWSL Official Stats". nwslsoccer.com. 17 November 2021.
    23. "NC Courage Receive Expansion Draft Protection in Trades with Angel City FC and San Diego Wave". North Carolina Courage. 8 December 2021.
    24. "Pride Acquire NWSL Record $275,000 in Allocation Money, Angharad James from San Diego; Trade Forward Alex Morgan". www.orlandocitysc.com.
    25. "Angharad takes first Olympic step". Western Telegraph. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
    26. "The Offside Rule WSL: Pancakes, Humble Pie and Welsh Cakes". offsiderulepodcast.com.
    27. @amy_turner4 (23 December 2020). "Amy Turner announces engagement to Angharad James" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    28. Angharad James at Soccerway
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