Nathaniel James (footballer)

Last updated

Nathaniel James
Nathaniel James 2025.jpg
James in 2025
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-06-17) 17 June 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Portland Hearts of Pine
Number 47
Youth career
2009 San Juan Jabloteh
2019–2020 Queen's Royal College
2019–2023 W Connection
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020–2023 W Connection 6 (1)
2023 Club Sando 22 (15)
2023–2025 Mount Pleasant 31 (0)
2025– Portland Hearts of Pine 10 (1)
International career‡
2022 Trinidad and Tobago U-20 4 (4)
2023– Trinidad and Tobago 16 (5)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 September 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 3 July 2025

Nathaniel Mark "Natty" James (born 17 June 2004) is a Trinidadian footballer who currently plays for the USL League One team Portland Hearts of Pine and the Trinidad and Tobago national team. He won the TT Premier Football League Golden Boot in 2023 with Club Sando F.C., scoring 15 goals in 22 appearances, [1] and has previously played professionally for Jamaica Premier League side Mount Pleasant Football Academy. He made his professional debut with Trinidadian club W Connection F.C. in 2020 at the age of 15. [2] He joined the Hearts of Pine in 2025. [3]

Contents

Born in Port of Spain, James was raised in La Horquetta where his father Mark trained him to become a professional footballer. [2] As a youth, James attended Trinidad's prestigious Queen's Royal College and played for their football team. [1] [4]

Club career

As a youth, he started his career in the academy of San Juan Jabloteh F.C. [2] After studying at Queen's Royal College and playing for their football team, [4] James signed a professional deal with TT Premier Football League team W Connection F.C.. At the age of 15 in 2020, he made a handful of appearances for W Connection's first team and scored a goal before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago. [2] [5]

He moved to Club Sando F.C. for the 2023 TT Premier Football League season, [2] where he won the newly-established league's inaugural Golden Boot, scoring 15 times in 22 appearances. [1]

After his season with Club Sando, James moved to Jamaica Premier League side Mount Pleasant Football Academy and played for them from 2023 to 2025. [6] He joined Portland Hearts of Pine in 2025, ahead of their inaugural season in USL League One. [3] He made his debut for the Hearts of Pine in a 2–1 defeat to Rhode Island FC in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup, [7] and scored his first goal for the club in his League One debut against Union Omaha on May 10, 2025. [8] His goal came just minutes after being substituted on, and drew the Hearts level in a match that finished 2–2. [8]

National team career

James scored four times in as many appearances in the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. He was subsequently called up to Trinidad and Tobago's senior team, and scored on his debut against Curaçao. [6] [2]

James was named to Trinidad and Tobago's squad for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. [9]

Honours

Individual

Club Sando F.C.

TT Premier Football League Golden Boot: 2023 [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "'Natty' takes Golden Boot". Soca Warriors Online - Trinidad and Tobago Football. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Walcott, Roneil (1 October 2023). "Warrior profile: Nathaniel James – My dad is my biggest inspiration". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  3. 1 2 Lazar, Adrian (11 March 2025). "TT Midfielder Nathaniel James Moves To USL's Portland Hearts Of Pine". TTT News. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  4. 1 2 Ravello, Jovan (19 September 2019). "'Natty' strikes again as QRC hold off 'Green Machine' for 3-1 win". Wired868. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  5. ↑ "Pro League 'cancels matches' due to Covid-19 fears, vows to protect players and officials". Wired868. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Nathaniel James transfers to Mount Pleasant". Loop News. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  7. ↑ Craig, Steve (16 April 2025). "Rhode Island FC ousts Hearts of Pine in U.S. Open Cup". Press Herald. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Hearts of Pine battle to another draw". Lewiston Sun Journal. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  9. ↑ Walcott, Roneil (5 June 2025). "Soca Warriors' 26-man Gold Cup squad confirmed". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
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