James Chambers (Irish footballer)

James Chambers

Personal information
Full name	James Chambers
Date of birth	14 February 1987 (1987-02-14)
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Centre midfield
Club information
Current club	St Patrick's Athletic
Number	8
Youth career
1999-2004	Shelbourne
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004-2008	Shelbourne	68	(7)
2006	→ Waterford United (loan)	24	(0)
2009	Solihull Moors	1	(0)
2009	Drogheda United	33	(7)
2010	Shamrock Rovers	31	(6)
2011	Hamilton Academical	10	(2)
2012-	St Patrick's Athletic	3	(0)
National team
2007	Republic of Ireland U21	3	(0)
2010	Republic of Ireland U23	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

James Chambers (born 14 February 1987 in Dublin, Ireland), is an Irish footballer who plays for St Patrick's Athletic in the League of Ireland. Chambers is a central midfield player.

Club career

James Chambers played for Shelbourne since he was 11 years of age. He has also been capped for Ireland at every level from 15's right up to 23's. He started out with the schoolboy teams and made his breakthrough into the first team during the 2004 season, at the age of 17, including being part of the Shelbourne squad during their successful 2004 European campaign. He did not make his first official first team appearance for Shelbourne until August 15, 2005 where he made his debut coming on as a 2nd half substitute during a 1-0 defeat to Cork City at Turner's Cross. In order to aid James with his development and to gain valuable experience, he was loaned out to Waterford United for the 2006 season and instantly became a regular in their starting XI. On February 24, 2007, Chambers received a call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad by manager Don Givens.

Chambers returned to Shelbourne for the 2007 season but he was entering upon a very unfamiliar environment at the Tolka Park club. Shelbourne were now in financial meltdown and were uncertain over their participation for the 2007 season. After the club was demoted to the First Division, he made the decision to stay at Shels despite their demotion and keen interest in him from numerous Premier Division clubs. As only one of two first team players retained by Shelbourne for the 2007 season, Chambers' talents were now of great importance to Shelbourne and he has become one of the first names on the Shels teamsheet due to many impressive performances. He scored his first senior goal for Shelbourne with a delightful equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Monaghan United at Tolka Park on April 13, 2007.

Chambers departed Shelbourne after 10 years at the end of the 2008 season to move to Britain. He made a total of 73 league and cup appearances for Shelbourne scoring 8 times. He joined Blue Square Conference North side Solihull Moors on January 16, 2009. Chambers' stay at Solihull Moors would be brief as he returned to Ireland in March 2009 to join Drogheda United. He made his competitive Drogheda debut on March 13, 2009 in 0-0 draw against Bray Wanderers at United Park. Chambers went on an amazing scoring streak in the 2009 season. He scored nine goals, including the all-important opener against Bray Wanderers in the relegation play-off, a match which finished 2-0 to Drogheda United. Following his impressive season at Drogheda United, Chambers joined Shamrock Rovers in November 2009. In his first season with 'The Hoops', Chambers scored an impressive 11 league goals and won his first League of Ireland winners medal after Shamrock Rovers won the 2010 Premier Division on the final night of the season.

He moved to Scottish Premier League team Hamilton Academical on 25 January 2011 [1]. Chambers was signed by Liam Buckley for St Patrick's Athletic in December 2011.

International career

Chambers made his Republic of Ireland Under 21 debut at the Madeira tournament in Portugal in February 2007. He made 3 appearances for the Irish side in the tournament. In May 2010, Chambers made his Republic of Ireland Under 23 debut against England Under 23 in the International Challenge Trophy at the RSC in Waterford.

Career statistics

Correct as of 17 April 2011.

Club	Season	League	League		Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Shelbourne	2005	LOI Premier Division	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	2006	LOI Premier Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2007	LOI First Division	32	7	1	0	1	0	-	-	-	-	34	7
	2008	LOI First Division	33	0	1	0	2	1	-	-	-	-	36	1
	Total		68	7	2	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	73	8
Waterford United (loan)	2006	LOI Premier Division	24	0	3	0	0	0	-	-	2	0	29	0
	Total		24	0	3	0	0	0	-	-	2	0	29	0
Solihull Moors	2008–09	Conference North	1	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	0	0	1	0
	Total		1	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	0	0	1	0
Drogheda United	2009	LOI Premier Division	33	7	2	0	2	1	-	-	1	1	38	9
	Total		33	7	2	0	2	1	-	-	1	1	38	9
Shamrock Rovers	2010	LOI Premier Division	31	6	5	4	2	0	4	0	1	0	43	10
	Total		31	6	5	4	2	0	4	0	1	0	43	10
Hamilton Academical	2010–11	SPL	4	1	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	4	1
	Total		4	1	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	4	1
Career total			161	21	12	4	7	2	4	0	4	1	188	28

^Note 1 Competitions include UEFA Europa League
^Note 2 Competitions include Leinster Senior Cup and League of Ireland Promotion/Relegation Play-offs

Honours

• League of Ireland Premier Division:
  • Shamrock Rovers - 2010

External links

• James Chambers (Irish footballer) on Playerhistory.com
• James Chambers' profile at www.shelbournefc.com