Jack Bonham

Jack Bonham

Personal information
Full name	Jack Elliott Bonham [1]
Date of birth	(1993-09-14) 14 September 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth	Stevenage, England [2]
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) [3]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Stoke City
Number	13
Youth career
0000–2010	Watford
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2013	Watford	1	(0)
2012	→ Harrow Borough (loan)	9	(0)
2013–2019	Brentford	2	(0)
2013–2014	→ Arlesey Town (loan)	15	(0)
2017–2018	→ Carlisle United (loan)	42	(0)
2018–2019	→ Bristol Rovers (loan)	40	(0)
2019–2021	Gillingham	79	(0)
2021–	Stoke City	53	(0)
International career
2009–2010	Republic of Ireland U17	5	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:39, 18 September 2024 (UTC)

Jack Elliott Bonham (born 14 September 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Stoke City.

A product of the Watford academy, Bonham spent time on loan at Harrow Borough, before transferring to Brentford in June 2013. After failing to break into the team, he spent much of his later career with the club away on loan, before transferring to Gillingham in 2019. Following two seasons as the Gills' first-choice goalkeeper, he transferred to Stoke City in 2021. Although born in England, Bonham represented the Republic of Ireland at U17 level.

Club career

Watford

2010–2012

Bonham signed a scholarship deal with Watford in June 2010, but quickly signed his first professional contract three months later, having just turned 17. ^[4] Due to first team goalkeeper Scott Loach incurring a suspension, ^[5] Bonham won his maiden call up to the first team squad on 26 November 2011, when he was an unused substitute during a 0–0 Championship draw with Doncaster Rovers. ^[6] Bonham was an unused substitute on 12 occasions during the 2012–13 season. ^[6]

On 17 February 2012, Bonham joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Harrow Borough on a one-month emergency loan. ^[7] He made the first senior appearance of his career the following day, conceding two goals in a 2–2 draw with Bury Town. ^[8] On 14 March, the loan was extended by a further month. ^[9] He returned to Watford in April after he broke a bone in his hand during a 4–3 defeat to Canvey Island. ^[9] He made 9 appearances for the club and failed to keep a clean sheet. ^[8]

2012–13

Bonham made his only appearance for Watford on 4 May 2013, ^[10] when he came on as a substitute for injured goalkeeper Jonathan Bond after 24 minutes of the final game of the season against Leeds United. ^[11] He was only included in the squad due to an injury sustained in the warm up by first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and was at fault for both Leeds' goals in the 2–1 defeat, ^[12] which cost Watford the chance of automatic promotion to the Premier League. ^[11] After the match, Watford manager Gianfranco Zola refused to blame Bonham for his actions. ^[13] Bonham was not called into the matchday squads during Watford's unsuccessful playoff campaign. ^[6] On 7 June 2013, Watford announced that Bonham's contract would not be renewed and he was released by the club. ^{[14] [15]}

Brentford

2013–14 and loan to Arlesey Town

On 12 June 2013, Bonham signed a two-year contract with League One club Brentford on a free transfer. ^{[16] [17]} He made his debut for the club in a League Cup first round tie at home to Dagenham & Redbridge on 6 August, in which Brentford ran out 3–2 extra time winners. ^[18] His second appearance came in the following round away to Derby County, in which he endured a torrid evening as the home side cruised to a 3–0 lead before half time, eventually winning 5–0. ^[18] Bonham made his league debut on 7 September, coming off the bench against Bradford City after starting keeper David Button was sent off. ^[18] Described as a 'nightmare afternoon' in press reports, ^[19] he conceded four goals as Brentford lost 4–0. ^[18]

Bonham spent much of the remainder of the 2013–14 season away on loan at Southern League Premier Division club Arlesey Town. ^[20] Joining on 15 November 2013, ^[21] he made his debut the following day in a 2–0 FA Trophy third qualifying round victory over Marlow. ^[22] He endured another nightmare afternoon in the following round, conceding five goals in a 5–1 defeat to Whitehawk on 30 November. ^[22] After four successive defeats and conceding 12 goals, Bonham helped Arlesey to three consecutive league wins in December. ^[22] At the end of the month, his loan was extended until the end of the 2013–14 season. ^[23] Bonham was recalled on 8 February 2014, after making 19 appearances. ^[24]

2014–15

Following Brentford's promotion to the Championship, ^[25] a persistent shoulder injury suffered by Richard Lee saw Bonham serve as backup to David Button through the 2014–15 season. ^{[6] [26]} He signed a new 3+1⁄2 year contract on 2 January 2015 and celebrated his signing the following day with his only appearance of the season with a start in an FA Cup third round match versus Brighton & Hove Albion. ^{[27] [28]} He conceded two late goals as Brentford were knocked out after suffering a 2–0 defeat, ^[28] though winning the club's social media man of the match award proved to be a consolation. ^[29]

2015–2017

Bonham had a nightmare start to the 2015–16 season, conceding four goals on his sole appearance against Oxford United in the League Cup first round on 11 August 2015. ^[30] He again served as David Button's backup throughout the campaign. ^[31] Despite the departure of Button on 19 July 2016, ^[32] Bonham entered the 2016–17 season as second-choice behind new signing Dan Bentley. ^[33] He made his first appearance of the season in a 1–0 EFL Cup first round defeat to Exeter City on 9 August 2016. ^[34] Having failed to make an appearance in nearly five months, Bonham revealed in late December 2016 that it was "frustrating" to be denied the chance to move away on loan. ^[35] He made his second and final appearance of the season with his first Brentford start in a 1–1 draw versus Barnsley on 17 April 2017 and won the club's man of the match award for his performance. ^{[36] [37]}

2017–18 and loan to Carlisle United

Bonham signed a one-year contract extension in June 2017, which would keep him at Griffin Park until the end of the 2018–19 season. ^[38] He spent the entire 2017–18 season away on loan at League Two club Carlisle United. ^[39] Bonham's performances in January 2018 saw him nominated for the PFA League Two Fans' Player of the Month award and he finished the season with 49 appearances. ^{[40] [41]}

2018–19 and loan to Bristol Rovers

On 27 August 2018, Bonham joined League One club Bristol Rovers on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season. ^[26] He had an impressive start to his time with the club and was reported on 15 October 2018 to have "the best save percentage of any first-choice goalkeeper in England so far this season, with 91.5%". ^[42] Bonham finished the season with 46 appearances. ^[43] Bonham departed Brentford when his contract expired at the end of the 2018–19 season, after making just seven appearances during six seasons at Griffin Park. ^[44]

Gillingham

On 4 June 2019, Bonham signed a two-year contract with League One club Gillingham on a free transfer, ^[45] effective 1 July 2019. ^[46] He made 89 appearances during two mid-table seasons with the club and departed Priestfield after rejecting a new contract at the end of the 2020–21 season. ^{[47] [48] [49]}

Stoke City

2021–22

On 28 June 2021, Bonham signed a two-year contract with Championship club Stoke City. ^{[50] [51]} He failed to win a call into a matchday squad until 20 November 2021, ^[6] when he was promoted to the substitutes' bench due to first-choice goalkeeper Josef Bursik suffering a torn thigh muscle. ^[52] Bonham backed up second-choice goalkeeper Adam Davies until January 2022, when he assumed the starting role. ^[6] After Davies' transfer away from the club in January 2022 and Bursik's return from injury one month later, ^{[53] [54]} Bonham largely held the starting spot through to the end of the 2021–22 season and finished the campaign with 17 appearances. ^[55]

2022–2024

Bonham improved his tally to 28 appearances during the 2022–23 season and the one-year option to extend his contract was exercised at the end of the campaign. ^{[56] [57]} Bonham signed another one-year contract extension in November 2023. ^[58] Behind successive loan signings Mark Travers and Daniel Iversen in the pecking order, ^[59] Bonham made 16 appearances during a mid-table 2023–24 season. ^{[60] [61]}

International career

Bonham won five caps for the Republic of Ireland U17 team in 2009 and 2010. ^{[62] [63]} In October 2018, it was reported that the full Republic of Ireland team were considering calling up Bonham, due to his club form at Bristol Rovers. ^[42]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 October 2024

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
Watford	2011–12 [64]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2012–13 [10]	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Harrow Borough (loan)	2011–12 [8]	Isthmian League Premier Division	9	0	—		—		—		9	0
Brentford	2013–14 [18]	League One	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	3	0
	2014–15 [28]	Championship	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2015–16 [30]	Championship	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2016–17 [34]	Championship	1	0	0	0	1	0	—		2	0
	2017–18 [41]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2018–19 [43]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		2	0	1	0	4	0	0	0	7	0
Arlesey Town (loan)	2013–14 [22]	Southern League Premier Division	15	0	—		—		4 [a]	0	19	0
Carlisle United (loan)	2017–18 [41]	League Two	42	0	5	0	2	0	0	0	49	0
Bristol Rovers (loan)	2018–19 [43]	League One	40	0	0	0	0	0	6 [b]	0	46	0
Gillingham	2019–20 [65]	League One	35	0	4	0	1	0	0	0	40	0
	2020–21 [66]	League One	44	0	2	0	2	0	1 [b]	0	49	0
	Total		79	0	6	0	3	0	1	0	89	0
Stoke City	2021–22 [55]	Championship	15	0	2	0	0	0	—		17	0
	2022–23 [56]	Championship	24	0	3	0	1	0	—		28	0
	2023–24 [60]	Championship	14	0	0	0	2	0	—		16	0
	2024–25 [67]	Championship	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	Total		53	0	5	0	4	0	—		62	0
Career total			240	0	17	0	13	0	11	0	281	0

1. 2 appearances in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Southern League Cup, 1 appearance in Bedfordshire Senior Cup
2. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References

1. "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 80. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 444. ISBN   978-0-7553-6356-8.
3. "Jack Bonham". Stoke City F.C. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
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6. Jack Bonham at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
7. "Official: Youth trio join Harrow Borough". watfordfc.com. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
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11. Osborne, Chris (4 May 2013). "Watford 1–2 Leeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
12. Calvin, Michael (5 May 2013). "Watford 1 Leeds United 2 match report: Jack Bonham left in private hell as he lets Watford's chances slip". The Independent. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
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32. "David Button leaves Brentford for Fulham" . Retrieved 9 August 2016.
33. "Brentford sign Daniel Bentley on four-year deal" . Retrieved 9 August 2016.
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47. Jack Bonham at Soccerbase
48. Gillingham F.C. at the Football Club History Database
49. "Retained list confirmed". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
50. "Jack Bonham: Stoke City sign Gillingham keeper on two-year deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
51. "Bonham to check in". Stoke City FC. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
52. "Injury setback for Bursik". Stoke City FC. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
53. "Four changes for Swans clash". Stoke City FC. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
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55. "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
56. "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
57. "Seven to depart as Potters pave the way for summer reset". Stoke City FC. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
58. "Jack Bonham: Stoke City goalkeeper signs new one-year deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
59. Smith, Pete. "Pete Smith's Stoke City end of season player ratings for 35-man squad". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
60. "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
61. Stoke City F.C. at the Football Club History Database
62. "Jack Bonham". www.soccerscene.ie. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
63. "Hornets go global". watfordfc.com. 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
64. "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
65. "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
66. "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
67. "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.

External links

• Jack Bonham at Soccerbase
• Jack Bonham at soccerscene.ie
• Jack Bonham at fai.ie
• Jack Bonham at stokecityfc.com