Lutel James

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Lutel James

| image =

| fullname = Lutel Kieron James

| height =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1972|6|2}}

| birth_place = Manchester, England

| position = Striker

| currentclub = Goole (manager)

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1990–1991

| years2 = 1991–1993

| years3 = 1993

| years4 = 1993–1996

| years5 = 1996–1998

| years6 = 1998–2001

| years7 = 2001–2005

| years8 = 2004

| years9 = 2005–2006

| years10 = 2005

| years11 = 2006

| clubs1 = Selby Town

| clubs2 = Yorkshire Amateurs

| clubs3 = Scarborough

| clubs4 = Guiseley

| clubs5 = Hyde United

| clubs6 = Bury

| clubs7 = Accrington Stanley

| clubs8 = → Droylsden (loan)

| clubs9 = Altrincham

| clubs10 = → Garforth Town (loan)

| clubs11 = Bradford Park Avenue

| caps1 =

| caps2 =

| caps3 = 6

| caps4 =

| caps5 = 85

| caps6 = 68

| caps7 = 142

| caps8 = 2

| caps9 = 3

| caps10 =

| caps11 = 9

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 =

| goals5 = 29

| goals6 = 4

| goals7 = 73

| goals8 = 1

| goals9 = 0

| goals10 =

| goals11 = 4

| nationalyears1 = 2000

| nationalteam1 = Saint Kitts and Nevis

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 02:30, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

| ntupdate = 15:50, 25 October 2011 (UTC)

| manageryears1 = 2020– | managerclubs1 = Goole

}}

Lutel Malik James (born 2 June 1972) is a former professional footballer, who played as a striker in the English Football League with Scarborough and Bury, and who represented Saint Kitts and Nevis internationally.

Playing career

After playing for Hyde United, James signed for Bury in October 1998 on a £200-per-week deal.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109759566/lutel-james-signed-for-bury-herald-exp/ | title=Lutel James signed for Bury - Herald Express | newspaper=Herald Express | date=28 October 1998 | page=40 }} He was released by Bury in the summer of 2001. Despite praise from manager Andy Preece, the club was suffering from financial difficulties and was unable to offer James a new deal.{{cite web | url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6024835.unhappy-james-faces-nightmare/ | title=Unhappy James faces 'nightmare' | date=15 June 2001 }}

James signed for Acrrington Stanley ahead of the 2001/02 season. He scored 20 goals in his first season with the club and helped them earn promotion to the Conference. He was involved in an FA Cup win over Huddersfield Town.{{cite news | url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5871704.straight-back-business---james/ | title=Straight back to business - James | newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph | date=11 November 2003 }} In October 2004, James spoke of his desire to leave Accrington after a lack of playing time and requested a transfer.{{cite news | url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5812667.frustrated-striker-wants-away-stanley/ | title=Frustrated striker wants away from Stanley | newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph | date=26 October 2004 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/hitman-in-quit-shock-1266000 | title=Hitman in quit shock | date=5 February 2004 }} After a three-month loan spell with Droylsden, he signed for Altrincham on a non-contract deal. He spent a short period on loan with Garforth Town before making his Altrincham debut against Southport. He was released by the club in November 2005 after making four total appearances.http://www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/depart05.htm

Managerial career

James coached at Farsley Celtic academy.{{cite web | url=https://www.farsleyceltic.com/teams/232351/coach/lutel-james-1385867 | title=Lutel James - Farsley Celtic FC Farsley Celtic Under 23s }}

In June 2020 he was appointed joint manager of Goole alongside Les Nelson.[http://www.nonleagueyorkshire.com/2020/06/15/les-nelson-wants-to-awaken-sleeping-giant-goole/ Les Nelson wants to awaken "sleeping giant" Goole] Non-League Yorkshire, 15 June 2020

International career

James represented St Kitts and Nevis internationally in World Cup qualifiers in April 2000.{{cite web |title=Lutel James 2002 Match Logs |url=https://fbref.com/en/players/c7d50703/matchlogs/2002/Lutel-James-Match-Logs |website=FBRef |access-date=11 September 2023}} In 2004, he declined a call up to the national team to focus on playing for his club side.{{cite web | url=https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/club-first-for-lutel-1266487 | title=Club first for Lutel | date=September 2004 }}

Personal life

After finishing his playing career, James worked as CEO of a Leeds-based youth club, Chapeltown Youth Development Centre.{{cite web | url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/crime/chapeltown-youth-development-centre-ceo-warns-gang-links-growing-across-leeds-as-it-puts-young-people-at-heart-of-solutions-3233586 | title=Youth centre CEO warns gang links 'growing across Leeds' as it puts young people at heart of solutions | date=15 May 2021 }}

As of 2022, James was a director at Yorkshire Amateur.http://www.ncefl.org.uk/teams/yorkshireamateur/news/