James Belshaw Explained

James Belshaw
Fullname:James Michael Belshaw[1]
Birth Date:12 October 1990
Birth Place:Nottingham, England
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Harrogate Town
Clubnumber:31
Youthyears1:1996–2005
Youthclubs1:Notts County
Youthyears2:2006–2009
Youthclubs2:Heanor Town
Youthyears3:2009
Youthclubs3:Walsall
Collegeyears1:2009–2012
College1:Duke Blue Devils
Collegecaps1:78
Collegegoals1:0
Years1:2013–2014
Clubs1:Nuneaton Borough
Caps1:31
Goals1:0
Years2:2014–2017
Clubs2:Tamworth
Caps2:113
Goals2:0
Years3:2017–2021
Clubs3:Harrogate Town
Caps3:161
Goals3:0
Years4:2021–2024
Clubs4:Bristol Rovers
Caps4:89
Goals4:0
Years5:2023
Clubs5:Forest Green Rovers (loan)
Caps5:10
Goals5:0
Years6:2023–2024
Clubs6:Harrogate Town (loan)
Caps6:6
Goals6:0
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Harrogate Town
Caps7:2
Goals7:0
Club-Update:22:59, 17 August 2024 (UTC)

James Michael Belshaw (born 12 October 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Harrogate Town.

Career

Youth and college

Belshaw attended The Becket School in West Bridgford, where he captained the team to the Notts Schools Cup title in 2009.[2] He also had spells with Notts County,[3] [4] Heanor Town[5] and Walsall.[6]

In 2009, Belshaw rejected a one-year professional contract with Walsall,[7] and instead moved to the United States to play college soccer at Duke University. He made 78 appearances for the Blue Devils between 2009 and 2012. During his time at Duke, Belshaw won accolades such as 2012 NSCAA All-America third team, was a two-time All-ACC first team selection, a three-time All-ACC choice, earning second team honors in 2010 and earned NSCAA All-South Region honors all four seasons.[8]

Return to England

On 22 January 2013, Belshaw was selected 49th overall in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft by Chicago Fire.[9] Belshaw was offered a contract by Chicago, but as a backup goalkeeper, so instead opted to search for first-team football back in his native England.[10]

In April 2013, Belshaw had trials with his former team Walsall,[11] as well as Everton, Notts County and Coventry City.[12]

On 31 July 2013, Belshaw signed with National League club Nuneaton Borough.[13] Following one season with Nuneaton, Belshaw moved to National League North side Tamworth where he played for three seasons.[14]

Harrogate Town

In 2017, Belshaw moved to Harrogate Town on a two-year contract,[15] where he remained first choice goalkeeper for the club. He was part of the Harrogate team that won promotion to the National League for the first time in the club's history after defeating Brackley Town in the 2018 National League North play-off final.[16] After signing a deal to keep him at the club until 2023 in January 2020,[17] Belshaw helped guide them to the Football League for the first time via the play-offs in 2020.[18]

Bristol Rovers

On 23 July 2021, Belshaw joined recently relegated fellow League Two side Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal.[19] [20] Belshaw's debut came for the club came on 10 August, in a 2–0 EFL Cup defeat to Cheltenham Town.[21] Having been a key part of Rovers' rise up the table from eighteenth on New Years Day to a promotion battle, keeping ten clean sheets in his previous fifteen appearances and becoming a firm fan favourite, Belshaw signed a new deal with the club in March 2022, keeping him at the club until June 2024.[22] In May 2022, Belshaw was awarded the PFA Community Champion award by the Bristol Rovers Community Trust for his work with the Community Trust across the course of the season including becoming the health ambassador and supporting mental health schemes.[23] With the club having achieved promotion on the final day of the season in dramatic fashion, a 7–0 victory taking the club into the final automatic promotion spot at Northampton Town's expense on goals scored,[24] Belshaw was awarded the Bristol Rovers Player of the Year Award at the end of season awards evening having kept seventeen clean sheets across the season.[25]

Following a 4–3 home defeat to Exeter City in December 2022, manager Joey Barton attributed the blame for all four goals at the door of Belshaw.[26] During the January transfer window, Rovers signed Ellery Balcombe on loan from Brentford, a clause in the loan deal stating that he had to start the first three matches of his spell in order to avoid a fee.[27] Following this three game spell, Balcombe was again selected for a home match against Ipswich Town, in which he kept a first clean sheet for the club, with Belshaw omitted from the first-team squad. Barton revealed prior to the match that with the team having been released, Belshaw's attitude in training had dropped significantly with a warning that he may never play for the club again unless things were to change.[28] His response to the situation however was sufficient for the manager and he returned to consideration.[29] He returned to the starting line-up the following week, keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 victory away at Oxford United.[30]

The signings of goalkeepers Matthew Cox and Matthew Hall in July 2023 cast doubt upon the long-term future of Belshaw at the football club, the previous season's dispute with Barton being brought once again to the limelight.[31] Having failed to make the previous two matchday squads, it was revealed that both he and his agent had asked for transfers away from the club and he would therefore no longer be considered for selection and available for transfer.[32] With a move having failed to materialise before the transfer deadline, he made his first-team return in a 4–1 EFL Trophy victory over Cheltenham Town.[33]

On 30 September 2023, he joined League Two club Forest Green Rovers on a seven-day emergency loan.[34] He was awarded the Player of the Month award for October 2023.[35] He announced on 14 December 2023 that he was leaving the club upon the expiration of what was referred to by the club as "the longest emergency loan ever".[36] On 15 December 2023, he returned to former club Harrogate Town on a seven-day emergency loan deal.[37]

Return to Harrogate Town

On 11 January 2024, Belshaw's permanent return to Harrogate Town was confirmed, joining for an undisclosed fee.[38] He was nominated for the EFL League Two Player of the Month award for March 2024 having kept three clean sheets in six matches.[39]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Harrogate Town2017–18National League North4104060510
2018–19National League4502040510
2019–20National League3702020410
2020–21League Two380100010400
Total161090001301830
Bristol Rovers2021–22League Two420401000470
2022–23League One380201010420
2023–24League One0000002020
Total800602030910
Forest Green Rovers (loan)2023–24League Two100200000120
Career total2510170201602860

Personal life

Belshaw has supported Notts County since childhood.

Belshaw is "good friends" with professional basketball player Mason Plumlee, who currently plays for NBA side Los Angeles Clippers.

Honours

Harrogate Town

2020[40]

2019–20[42]

Bristol Rovers

Individual

2021–22[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Harrogate Town . English Football League . 33 . 26 September 2020.
  2. Web site: James Belshaw . 26 September 2020 . mlssoccer.com.
  3. News: Curtis . Leigh . 30 July 2020 . 'All of my life' - Meet the Notts County fan trying to stop their EFL return . Nottingham Post . 26 September 2020.
  4. Web site: The making of James Belshaw . 26 September 2020 . harrogatetownafc.com . Harrogate Town A.F.C..
  5. Web site: 5 August 2013 . Another former Lion turns pro . 26 September 2020 . www.heanortownfc.co.uk . Heanor Town F.C..
  6. News: Panter . Matt . 17 May 2017 . Tamworth FC's Belshaw: 'Lining up against Lambs will be very weird' . Birmingham Mail . 26 September 2020.
  7. Web site: 14 October 2016 . New Venture For Belshaw . 26 September 2020 . www.thelambs.co.uk . Tamworth F.C. . 19 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200919030956/http://www.thelambs.co.uk/news/new-venture-for-belshaw-2746.htm . dead .
  8. Web site: James Belshaw - 2012 - Men's Soccer . 26 September 2020 . goduke.com . Duke University.
  9. Web site: 22 January 2013 . Fire Select Three Players in 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft . 26 September 2020 . chicagofirefc.com . Chicago Fire FC.
  10. News: Badcock . Matt . 26 March 2015 . James Belshaw's in a bracket with President Obama! . The Non-League Paper . 26 September 2020.
  11. Web site: Poole . Andrew . 9 April 2013 . Walsall v Hartlepool Res - Live blog . 26 September 2020 . www.saddlers.co.uk . Walsall F.C..
  12. Web site: Clark . Travis . 8 January 2013 . Dream of pro career takes seniors abroad . 26 September 2020 . TopDrawerSoccer.com.
  13. Web site: 31 July 2013 . Nuneaton sign goalkeeper Belshaw . 26 September 2020 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  14. News: Panter . Matt . 16 March 2018 . Tamworth FC return for fan favourite Belshaw . Birmingham Mail . 26 September 2020.
  15. Web site: 16 May 2017 . Belshaw Swaps Lambs For Town . 26 September 2020 . Pitchero Non-League . en-GB.
  16. News: 13 May 2018 . Harrogate Town 3 Brackley 0: Knowles double helps Town seal historic promotion . en . Yorkshire Post . 26 September 2020.
  17. News: Howell . Rhys . 24 January 2020 . It was an easy decision - James Belshaw pens new deal at Harrogate Town despite interest from Football League clubs . Harrogate Advertiser . 26 September 2020.
  18. Web site: Freeman . Jay . 2 August 2020 . Harrogate win promotion to League Two . 26 September 2020 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  19. Web site: BELSHAW COMPLETES PERMANENT TRANSFER TO BRISTOL ROVERS. www.harrogatetownafc.com. 23 July 2021.
  20. Web site: James Belshaw signs for the Gas!. www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 23 July 2021. 23 July 2021.
  21. Web site: Bristol Rovers 0–2 Cheltenham Town. BBC Sport. 10 August 2021. 11 August 2021.
  22. Web site: Belshaw Signs New Deal!. www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 24 March 2022. 25 March 2022.
  23. Web site: James Belshaw & Layah Douglas awarded PFA Community Champions for 2021/22. www.bristolroverscommunity.org.uk. 5 May 2022. 6 May 2022.
  24. Web site: Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7–0 win. BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. 9 May 2022.
  25. 1523563419420348416. Official_BRFC. Bristol Rovers F.C.. ⏱ 3️⃣7️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ minutes 1️⃣7️⃣ clean sheets 3️⃣8️⃣8️⃣7️⃣0️⃣1️⃣ thumbs up Your 2021/22 Bristol Rovers Player of the Year is @jbelly31! #BristolRovers. 8 May 2022. 9 May 2022.
  26. Web site: Joey Barton says the buck stops with James Belshaw as Bristol Rovers concede four against Exeter. Bristol Post. Frost. Sam. 29 December 2022. 15 February 2023.
  27. Web site: Joey Barton reveals Brentford's selection clause in Ellery Balcombe's Bristol Rovers deal. Bristol Post. Frost. Sam. 3 February 2023. 15 February 2023.
  28. Web site: Joey Barton warns James Belshaw that he may never play for Bristol Rovers again. Bristol Post. Piercy. James. 14 February 2023. 15 February 2023.
  29. Web site: Joey Barton draws a line under Belshaw situation with goalkeeper up for Bristol Rovers selection. Bristol Post. Frost. Sam. 16 February 2023. 18 February 2023.
  30. Web site: Joey Barton explains decision as James Belshaw returns to Bristol Rovers' starting XI vs Oxford. Brisol Post. Frost. Sam. 25 February 2023. 25 February 2023.
  31. Web site: James Belshaw's Bristol Rovers future hangs in the balance but it's been that way for some time. Bristol Post. Piercy. James. 27 July 2023. 27 July 2023.
  32. Web site: Joey Barton explains James Belshaw absence amid Bristol Rovers transfer exit talk. Bristol World. Jones. Jordan. 16 August 2023. 16 August 2023.
  33. Web site: Match Report Rovers 4–1 Cheltenham. www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 5 September 2023. 9 September 2023.
  34. Web site: James Belshaw Loan Deal. www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 30 September 2023. 2 October 2023.
  35. Web site: Belshaw wins Quorn Star of the Month. www.fgr.co.uk. 1 November 2023. 7 November 2023.
  36. 1735368089489862977. Massive thank you to everyone at @FGRFC_Official for the past few weeks! Great people and a fantastic club. I wish you all the best for the future! . jbelly31. James Belshaw. 14 December 2023. 14 December 2023.
  37. Web site: Belshaw joins on emergency loan!. www.harrogatetownafc.com. 15 December 2023. 16 December 2023.
  38. Web site: Belshaw completes permanent return!. www.harrogatetownafc.com. 11 January 2024. 11 January 2024.
  39. Web site: Sky Bet League Two: Manager & Player of the Month nominees. www.efl.com. 9 April 2024. 13 April 2024.
  40. Web site: National League promotion final: Harrogate Town 3–1 Notts County. BBC Sport. 2 August 2020. 23 July 2021.
  41. Web site: Harrogate and Braintree reach National League after winning play-off finals. BBC Sport. 13 May 2018. 23 July 2021.
  42. Web site: James. Law. FA Trophy final 2019-20: Concord Rangers 0-1 Harrogate Town. BBC Sport. 3 May 2021. 2 April 2022.