![]() 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 | 32 | (2) |
2022 | → Nantwich Town (loan) | 6 | (0) |
2023 | → Salisbury (loan) | 10 | (3) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:02, 13 April 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.
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]
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]
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]
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 [lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 9 | 2 |
2023–24 [30] | EFL League One | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 [lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
Total | 32 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 44 | 2 | ||
Nantwich Town (loan) | 2022–23 [31] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 [lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Salisbury (loan) | 2022–23 [32] | Southern League Premier Division South | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
Career total | 48 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 61 | 5 |
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