James Alan Kenneth Caton (born 4 January 1994) is an English footballer who plays as a winger for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Ashton United.

James Caton
Caton playing for Ashton United
Personal information
Full name James Alan Kenneth Caton[1]
Date of birth (1994-01-04) 4 January 1994 (age 30)[2]
Place of birth Widnes, England
Position(s) Winger[3]
Team information
Current team
Ashton United
Youth career
2003–2012 Bolton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Blackpool 2 (0)
2013Accrington Stanley (loan) 2 (0)
2014Chester (loan) 1 (1)
2014–2016 Shrewsbury Town 2 (0)
2015Southport (loan) 4 (0)
2015Mansfield Town (loan) 0 (0)
2015–2016Wrexham (loan) 4 (0)
2016Lincoln City (loan) 12 (3)
2016–2017 Southport 23 (2)
2017 Dover Athletic 0 (0)
2017–2019 Darlington 25 (1)
2018Warrington Town (loan) 5 (1)
2018–2019Stalybridge Celtic (loan) 4 (0)
2019 Nuneaton Borough 7 (1)
2021–2022 Dover Athletic 12 (0)
2022 Hereford 8 (1)
2022–2023 Nantwich Town 11 (3)
2023 Bamber Bridge 2 (0)
2023– Ashton United 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:11, 18 March 2024 (UTC)

He has played in the Football League for Blackpool, Accrington Stanley and Shrewsbury Town.

Early life and career

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Caton was born in Widnes,[4] where he attended Wade Deacon High School. As well as football, he played rugby league at school, and was a member of his Year 10 team that reached the Champion Schools final at Twickenham in 2009.[5] Caton played football for boys' team Widnes Wolves[citation needed] before joining Bolton Wanderers as a nine-year-old schoolboy. He was a part of the England U16s setup that won the Victory shield and turned professional with Bolton in 2010,[6] but was released in the summer of 2012. After a trial with Derby County,[7][8] Caton scored against Everton in Keith Southern's testimonial match as part of a successful trial with Blackpool.[9]

Club career

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Blackpool

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Caton signed a two-year contract with Football League Championship club Blackpool, with the option of a third year, in August 2012.[10] He said his move to Blackpool was motivated by the club's playing style.[11] Named twice on the bench in his first year, against Cardiff City and Watford,[2] his senior debut came on 31 August 2013, as a late substitute for Nathan Delfouneso in a 1–0 win against Watford.[12]

He joined League Two club Accrington Stanley on a month's loan in October 2013,[13] and made his debut in a 2–1 loss against Dagenham & Redbridge, coming on as a substitute for Nicky Hunt in the 59th minute.[14] However, his loan was cut short due to injury.[15] In March 2014, he went on loan again, to Conference Premier club Chester until the end of the season.[16] He scored on his debut, having come on as a half-time substitute against Grimsby Town,[17] but made no more appearances for the club.[2]

At the end of the 2013–14 season, Caton was released.[18]

Shrewsbury Town

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Following his release by Blackpool, Caton joined Shrewsbury Town on a free transfer in June 2014.[19] He made his league debut as a 57th-minute substitute for Ashley Vincent in a 2–1 win over Tranmere Rovers on 16 August 2014.[20]

Having only been on the fringes of the first-team squad, he went on loan to Southport in January 2015.[21] After returning to his parent club, he captained a young Shrewsbury side to victory over local rivals AFC Telford United in the Shropshire Senior Cup final, also scoring the opening goal in a 3–1 win.[22]

Just prior to the start of the following season, Caton joined League Two club Mansfield Town on a one-month loan,[23] during which he made a single appearance in the League Cup.[24] In November 2015, he signed for Wrexham of the National League on loan until January.[25] On his return to Shrewsbury, he made another loan move, to another National League club, Lincoln City, for the rest of the season.[26]

Caton was released by Shrewsbury Town when his contract expired.[27]

Non-league career

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Caton joined up once again with Lincoln City in the following pre-season with a view to earning a permanent deal,[28] but was unable to agree terms.[29] He signed a six-month contract with National League club Southport in August 2016.[30][31] His 23 league appearances produced two goals[2] – a consolation in a 4–1 defeat to Barrow,[32] and the winning goal at Torquay United,[33] – and his contract was not renewed.[31]

Caton joined National League rivals Dover Athletic on 2 February 2017 for what remained of the season.[34] He played twice, in the quarter-final and semi-final of the Kent Senior Cup, and scored in each match, but made no league appearances.[3][35]

Following his release from Dover, Caton signed a two-year contract with National League North club Darlington on 17 July 2017.[36] In the 2018–19 season, he spent time on loan to Northern Premier League clubs Warrington Town and Stalybridge Celtic.[37][38][39] He left Darlington by mutual consent in January 2019,[40] and finished the season with Nuneaton Borough.[41]

Alongside his football career, Caton studied for a BA degree in football coaching and management with UCFB, which he completed in 2021.[42] He then rejoined Dover Athletic.[3] Caton was released after one season following relegation.[43]

On 3 September 2022, Caton joined National League North club Hereford;[44] he was released three months later,[45] subsequently joining Nantwich Town.[46] He joined Northern Premier League promotion hopefuls Bamber Bridge in March 2023,[47] and moved on to divisional rival Ashton United for the 2023–24 season.[48]

Career statistics

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As of match played 16 March 2024
Club Season League League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Blackpool 2012–13[12] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2013–14[49] Championship 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Accrington Stanley (loan) 2013–14[49] League Two 2 0 0 0 2 0
Chester (loan) 2013–14[2] Conference Premier 1 1 1 1
Shrewsbury Town 2014–15[20] League Two 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 4 0
2015–16[24] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 4 1
Southport (loan) 2014–15[2] Conference Premier 4 0 4 0
Mansfield Town (loan) 2015–16[24] League Two 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Wrexham (loan) 2015–16[2] National League 4 0 0 0 4 0
Lincoln City (loan) 2015–16[2] National League 12 3 0 0 12 3
Southport 2016–17[2] National League 23 2 2 0 1[a] 1 26 3
Dover Athletic 2016–17[2] National League 0 0 2[b] 2 2 2
Darlington 2017–18[2][50] National League North 25 1 1 0 1[a] 0 27 1
2018–19[2] National League North 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 25 1 1 0 1 0 27 1
Stalybridge Celtic (loan) 2018–19[39] Northern Premier League Premier Division 4 0 5[a] 0 9 0
Nuneaton Borough 2018–19[2] National League North 7 0 7 0
Dover Athletic 2021–22[2] National League 12 0 0 0 1[a] 0 13 0
Hereford 2022–23[2][51] National League North 8 1 4 1 1[a] 0 13 2
Nantwich Town 2022–23[52] Northern Premier League Premier Division 11 3 1[c] 0 12 3
Bamber Bridge 2022–23[53] Northern Premier League Premier Division 2 0 1[d] 0 3 0
Ashton United 2023–24[54] Northern Premier League Premier Division 12 0 3 1 4[e] 1 19 2
Career total 131 11 10 2 2 0 18 4 161 17
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in Kent Senior Cup[3][35]
  3. ^ Appearance in Cheshire Senior Cup
  4. ^ Appearance in Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy
  5. ^ Two appearances in FA Trophy, two appearances and one goal in Manchester Premier Cup

References

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  1. ^ "List of players under written contract registered between 01/08/2012 and 31/08/2012". The Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "J. Caton". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Harvey, Richard (25 June 2021). "Caton comes back". Dover Athletic F.C. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  4. ^ Iles, Marc (3 May 2013). "Ex-Wanderer Caton set for Blackpool call". The Bolton News. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Charlie and his team book trip down Wembley Way". Cumberland & Westmorland Herald. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Reaping the rewards of excellence". Summer Newsletter (PDF). Wade Deacon and Fairfield High Schools Federation. July 2010. p. 4 – via issuu.com.
  7. ^ "Valentin Gjokaj and James Caton will get another chance to impress". Derby Telegraph. 27 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  8. ^ Loakes, Tom (31 July 2012). "Gjokaj given more time to impress". Derby County F.C. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  9. ^ Canavan, Steve (7 August 2012). "Blackpool 2, Everton 0 – Full match report". Blackpool Gazette. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Blackpool sign Djeziri, Noguera and Caton". BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  11. ^ "Caton loves Seasiders style". Blackpool F.C. 16 August 2012. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Games played by James Caton in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  13. ^ "James Caton: Blackpool winger joins Accrington Stanley on loan". BBC Sport. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  14. ^ Flanagan, Chris (5 October 2013). "Accrington Stanley still waiting for first league win". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Accrington Stanley vs Oxford United". Accrington Stanley F.C. 19 October 2013. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Caton agrees Chester loan". Blackpool F.C. 27 March 2014. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014.
  17. ^ Green, Jim (12 April 2014). "Match report: Grimsby Town 2 Chester FC 1". CheshireLive. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Retained list". Blackpool F.C. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  19. ^ "James Caton the latest arrival". Shrewsbury Town F.C. 18 June 2014. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Games played by James Caton in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  21. ^ "James Caton: Southport sign Shrewsbury winger on loan". BBC Sport. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Dawes' delight at cup win". Shrewsbury Town F.C. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  23. ^ "James Caton: Mansfield Town sign Shrewsbury Town winger on loan". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  24. ^ a b c "Games played by James Caton in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Wrexham AFC sign James Caton with Adam Smith heading out". The Leader. Wrexham. 4 November 2015. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  26. ^ "James Caton: Shrewsbury winger joins Lincoln City on loan". BBC Sport. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  27. ^ "Town announce retain list". Shrewsbury Town F.C. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  28. ^ "Lincoln City boss Danny Cowley has confirmed he is interested in signing winger James Caton". Lincolnshire Echo. 30 June 2016. p. 86. Retrieved 27 February 2022 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  29. ^ "Cowley targeting a hat-trick of signings". Lincolnshire Echo. 28 July 2016. p. 86. Retrieved 27 February 2022 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  30. ^ "Southport: Joe Kearns and James Caton join National League club". BBC Sport. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  31. ^ a b "James Caton contract not renewed". Southport F.C. 4 January 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  32. ^ "Southport 1–4 Barrow". BBC Sport. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  33. ^ "Torquay United 1–2 Southport". BBC Sport. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  34. ^ "Whites sign Caton". Dover Athletic F.C. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  35. ^ a b "Dover Athletic v VCD Athletic". Dover Athletic F.C. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
    "Dover Athletic v Folkestone Invicta". Dover Athletic F.C. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  36. ^ "Quakers sign former Football League striker". Darlington F.C. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  37. ^ "Warrington Town sign James Caton on loan from Darlington". Warrington Guardian. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  38. ^ Gordon, James (22 September 2018). "Caton makes Stalybridge move". The Evo-stik League. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  39. ^ a b "Player Profile – James Caton". Stalybridge Celtic F.C. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  40. ^ "James Caton leaves Darlington". Darlington F.C. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  41. ^ "Nuneaton Borough strengthen with three arrivals". NonLeagueDaily.com. 25 March 2019. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  42. ^ "UCFB student James delighted to sign for Dover Athletic". UCFB. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  43. ^ "Retained list 2022/23". Dover Athletic F.C. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  44. ^ Lawrence, David (3 September 2022). "Hereford FC sign winger and he's straight into the squad". Hereford Times. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  45. ^ "News: Caton departs". Hereford F.C. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  46. ^ "James Caton signs for the Dabbers". Nantwich Town F.C. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  47. ^ "Player news: James Caton joins Brig!". Bamber Bridge F.C. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  48. ^ Robinson, David (13 August 2023). "No glorious 12th for Robins". Ashton United F.C. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  49. ^ a b "Games played by James Caton in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  50. ^ Stoddart, Craig (16 September 2017). "FA Cup: Darlington 0 South Shields 3". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
    Simpson, Ray (16 September 2017). "Styche an instant hit for Quakers, but Harrogate go through with late winner". Darlington F.C. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  51. ^ For FA Cup 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds: Lawrence, David (17 September 2022). "Hereford FC v Bromsgrove Sporting LIVE FA Cup updates". Hereford Times. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
    Lawrence, David (1 October 2022). "Three Bridges v Hereford FC – FA Cup LIVE updates". Hereford Times. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  52. ^ "Nantwich Town – Appearances – James Caton". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  53. ^ "Bamber Bridge – Appearances – James Caton – 2022–2023". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  54. ^ "Ashton United – Appearances – James Caton – 2023–2024". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
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