James Belshaw

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James Belshaw
Belshaw, James.jpg
Belshaw in July 2014
Personal information
Full name James Michael Belshaw[1]
Date of birth (1990-10-12) 12 October 1990 (age 31)
Place of birth Nottingham, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Bristol Rovers
Number 1
Youth career
1996–2005 Notts County
2006–2009 Heanor Town
2009 Walsall
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Duke Blue Devils 78 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Nuneaton Borough 31 (0)
2014–2017 Tamworth 113 (0)
2017–2021 Harrogate Town 161 (0)
2021– Bristol Rovers 17 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:08, 6 December 2021 (UTC)

James Michael Belshaw (born 12 October 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bristol Rovers.

Career[]

Youth & College[]

Belshaw attended The Becket School in West Bridgford, where he captained the team to the Notts Schools Cup title in 2009.[3] He also had spells with Notts County,[4][5] Heanor Town[6] and Walsall.[7]

In 2009, Belshaw rejected a one-year professional contract with Walsall,[8] and instead moved to the United States to play college soccer at Duke University. He made 78 appearances for the Blue Devils between 2009 and 2012. During his time at Duke, Belshaw won accolades such as 2012 NSCAA All-America third team, was a two-time All-ACC first team selection, a three-time All-ACC choice, earning second team honors in 2010 and earned NSCAA All-South Region honors all four seasons.[2]

Return to England[]

On 22 January 2013, Belshaw was selected 49th overall in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft by Chicago Fire.[9] Belshaw was offered a contract by Chicago, but as a backup goalkeeper, so instead opted to search for first team football back in his native England.[10]

In April 2013, Belshaw had trials with his former team Walsall,[11] as well as Everton, Notts County and Coventry City.[12]

On 31 July 2013, Belshaw signed with National League club Nuneaton Borough.[13] Following one season with Nuneaton, Belshaw moved to National League North side Tamworth where he played for three seasons.[14]

Harrogate Town[]

In 2017, Belshaw moved to Harrogate Town on a two-year contract,[15] where he remained first choice goalkeeper for the club. He was part of the Harrogate team that won promotion to the National League for the first time in the club's history after defeating Brackley Town in the 2018 National League North play-off final.[16] After signing a deal to keep him at the club until 2023 in January 2020,[17] Belshaw helped guide them to the Football League for the first time via the play-offs in 2020.[18]

Bristol Rovers[]

On 23 July 2021, Belshaw joined recently relegated fellow League Two side Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal.[19][20] Belshaw's debut came for the club came on 10 August, in a 2–0 EFL Cup defeat to Cheltenham Town.[21]

Career Statistics[]

As of match played 29th January 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Harrogate Town 2017–18 National League North 41 0 4 0 — 6[a] 0 51 0
2018–19[22] National League 45 0 2 0 — 4[b] 0 51 0
2019–20[23] National League 37 0 2 0 — 2[c] 0 41 0
2020–21[24] League Two 38 0 1 0 0 0 1[d] 0 40 0
Total 161 0 9 0 0 0 13 0 183 0
Bristol Rovers 2021–22[25] League Two 23 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 28 0
Career Total 184 0 13 0 1 0 13 0 211 0
  1. ^ 4 appearances in FA Trophy, two appearances in National League North play-offs
  2. ^ 3 appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in National League play-offs
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in National League play-offs
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Personal life[]

Belshaw has supported Notts County since childhood.[4]

Belshaw is "good friends" with professional basketball player Mason Plumlee, who currently plays for NBA side Denver Nuggets.[10]

Honours[]

Harrogate Town

References[]

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Harrogate Town" (PDF). English Football League. p. 33. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b "James Belshaw - 2012 - Men's Soccer". goduke.com. Duke University. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  3. ^ "James Belshaw". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b Curtis, Leigh (30 July 2020). "'All of my life' - Meet the Notts County fan trying to stop their EFL return". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  5. ^ "The making of James Belshaw". harrogatetownafc.com. Harrogate Town A.F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Another former Lion turns pro". www.heanortownfc.co.uk. Heanor Town F.C. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  7. ^ Panter, Matt (17 May 2017). "Tamworth FC's Belshaw: 'Lining up against Lambs will be very weird'". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  8. ^ "New Venture For Belshaw". www.thelambs.co.uk. Tamworth F.C. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Fire Select Three Players in 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft". chicagofirefc.com. Chicago Fire FC. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  10. ^ a b Badcock, Matt (26 March 2015). "James Belshaw's in a bracket with President Obama!". The Non-League Paper. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  11. ^ Poole, Andrew (9 April 2013). "Walsall v Hartlepool Res - Live blog". www.saddlers.co.uk. Walsall F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  12. ^ Clark, Travis (8 January 2013). "Dream of pro career takes seniors abroad". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Nuneaton sign goalkeeper Belshaw". BBC Sport. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  14. ^ Panter, Matt (16 March 2018). "Tamworth FC return for fan favourite Belshaw". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Belshaw Swaps Lambs For Town". Pitchero Non-League. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Harrogate Town 3 Brackley 0: Knowles double helps Town seal historic promotion". Yorkshire Post. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  17. ^ Howell, Rhys (24 January 2020). "It was an easy decision - James Belshaw pens new deal at Harrogate Town despite interest from Football League clubs". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  18. ^ Freeman, Jay (2 August 2020). "Harrogate win promotion to League Two". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  19. ^ "BELSHAW COMPLETES PERMANENT TRANSFER TO BRISTOL ROVERS". www.harrogatetownafc.com. 23 July 2021.
  20. ^ "James Belshaw signs for the Gas!". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Bristol Rovers 0–2 Cheltenham Town". BBC Sport. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Games played by James Belshaw in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Games played by James Belshaw in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Games played by James Belshaw in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Games played by James Belshaw in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  26. ^ "Harrogate and Braintree reach National League after winning play-off finals". BBC Sport. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  27. ^ "National League promotion final: Harrogate Town 3–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2021.

External links[]

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