James Plant

James Plant

Plant in 2023
Personal information
Full name	James John Plant [1] [2]
Date of birth	(2004-11-03) 3 November 2004 (age 20) [3]
Place of birth	Werrington, Staffordshire, England [4]
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Yeovil Town (on loan from Port Vale)
Number	18
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)
2024–	→ Yeovil Town (loan)	10	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:10, 30 November 2024 (UTC)

James John Plant (born 3 November 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for National League club Yeovil Town on loan from Port Vale. He has previously played on loan at Nantwich Town and Salisbury.

Early life

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

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]

On 27 September 2024, Plant joined National League side Yeovil Town on loan until January 2025. ^[27] He provided the assist in a 1–0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge at Huish Park on 5 October, in what was his second game for the Glovers. ^[28] Manager Mark Cooper said that "he showed real quality today" and was like "gold dust" due to his versatility. ^[29]

Style of play

Plant is a versatile player who is able to play as a forward, central midfielder, or wing-back. ^[30] He has a good temperament. ^[31]

Career statistics

As of match played 10 December 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Port Vale	2022–23 [32]	EFL League One	6	2	0	0	0	0	3 [a]	0	9	2
	2023–24 [33]	EFL League One	26	0	3	0	4	0	2 [a]	0	35	0
	2024–25 [34]	EFL League Two	1	0	0	0	1	0	2 [a]	0	4	0
	Total		33	2	3	0	5	0	7	0	48	2
Nantwich Town (loan)	2022–23 [35]	Northern Premier League Premier Division	6	0	0	0	0	0	1 [b]	0	7	0
Salisbury (loan)	2022–23 [36]	Southern League Premier Division South	10	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	3
Yeovil Town (loan)	2024–25 [2]	National League	10	2	0	0	0	0	1 [b]	0	11	2
Career total			59	7	3	0	5	0	9	0	76	7

1. Appearances in the EFL Trophy.
2. Appearances in the FA Trophy.

References

1. "Club List Of Registered Players" (PDF). English Football League . Retrieved 23 September 2022.
2. James Plant at Soccerway
3. @OfficialPVFC (3 November 2023). "🎉 Happy Birthday to our number 2️⃣1️⃣, James Plant!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
4. Baggaley, Michael (31 January 2023). "Port Vale duo McDermott and Plant join Salisbury on loan". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
5. Olah, Maisie; Lee, Matt (26 July 2023). "Stoke-on-Trent's chicken man retires after 40 years". BBC News. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
6. Baggaley, Mike (23 June 2024). "James Plant playing beyond his years at Vale". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
7. "Papa Johns Trophy (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
8. Bamforth, Harry (24 September 2022). "James Plant joins Nantwich Town on loan". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
9. Price, Liam (24 September 2022). "James Plant joins Dabbers on work experience loan from Port Vale". Nantwich Town Football Club. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
10. Baggaley, Michael (26 September 2022). "Port Vale's James Plant impresses on loan debut at Nantwich Town". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
11. 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.
12. "Tommy McDermott and James Plant join Salisbury FC on loan". Port Vale F.C. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
13. "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.
14. "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.
15. "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.
16. Pearson, Ian (4 March 2023). "Met Police Match Report". Salisbury FC. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
17. Pearson, Ian (30 March 2023). "Plant & McDermott". Salisbury FC. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
18. Baggaley, Michael (10 April 2023). "Port Vale player ratings vs Oxford draw with red card and late drama". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
19. Baggaley, Michael (18 April 2023). "Port Vale player ratings vs Ipswich as Plant impresses in defeat". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
20. Baggaley, Michael (25 April 2023). "Flitcroft issues 'outstanding' verdict as Plant agrees Port Vale contract". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
21. "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.
22. Baggaley, Mike (2 October 2023). "Why Port Vale class act James Wilson is more than statistics". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
23. "James Plant Signs New Deal". Port Vale F.C. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
24. Baggaley, Mike (6 December 2023). "Familiar failings as Port Vale exit Trophy at Bolton". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
25. Baggaley, Mike (3 March 2024). "Vale's problems grow with comprehensive Derby defeat". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
26. Baggaley, Mike (11 April 2024). "Vale back in drop zone as they are outclassed at Peterborough". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
27. "Plant Joins Yeovil Town on Loan". Port Vale FC. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
28. Baggaley, Mike (6 October 2024). "Vale pass test at promotion rivals". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
29. Baggaley, Mike (10 October 2024). "Double blow tests Vale's options". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
30. Baggaley, Mike (16 October 2023). "Ben Garrity, a century and finest of the new era". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
31. Baggaley, Mike (18 March 2024). "Analysing the Vale as odds mount against great escape". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
32. "Games played by James Plant in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
33. "Games played by James Plant in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
34. "Games played by James Plant in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
35. "Nantwich Town | Appearances | James Plant | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
36. "Salisbury FC". Salisbury FC. Retrieved 19 February 2023.