James Morton (footballer, born 1999)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = James Morton
| image = James Morton.jpg
| caption = Morton in 2023
| full_name = James Samuel Morton{{Cite web |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Forest Green Rovers |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |access-date=20 October 2019 |publisher=English Football League |page=28}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|4|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bristol, England
| height =
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Southend United
| clubnumber = 23
| youthyears1 = 2013–2017
| youthclubs1 = Bristol City
| years1 = 2017–2023
| clubs1 = Bristol City
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2017
| clubs2 = → Chippenham Town (loan)
| caps2 = 2
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2017–2018
| clubs3 = → Bath City (loan)
| caps3 = 16
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2018–2019
| clubs4 = → Bath City (loan)
| caps4 = 34
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2019–2020
| clubs5 = → Forest Green Rovers (loan)
| caps5 = 12
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2020
| clubs6 = → Grimsby Town (loan)
| caps6 = 7
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2021
| clubs7 = → Gillingham (loan)
| caps7 = 1
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2022–2023
| clubs8 = → Bath City (loan)
| caps8 = 34
| goals8 = 2
| years9 = 2023
| clubs9 = Weston-super-Mare
| caps9 = 19
| goals9 = 3
| years10 = 2023–
| clubs10 = Southend United
| caps10 = 60
| goals10 = 1
| club-update = 19:00, 20 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
James Samuel Morton (born 22 April 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|SouthenU}} club Southend United. He has played in the Football League for Bristol City, Forest Green Rovers, Grimsby Town and Gillingham. He has also spent time on loan with Chippenham Town and Bath City.
Career
=Bristol City=
Morton joined Bristol City aged 14 and progressed through the club's youth system. He was loaned out to Chippenham Town in October 2017{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} and then Bath City on loan until 13 January 2018,{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Daniel |date=1 December 2017 |title=Bath City bring in Bristol City midfielder on loan |work=Bath Chronicle |url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bath-city-bring-bristol-city-865466 |access-date=24 September 2020}} before extending his loan to the end of the season.{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Adam |date=20 January 2018 |title=Semenyo goes pro and heads to Bath |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/semenyo-goes-pro-and-heads-to-bath/ |access-date=24 September 2020 |website=bcfc.co.uk |publisher=Bristol City F.C. |language=en}} In the summer of 2018, he re-joined Bath City on loan for the 2018–19 season,{{Cite web |last=Crawley |first=James |date=27 July 2018 |title=Eight players head out on loan |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/eight-players-head-out-on-loan/ |access-date=24 September 2020 |website=bcfc.co.uk |publisher=Bristol City F.C. |language=en}} and won their 'Goal of the season' award for that season.{{Cite news |last=Burridge |first=Henry |date=15 May 2019 |title=Bath City skipper Straker makes Havant switch |work=Somerset Live |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/straker-bath-havant-waterlooville-signing-2872662 |access-date=24 September 2020}} After signing a four-year deal with Bristol City in summer 2019, Morton joined Forest Green Rovers on a season-long loan,{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Matt |date=25 June 2019 |title=SIGNING | Bristol City midfielder James Morton signed on loan |url=https://www.fgr.co.uk/news/june-2019/signing-bristol-city-midfielder-james-morton-signed-on-loan |access-date=24 September 2020 |website=www.fgr.co.uk |publisher=Forest Green Rovers F.C. |archive-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808212817/https://www.fgr.co.uk/news/june-2019/signing-bristol-city-midfielder-james-morton-signed-on-loan |url-status=dead }} making his EFL League Two debut when he played the entire match against Oldham Athletic on the opening day of the 2019–20 season.{{Cite web |date=3 August 2019 |title=Forest Green Rovers 1–0 Oldham Athletic |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49135877 |access-date=24 September 2020 |website=BBC Sport}}
On 30 September 2020, Morton joined Grimsby Town on a season-long loan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2020/september/mariners-confirm-morton-signing/|title=Mariners Confirm Morton Signing|website=www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk|publisher=Grimsby Town F.C.|access-date=24 June 2021|archive-date=24 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524150944/https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2020/september/mariners-confirm-morton-signing|url-status=usurped}} On 31 December 2020, following the departure of manager Ian Holloway, Morton and fellow Bristol City teammate Owura Edwards were recalled from their loan spells at Grimsby. Morton made only four starts during his time at Blundell Park.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-continue-recall-loan-4847794|title=Bristol City continue recall loan talks as James Morton and Owura Edwards return|first=Gregor|last=MacGregor|date=1 January 2021|website=BristolLive|access-date=24 June 2021}}
On 1 February 2021, Morton joined League One side Gillingham on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2021/february/james-morton-signs-on-loan/ |website=gillinghamfootballclub.com |title=James Morton joins Gills on loan |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |date=1 February 2021 |access-date=2 February 2021}} Morton would only feature once for the Gills, appearing as a 91st minute substitute in a 3–0 home defeat by Lincoln City on 5 February 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55850858|title=Gillingham 0–3 Lincoln City|access-date=24 June 2021|date=5 February 2021|website=BBC Sport}}
In July 2021, Bristol City allowed Morton to join Milton Keynes Dons on trial with a view to a permanent transfer,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/morton-to-feature-for-mk-dons/|title = Morton to feature for MK Dons}} however after playing in a 7–1 pre-season victory over Coventry City the transfer fell through following a change of management at MK.{{cite web| url = https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/bristol-city-midfielders-transfer-league-5735280| title = Bristol City midfielder's transfer to League One falls through after Swansea City boss switch - Bristol Live| date = 3 August 2021}}
On 23 September 2022, Morton returned to National League South club Bath City on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bathcityfc.com/player-news-james-morton/|title=Player News - James Morton|website=www.bathcityfc.com|date=23 September 2022|accessdate=27 September 2022}}
In May 2023, Morton was released by Bristol City.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/city-announce-released-list/|title=ITY ANNOUNCE RELEASED LIST|publisher=Bristol City FC|access-date=22 May 2023}}
=Weston-super-Mare=
On 9 August 2023, Morton signed a contract for National League South club Weston-super-Mare.{{cite web |title=Weston-super-Mare AFC sign central midfielder James Morton |url=https://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/sport/23707931.weston-super-mare-afc-sign-central-midfielder-james-morton/ |website=thewesternmercury.co.uk |publisher=The Western Mercury |access-date=11 August 2023}}
=Southend United=
On 29 December 2023, Morton signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with National League club Southend United.{{cite web |title=BLUES ADD MIDFIELDER JAMES MORTON! |url= https://www.southendunited.co.uk/news/2023/december/29/blues-add-midfielder-james-morton-/ |website=southendunited.co.uk |publisher=Southend United F.C. |access-date=29 December 2023}}
Personal life
Morton is a Christian.{{Cite web |last=James |first=Stuart |date=16 May 2020 |title=Football is a massive part of my life but I put my identity as a Christian |url=https://theathletic.com/1813970/2020/05/17/football-christianity-religion-faith/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=24 September 2020 |website=The Athletic}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 30 December 2023}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="7"|Bristol City
|2017–18{{soccerbase season|108766|2017|access-date=18 August 2019}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19{{soccerbase season|108766|2018|access-date=18 August 2019}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20{{soccerbase season|108766|2019|access-date=18 August 2019}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21{{soccerbase season|108766|2020|access-date=5 September 2020}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|108766|2021|access-date=10 September 2023}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|108766|2022|access-date=10 September 2023}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!0||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0 | ||||||||||
| Chippenham Town (loan)
|2017–18{{soccerway|james-morton/519797|James Morton|access-date=18 August 2019}} |2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in Wiltshire FA Senior Cup}} | 0 | 3 | 1 | ||
| Bath City (loan)
|National League South |16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Bath City (loan)
|National League South |34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Somerset Premier Cup, one appearance in National League South play-offs}} | 0 | 38 | 1 | ||
| Forest Green Rovers (loan)
|12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=FLT|Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Grimsby Town (loan)
|League Two |7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=FLT}} | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Gillingham (loan)
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Bath City (loan)
|National League South |34 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 8{{efn|Three appearances in FA Trophy, five appearances in Somerset Premier Cup}} | 0 | 43 | 2 | ||
| Weston-super-Mare
|National League South |19 | 3 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|Two appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in Somerset Premier Cup}} | 0 | 25 | 3 | ||
| Southend United
|1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| colspan=3|Career total
!126||7||6||0||3||0||19||0||154||7 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway}}
{{Southend United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morton, James}}
Category:Footballers from Bristol
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Bristol City F.C. players
Category:Chippenham Town F.C. players
Category:Bath City F.C. players
Category:Forest Green Rovers F.C. players
Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players
Category:Gillingham F.C. players
Category:Weston-super-Mare A.F.C. players
Category:Southend United F.C. players
Category:English Football League players