James Sinclair
Encyclopedia
James Alexander Sinclair (born 22 October 1987 in Newcastle upon Tyne
) is an English footballer who currently plays for Polonia Bytom
.
He played in the Premier League and the UEFA Cup
for Bolton Wanderers
.
, won a Scottish decathlon
title, and set an under-15 United Kingdom indoor record for the 50 metres – and a prolific goalscorer. He played for Alnwick Town
Juniors, Northumberland
Boys – for whom he set a schools record, scoring nine goals in a county under-16s match against South Yorkshire
– and the youth academies of Sunderland
and Newcastle United
, prior to signing scholarship forms with Bolton Wanderers
in the summer of 2004.
, he converted from the role of attacker to right wing back with success. Sinclair agreed his first professional contract shortly before making his first-team debut for Bolton, on 28 April 2007 in the 2–2 Premier League draw away to Chelsea
, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute to replace Idan Tal
. He drew praise from player-coach Gary Speed
both for his play and for his character.
Sinclair also featured in the 2007 Peace Cup
pre-season tournament, under Sammy Lee
's management, used as both right back and in midfield. He made his first competitive appearance of the 2007–08
season as a very late substitute in the UEFA Cup
group stage away at Red Star Belgrade
in December 2007 as the Wanderers secured a victory. In May 2008 he was offered a new deal to stay at the Reebok Stadium
, but was released at the end of the 2008–09 season.
side Gateshead
on non-contract terms on 26 January 2010, making his debut the same day in a 2–0 defeat to Kettering Town
. Sinclair scored his first goal for Gateshead on 9 February against Barrow
in the FA Trophy
. In May 2010, Gateshead announced that Sinclair was one of eleven players who would not be retained for the 2010–11 season.
i club Sektzia Nes Tziona. He made his debut on 26 October 2010 against Hapoel Ironi Rishon LeZion in the Toto Cup
. He scored his first goal for Nes Tziona on 9 November against Maccabi Ahi Nazareth, also in the Toto Cup.
based in Puerto Rican
. The team were playing in the newly created USL Pro
league in the United States. However after the club folded from the league early during the season on he was unable to make an appearance for the club as his Visa wasn't resolved.
on two-year contract. He made his debut on 31 July 2011, against Warta Poznan
.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
) is an English footballer who currently plays for Polonia Bytom
Polonia Bytom
Polonia Bytom is a Polish football club founded on 4 January 1920 in the Upper Silesian city of Bytom, during the hectic months of the Silesian Uprisings...
.
He played in the Premier League and the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
for Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
.
Early career
As a schoolboy, Sinclair was both a promising athlete – he came second in the English Schools' championships at 200 metres200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
, won a Scottish decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
title, and set an under-15 United Kingdom indoor record for the 50 metres – and a prolific goalscorer. He played for Alnwick Town
Alnwick Town F.C.
Alnwick Town F.C. is an English association football club based in Alnwick, Northumberland. They are currently members of the Northern League Division Two.-History:...
Juniors, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
Boys – for whom he set a schools record, scoring nine goals in a county under-16s match against South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
– and the youth academies of Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
and Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, prior to signing scholarship forms with Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in the summer of 2004.
Bolton Wanderers
He broke his leg that same year, but quickly returned to fitness. During the 2006–07 seasonBolton Wanderers F.C. season 2006–07
2006–07 was Bolton Wanderers Football Club's eighth season in the Premier League, and their sixth consecutive season in the top division of English football and covers the period from 1 July 2006 to June 30 2007...
, he converted from the role of attacker to right wing back with success. Sinclair agreed his first professional contract shortly before making his first-team debut for Bolton, on 28 April 2007 in the 2–2 Premier League draw away to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute to replace Idan Tal
Idan Tal
Idan Tal is an Israeli footballer who plays for Hapoel Jerusalem, as a midfielder.-Club career:Tal started his career at Maccabi Petah Tikva FC during the 1996–97 season, and played 71 games until his move to Hapoel Tel Aviv FC in the midst of the 1998–99, winning the state cup, the first title in...
. He drew praise from player-coach Gary Speed
Gary Speed
Gary Andrew Speed, MBE was a Welsh football player and manager. He was captain of the Wales national football team until he retired from international football in 2004 and he remains the most capped outfield player for Wales and the second overall, having appeared 85 times at senior level between...
both for his play and for his character.
Sinclair also featured in the 2007 Peace Cup
2007 Peace Cup
The 2007 Peace Cup Korea was a football tournament held in South Korea between 12 July and 21 August 2007. It was the third edition of Peace Cup...
pre-season tournament, under Sammy Lee
Sammy Lee (footballer)
Samuel "Sammy" Lee is an English football coach and former player. He played most of his career for hometown club Liverpool during the 1970s and 1980s as a midfielder, and also represented England fourteen times....
's management, used as both right back and in midfield. He made his first competitive appearance of the 2007–08
Bolton Wanderers F.C. season 2007–08
The 2007–08 season was the 130th season in Bolton Wanderers F.C.'s existence, and was their 7th consecutive year in the top-flight, and covers the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008...
season as a very late substitute in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
group stage away at Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
in December 2007 as the Wanderers secured a victory. In May 2008 he was offered a new deal to stay at the Reebok Stadium
Reebok Stadium
The Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of English Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, and is located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is commonly known as 'The Reebok'...
, but was released at the end of the 2008–09 season.
Gateshead F.C.
Sinclair joined Conference NationalConference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
on non-contract terms on 26 January 2010, making his debut the same day in a 2–0 defeat to Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
. Sinclair scored his first goal for Gateshead on 9 February against Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
in the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
. In May 2010, Gateshead announced that Sinclair was one of eleven players who would not be retained for the 2010–11 season.
Sektzia Nes Tziona
In October 2010, Sinclair signed for IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i club Sektzia Nes Tziona. He made his debut on 26 October 2010 against Hapoel Ironi Rishon LeZion in the Toto Cup
Toto Cup
The Toto Cup is an association football tournament that exists separately in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Premier League and Liga Leumit....
. He scored his first goal for Nes Tziona on 9 November against Maccabi Ahi Nazareth, also in the Toto Cup.
Sevilla FC Puerto Rico
In March 2011, Sinclair registered with Sevilla FC Puerto Rico, a sister team of the Spanish club Sevilla FCSevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
based in Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The team were playing in the newly created USL Pro
USL Pro
The USL Professional Division, commonly known as USL Pro , is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011....
league in the United States. However after the club folded from the league early during the season on he was unable to make an appearance for the club as his Visa wasn't resolved.
Polonia Bytom
In July 2011, he joined Polish club Polonia BytomPolonia Bytom
Polonia Bytom is a Polish football club founded on 4 January 1920 in the Upper Silesian city of Bytom, during the hectic months of the Silesian Uprisings...
on two-year contract. He made his debut on 31 July 2011, against Warta Poznan
Warta Poznan
Warta Poznań is a football club based in Poznań, Poland. Founded in 1912, the club are two-time winners of the Polish Football Championship, in 1929 and 1947, but currently reside in the Polish First League. The name means the Guard in Polish and also a name of river Warta on which Poznań is...
.