![]() Plant in 2023 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | James John Plant[1][2] | ||
Date of birth | [3] | 3 November 2004||
Place of birth | Werrington, Staffordshire, England[4] | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Port Vale | ||
Number | 21 | ||
Youth career | |||
2013–2022 | Port Vale | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2022– | Port Vale | 33 | (2) |
2022 | → Nantwich Town (loan) | 6 | (0) |
2023 | → Salisbury (loan) | 10 | (3) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:56, 24 August 2024 (UTC) |
James John Plant (born 3 November 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL League Two club Port Vale. He has previously played on loan at Nantwich Town and Salisbury.
Early life
[edit]James John Plant was born on 3 November 2004 in Werrington, Staffordshire; his grandfather, Ian Powell, ran a food fan selling spit roasted chickens from his blue van in Stoke-on-Trent city centre for 40 years before his retirement in 2023.[5] He played for Werrington Tigers as a small child and had a trial with Crewe Alexandra before he joined Port Vale at under-nine level.[6] His elder brother, Matthew, played non-League football for Abbey Hulton United.[6]
Career
[edit]Plant made his senior debut for Port Vale in a 1–0 victory over Stockport County in an EFL Trophy group stage game at Vale Park on 30 August 2022; he came on as an 86th-minute substitute for Tommy McDermott.[7] On 24 September 2022, he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Nantwich Town on a work experience loan, having been recommended to joint-manager Ritchie Sutton, who said Plant would bring "energy, enthusiasm, quality and a great attitude" to the "Dabbers" squad.[8][9] Plant made his debut later that day, and was named as man of the match in a 2–0 defeat at Whitby Town.[10] He was praised by "Dabbers" supporters for his "creative playing style and energetic performances".[11] He found the experience tough and one that he learned a lot from.[6] On 31 January 2023, he joined Southern League Premier Division South club Salisbury on a work experience loan, alongside Tommy McDermott.[12] He was named as Player of the Match in each of his first two appearances for Salisbury and scored on his fourth appearance, a 3–0 win at Hanwell Town.[13][14] He was named as the club's Player of the Month for February.[15] He received a career first red-card during a 3–0 victory at Metropolitan Police on 4 March.[16] On 30 March, it was announced that the loan deal had been extended until the end of the 2022–23 season.[17] He made his League One debut for Port Vale on 10 April, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute for Gavin Massey in a 0–0 draw with Oxford United.[18] He started his first League One game eight days later, impressing alongside Tom Conlon in central midfield in a 2–1 defeat at Ipswich Town after Tom Pett was ruled out due to injury.[6][19] He signed his first professional (two-year) contract in April 2023; David Flitcroft, the club's director of football, said that "his ability, attitude, character and commitment to getting better is outstanding and is now a benchmark for all players who come through the academy".[20] Plant scored his first goal in the EFL in a 3–2 loss at Charlton Athletic on 29 April.[21]
Plant began the 2023–24 season strongly and was teasingly nicknamed "Son of Crosby" by his teammates due to manager Andy Crosby's fulsome praise for his attitude and performances.[22] He signed a new contract in November, before turning 19, to keep him at the club until at least 2027.[23] However, he dislocated his shoulder the following month and was ruled out of action for up to 12 weeks.[24] He made his return in a 3–0 defeat at Derby County on 2 March, where he was played out of position at left-wing-back.[25] He was praised by manager Darren Moore after again being played out of position on 10 April, this time playing at right-back against Ephron Mason-Clark in a 3–0 defeat at Peterborough United. [26]
Style of play
[edit]Plant is a versatile player who is able to play as a forward, central midfielder, or wing-back.[27] He has a good temperament.[28]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 24 August 2024
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Port Vale | 2022–23[29] | EFL League One | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 9 | 2 |
2023–24[30] | EFL League One | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
2024–25[31] | EFL League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
Total | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 47 | 2 | ||
Nantwich Town (loan) | 2022–23[32] | Northern Premier League Premier Division |
6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Salisbury (loan) | 2022–23[33] | Southern League Premier Division South |
10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
Career total | 49 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 64 | 5 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Club List Of Registered Players" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ James Plant at Soccerway
- ^ @OfficialPVFC (3 November 2023). "🎉 Happy Birthday to our number 2️⃣1️⃣, James Plant!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Baggaley, Michael (31 January 2023). "Port Vale duo McDermott and Plant join Salisbury on loan". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ Olah, Maisie; Lee, Matt (26 July 2023). "Stoke-on-Trent's chicken man retires after 40 years". BBC News. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d Baggaley, Mike (23 June 2024). "James Plant playing beyond his years at Vale". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Papa Johns Trophy (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ Bamforth, Harry (24 September 2022). "James Plant joins Nantwich Town on loan". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ Price, Liam (24 September 2022). "James Plant joins Dabbers on work experience loan from Port Vale". Nantwich Town Football Club. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ Baggaley, Michael (26 September 2022). "Port Vale's James Plant impresses on loan debut at Nantwich Town". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ Mounteney, Luke (4 October 2022). "Loan Round Up | James Plant stars as Nantwich Town held to draw at Matlock". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- ^ "Tommy McDermott and James Plant join Salisbury FC on loan". Port Vale F.C. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ "Loan Round Up | Find out how Port Vale's out on loan players are faring". Port Vale F.C. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Loan Round-Up | James Plant off the mark for Salisbury as four Valiants feature". Port Vale F.C. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ "Loan Round Up | Find out how Port Vale's out on loan players fared this weekend". Port Vale F.C. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ Pearson, Ian (4 March 2023). "Met Police Match Report". Salisbury FC. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Pearson, Ian (30 March 2023). "Plant & McDermott". Salisbury FC. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Michael (10 April 2023). "Port Vale player ratings vs Oxford draw with red card and late drama". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Michael (18 April 2023). "Port Vale player ratings vs Ipswich as Plant impresses in defeat". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Michael (25 April 2023). "Flitcroft issues 'outstanding' verdict as Plant agrees Port Vale contract". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Andy Crosby | "Disappointed with our first-half, but the primary goal has been achieved"". Port Vale F.C. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (2 October 2023). "Why Port Vale class act James Wilson is more than statistics". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- ^ "James Plant Signs New Deal". Port Vale F.C. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (6 December 2023). "Familiar failings as Port Vale exit Trophy at Bolton". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (3 March 2024). "Vale's problems grow with comprehensive Derby defeat". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (11 April 2024). "Vale back in drop zone as they are outclassed at Peterborough". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (16 October 2023). "Ben Garrity, a century and finest of the new era". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (18 March 2024). "Analysing the Vale as odds mount against great escape". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ "Games played by James Plant in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ^ "Games played by James Plant in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ^ "Games played by James Plant in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ^ "Nantwich Town | Appearances | James Plant | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- ^ "Salisbury FC". Salisbury FC. Retrieved 19 February 2023.