James Baxendale (footballer, born 1992)

James Robert Baxendale (born 16 September 1992) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently first team manager of Armthorpe Welfare.

James Baxendale
Baxendale in action for Walsall in 2014
Personal information
Full name James Robert Baxendale
Date of birth (1992-09-16) 16 September 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Thorne, England[1]
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Armthorpe Welfare (manager)
Youth career
2008–2010 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Leeds United 0 (0)
2011–2012 Doncaster Rovers 2 (0)
2011Buxton (loan) 5 (0)
2012Hereford United (loan) 1 (0)
2012–2016 Walsall 103 (7)
2016Mansfield Town (loan) 6 (1)
2016–2017 Mansfield Town 21 (0)
2017 Orange County 14 (0)
2017–2018 Alfreton Town 13 (0)
2018–2019 Kidderminster Harriers 15 (0)
2019Nuneaton Borough (loan) 3 (0)
2019 Nuneaton Borough 5 (0)
2019 Mickleover Sports 4 (0)
2019 Grantham Town 11 (0)
2019–2020 Pontefract Collieries 15 (5)
2020–2021 Worksop Town 23 (3)
2021–2022 Sheffield 20 (5)
2022–2023 Pontefract Collieries 18 (0)
2023–2024 Armthorpe Welfare
Managerial career
2023–2024 Armthorpe Welfare
2024 Frickley Athletic
2024- Armthorpe Welfare
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:53, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

Early life

edit

Born in Thorne, South Yorkshire, Baxendale attended The McAuley Catholic High School in Doncaster.[citation needed]

Career

edit

Early career

edit

Doncaster Rovers

edit

Baxendale came through the youth setup at Yorkshire rivals Leeds United and was a regular for the Under-18 side, however he failed to win a professional contract at Elland Road and was released at the end of the 2010–11 season.[3] After leaving the club, he signed a one-year contract for Football League Championship side Doncaster Rovers on 1 July 2011 on a free transfer.[4] He made his professional debut on 9 August 2011, in the League Cup win over Tranmere Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium, coming on as a substitute for Ryan Mason.[5] He made his league debut four days later against West Ham United.[6]

On 24 November 2011, he moved on loan to Northern Premier League side Buxton.[7] Baxendale won Buxton's player of the month for December 2011 after a string of impressive displays. His loan spell at Buxton soon extended by 60 days, the maximum allowed under FA rules.[8] In early March, Baxendale's loan spell at Buxton had soon ended.[9]

On 22 March 2012, Hereford United then signed both Baxendale and James Chambers on loan from Doncaster Rovers.[10] On 13 April 2012, Baxendale came onto replace Chambers against Barnet at Underhill to make his debut for the 'Bulls'. The game resulted in a 1–1 draw.[11] In May 2012, Baxendale was released by the club after the expiry of his contract.[12]

Walsall

edit

On 2 August 2012, Baxendale signed a one-year contract with League One side Walsall and was given number 16.[13][14]

Baxendale made his Walsall debut, coming on as a second-half substitute for Ashley Hemmings, in a 3–0 loss against his former club, Doncaster Rovers in the opening game of the season.[15] He then scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–1 win over Portsmouth on 15 September 2012.[16] Seven days later, on 22 September 2012, he scored again, in a 3–1 win over Preston North End.[17] Due to his impressive performance at Walsall, he signed an 18-month contract with Walsall in January 2013.[18] He later added two more goals against Preston North End and Oldham Athletic.[19] Towards the end of the season, Baxendale found himself in and out of the starting eleven for the side.[20] In his first season at Walsall, he went on to make a total of 34 appearances and scoring 4 times in all competitions. Reflecting on the 2012–13 season, Baxendale says he enjoyed every minutes and described this as his first real season.[21]

In the 2013–14 season, Baxendale's impressive form was rewarded when he signed a new three-year contract at Walsall.[22] Shortly after, Baxendale scored the late winner, as he helped Walsall win the second time in the row, in a 2–1 win over Port Vale.[23] Four days later, on 10 August 2013, Baxendale scored again, in a 1–0 win over Oldham Athletic.[24] A month later, he scored again, in a 3–0 win over Crewe Alexandra on 14 September 2013.[25] He continued to impress for the side, having come off from the substitute bench in number of matches.[26] However, despite making the total of 45 appearances and scoring 3 times in the 2013–14 season, Baxendale find himself in and out of the first team, citing "indifferent form and a niggling injury."[27]

In the 2014–15 season, Baxendale initially started out on the substitute bench before regaining his first team place soon after, in which Manager Dean Smith supported Baxendale to rediscover his form.[28] He then scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–0 win over Doncaster Rovers on 27 September 2014.[29] Although he featured in the first team, his form soon became "ineffective" and resulted being placed on the substitute bench in number of games.[30] However, his performance "several misfiring displays" led him to playing in the reserve side for the rest of the season.[31] Because of this, Baxendale was dropped from the first team squad for the rest of the season.[32]

Ahead of the 2015–16 season, Baxendale was among strikers to be called out by Smith for their failure "to find the target more than five times during the 2014-15 campaign."[33] However, he struggled in the first team and appeared on the substitute bench for most of the games in the first half of the season, restricting him to six appearances.[34]

Mansfield Town

edit

On 9 January 2016, Baxendale signed for Mansfield Town on a one-month loan.[35]

Baxendale scored on his debut against Stevenage, also gaining the man of the match award.[36] After a quick impact made at the club,[37] He made his moved to Field Mill permanent on 1 February 2016.[38] Initially appearing a handful of matches at the start of his Mansfield Town career, Baxendale soon dropped to the substitute bench soon after.[39] He later managed to regain his place later in the 2015–16 season.[40] At the end of the season, Baxendale went on to make a total of 15 appearances and scoring once for the side.

In the 2016–17 season, Baxendale made his first appearance of the season on 9 August 2016, starting and played for 71 minutes before being substituted, in a 3–1 loss against Blackburn Rovers in the first round of EFL Cup.[41] However, he struggled to regain his first team place at Mansfield Town and appeared on the substitute bench.[42] As a result, Baxendale was demoted to the club's reserve side.[43] Despite this, he played a vital role against Oldham Athletic in the last-16 of the EFL League Trophy, when he set up two goals, in a 2–0 win on 10 January 2017.[44] After making a total of 19 appearances for the side, he was released by Mansfield at the end of the 2016–17 season.[45]

Orange County SC

edit

After being released by Mansfield Town, Baxendale was determined to prove himself by uploading YouTube videos of himself training to convince potential clubs of his fitness.[46] Two months later, on 26 July 2017, Baxendale joined United Soccer League side Orange County SC.[47]

Baxendale made his Orange County SC debut on 3 August 2017, where he came on as a second-half substitute, in a 1–0 loss against LA Galaxy II.[48] At Orange County SC, he played as "a box-to-box midfielder, but for the most part, stayed out of the attack almost altogether."[49] He then played as a captain for the first time on 18 September 2017, in a 2–1 win over Whitecaps FC 2.[50] At the end of the 2017 season, he made 14 appearances for the side and left the club in 2018 to return to English football.

Return to England

edit

On 19 December 2017, following his release from Orange County, Baxendale returned to England to join National League North side Alfreton Town.[51] He went onto appear just thirteen times in the league before leaving the club at the end of the season.

On 12 July 2018, Baxendale joined fellow National League North side Kidderminster Harriers on a short-term deal.[52] In January 2019, Baxendale was loaned out to Nuneaton Borough for two months, but he was recalled in the beginning of February 2019 after playing three games for the club. A few days later Nuneaton Borough announced, that he had been released by Kidderminster Harriers and signed permanently for Nuneaton Borough.[53] After his permanent move, he played five games but left the club on 14 March 2019, where he joined Mickleover Sports.[54][55]

On 4 June 2019, Grantham Town announced the signing of Baxendale.[56] After a season at Worksop Town, Baxendale signed for Northern Premier League East Division side Sheffield in December 2021.[57][58][59]

In May 2022, Baxendale returned to Pontefract Collieries for a second spell.[60] It was later confirmed that he would have a player-coach role.[61] He left the club in August 2023 to join Armthorpe Welfare as player-manager.[62]

Managerial career

edit

Baxendale was appointed manager of Armthorpe Welfare in August 2023. He was joined by assistants Matthew Flanagan and Andrew Steptoe, and Baxendale was confirmed to also be registering as a player.[63] Baxendale was successful in avoiding relegation with the club and securing a place in the NCEL Division One for the 2024-2025 season.

In May 2024, Baxendale was appointed first team manager of NCEL Premier Division team Frickley Athletic, and was once again joined by assistants Matthew Flanagan and Andrew Steptoe.[64] Following a poor start to the season, Baxendale resigned in October, with the team only two points ahead of the relegation places.[65] Two days later, he returned to Armthorpe Welfare as manager.[66]

Personal life

edit

Growing up, Baxendale supported Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday, having received a season ticket at Nottingham Forest as a young kid.[37]

Even after leaving Doncaster Rovers, Baxendale said he "still live in Doncaster in the summer. My home is there and I go back quite regularly so I will have a lot of friends and family there at the game – Doncaster fans who will want tickets in the Walsall end!".[67]

Career statistics

edit
As of match played 8 September 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Doncaster Rovers 2011–12[68] Championship 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
Hereford United (loan) 2011–12[68] League Two 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Walsall 2012–13[69] League One 32 4 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 34 4
2013–14[70] League One 40 2 2 0 2 1 1[a] 0 45 3
2014–15[71] League One 28 1 2 0 2 0 5[a] 0 37 1
2015–16[72] League One 3 0 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 6 0
Total 103 7 5 0 6 1 8 0 122 8
Mansfield Town (loan) 2015–16[72] League Two 6 1 0 0 6 1
Mansfield Town League Two 9 0 0 0 9 0
2016–17[73] League Two 12 0 1 0 1 0 5[b] 0 19 0
Total 21 0 1 0 1 0 5 0 28 0
Orange County 2017[2] USL 14 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
Alfreton Town 2017–18[2] National League North 13 0 13 0
Kidderminster Harriers 2018–19[2] National League North 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Career total 166 8 6 0 8 1 13 0 193 9
  1. ^ a b c d Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

edit

Walsall

References

edit
  1. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 464. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  2. ^ a b c d "J. Baxendale". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Academy Trio offered pro deals". 9 May 2011. Archived from the original on 12 May 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  4. ^ "DRFC Rovers sign youngster". 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
    "Doncaster Rovers clinch the signing of Chris Brown". Doncaster Free Press. 14 July 2011. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Doncaster Rovers 3–0 Tranmere Rovers". BBC News. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  6. ^ "Doncaster Rovers 0 – 1 West Ham United". BBC Sport. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  7. ^ "KEEPMOAT DEPARTURES: Buxton loan for Baxendale while Wilson stays at Walsall". Doncaster Free Press. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2013.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Buxton retain hot-shot striker on loan until end of season". Burton Advertiser. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2013.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Basement sides to clash in six-pointer". Buxton Advertiser. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2013.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Hereford United boss Richard O'Kelly signs Doncaster Rovers' James Chambers and James Baxendale on loan". The Hereford Times. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Full-time: Barnet 1 Hereford United 1". The Hereford Times. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Dozen depart from Rovers". Sky Sports. 18 May 2012.
  13. ^ "Saddlers sign James Baxendale". Express & Star. 2 August 2012.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "SQUAD NUMBERS 2013/14". Walsall F.C. 22 July 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ "Walsall 0 – 3 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Portsmouth 1 Walsall 2 – match report". Express and Star. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  17. ^ "Walsall 3–1 Preston North End". BBC Sport. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  18. ^ "Baxendale commits to Saddlers". Sky Sports. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  19. ^ "Preston North End 1 – 3 Walsall". BBC Sport. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
    "Walsall 3 Oldham 1 – match report". Express and Star. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  20. ^ "Walsall 4 Coventry 0 – match report". Express and Star. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
    "Blog: If someone had told you about Walsall". Express and Star. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  21. ^ "James Baxendale's joy at Saddlers starts". Express and Star. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  22. ^ "James Baxendale: Walsall winger signs three-year contract". BBC. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  23. ^ "Port Vale 1 – 2 Walsall". BBC Sport. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  24. ^ "Oldham 0 Walsall 1 – match report". Express and Star. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  25. ^ "Crewe Alexandra 0 – 3 Walsall". BBC Sport. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  26. ^ "Walsall winger hails attacking strength". Express and Star. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
    "Walsall's Dean Smith ready to halt Leyton Orient". Express and Star. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  27. ^ "James Baxendale targets a big role at Walsall". Express and Star. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  28. ^ "Walsall boss has faith in James Baxendale". Express and Star. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  29. ^ "James Baxendale delighted by Walsall strike". Express and Star. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  30. ^ "Walsall move to within two games of Wembley". Express and Star. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  31. ^ "Time to deliver, James Baxendale is told by Walsall boss Dean Smith". Express and Star. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  32. ^ "Walsall 0 Notts County 0 – Report and pictures". Express and Star. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
    "Fresh start for Walsall's James Baxendale". Express and Star. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  33. ^ "Dean Smith expects better from strikers". Express and Star. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  34. ^ "James Baxendale may leave Walsall for good". Express and Star. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  35. ^ "Murray captures Baxendale ahead of Stevenage match". Mansfield Town. 9 January 2016. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  36. ^ "Mansfield 2-1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 9 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  37. ^ a b "Former Buxton midfielder James Baxendale just enjoying playing football once more at Mansfield Town". Buxton Advertiser. 10 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
    "James Baxendale coming back to haunt Doncaster". Express and Star. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  38. ^ "Baxendale pens permanent deal". Mansfield Town. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  39. ^ "MATCH REPORT: Newport County 1, Mansfield Town 0". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
    "MATCH REPORT: Hartlepool United 2, Mansfield Town 1". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. 2 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  40. ^ "Two changes as Stags try to keep play-off dream alive against Barnet". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. 22 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  41. ^ "Mansfield Town 1 – 3 Blackburn Rovers". BBC Sport. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  42. ^ "Will Stags fans boycott Checkatrade Trophy opener tonight?". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. 30 August 2016. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
    "OPINION: It's time Stags had some luck as injuries mount". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  43. ^ "First team trio start in Stags' Central League opener". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. 6 September 2016. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
    "Early double salvo leaves Stags U21s with too much to do". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  44. ^ "LOMAS ON STAGS: Time for a kind draw as Stags target Wembley final and derby win". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  45. ^ "Matt Green: Mansfield striker among 11 released by Stags". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  46. ^ "Former Doncaster Rovers player sets up YouTube channel to showcase skills after end of season release". Doncaster Free Press. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  47. ^ "OCSC Adds Experienced European Midfielders". USL Soccer. 26 July 2017.
  48. ^ "ORANGE COUNTY SC MEET LA GALAXY II TONIGHT AT STUBHUB". Orange County SC. 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  49. ^ "Orange County SC 2017 Player Postmortem: James Baxendale". Angelson Parade. 19 November 2017. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  50. ^ "ORANGE COUNTY SC KEEP THEIR PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE AFTER SUNDAY'S WIN AGAINST VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 2". Orange County SC. 20 September 2017. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  51. ^ "Reds capture Baxendale subject to International clearance". Alfreton Town Official Site. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  52. ^ "Baxendale added to squad". Kidderminster Harriers Official Site. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  53. ^ James Baxendale Makes Permanent Switch to the Boro', pitchero.com, 14 February 2019
  54. ^ Sports Bring in Baxendale, mickleoversportsfc.com, 14 March 2019
  55. ^ "Mickleover Sports – Appearances – James Baxendale – 2018-2019". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  56. ^ Baxendale is in for The Gingerbreads Archived 2 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine, granthammatters.co.uk, 4 June 2019
  57. ^ "Worksop Town – Appearances – James Baxendale – 2020-2021". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  58. ^ "Worksop Town – Appearances – James Baxendale". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  59. ^ "Sheffield – Appearances – James Baxendale". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  60. ^ "James Baxendale – Bax returns for second spell at Ponte". Pontefract Collieries F.C. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  61. ^ "Rouse confirms Management Structure". Pontefract Collieries F.C. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  62. ^ "Ex-Rotherham United, Mansfield Town and Notts County midfielder joins old teammate at Doncaster non-league club". Doncaster Free Press. 23 August 2023.
  63. ^ "Baxendale is new Armthorpe boss". Northern Counties East League official site. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  64. ^ "First Team Management Appointment". Frickley Athletic official site. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  65. ^ "Club Statement - James Baxendale". Frickley Athletic official site. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  66. ^ "Baxendale is back at Armthorpe". NCEFL official site. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  67. ^ "Walsall ace gunning for his home-town club". Express and Star. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  68. ^ a b "Games played by James Baxendale in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  69. ^ "Games played by James Baxendale in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  70. ^ "Games played by James Baxendale in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  71. ^ "Games played by James Baxendale in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  72. ^ a b "Games played by James Baxendale in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  73. ^ "Games played by James Baxendale in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  74. ^ Chapman, Caroline (22 March 2015). "Bristol City 2–0 Walsall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
edit