It must be absolutely miserable being a 'keeper because people only ever remember the mistakes. David James was really, really good at being in goal. But it's the errors that first spring to mind when you think about his extremely long career.
And that's unfair. Because you don't make 53 appearances for your country without talent. You don't play 214 games for Liverpool without being one of the finest stoppers of your generation. And you don't make it to round four of Strictly Come Dancing without being able to shake your booty. Anyway, enough of all this.
WATFORD 1988-1992
Signing as a trainee with Watford from school, James made his first senior appearance in 1989, with a debut in the League coming a year later. In the 1990/91 season, he was named player of the year. Having helped Watford avoid relegation.
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LIVERPOOL 1992-1999
Signed for £1.25mon 6th July 1992, James made his debut for the reds on 16th august 1992, against Nottingham Forest.
Things didn’t go well for James in the ‘93/94 season. With him conceding 20 goals in just 11 matches. This resulted in him being dropped in favour of veteran Bruce Grobbelaar. The 1994/95 season saw James and Liverpool win the football league cup.
1996 Saw James reach the fa cup final, only to lose to a last-gasp strike from Cantona.
James’ career at Liverpool was a mixed bag. Numerous mistakes earned him the nickname 'Calamity James', despite playing 277 games for the club.
ASTON VILLA 1999-2001
Sold to villa for just £1.8 Million in august 1999, James’ career there was short. However, he proved decisive in a penalty shoot-out against bolton wanderers in the 2000 fa cup semi-final.
But we won’t mention what happened In the final. After 85 games he moved on.
WEST HAM 2001-2004
James made his debut for the hammers in the November of 2001. The east London side paid £3.5 Million for the player and he made 91 appearances.
MAN CITY 2004-2006
With west ham relegated, James moved to city as David Seaman’s replacement. In his time there, James said that sport psychology improved him and his talents for penalty saves. In total he made 93 appearances for city. One of which saw him play as a striker.
With five minutes remaining on the last day of the 2004/05 season, city needed to beat Middlesbrough to qualify for the UEFA cup. Manager Stuart Pearce decided to move James to attack. The tactic almost worked...Almost.
PORTSMOUTH 2006-2010
James joined Portsmouth in 2007, with his performance that season seeing him named player of the year. As well as breaking the clean-sheet record of 141 games, by David Seaman.
In 2008, James won his second major trophy, with Portsmouth beating Cardiff city at Wembley stadium in the fa cup final. James made 134 appearances in his time at Pompey.
BRISTOL CITY 2010-2012
With his contract expiring, he joined Bristol city as a free agent. It was at Bristol that James made his 900th professional appearance.
Bournemouth 2012-2013
19 appearances
ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar 2013
17 appearances
Kerala Blasters
Signed in 2014, James joined the Indian super league club as player manager, making 12 appearances.
International Career – England
For several years he had to play understudy to England’s regular keeper, David Seaman. James became the new England number one in 2002.
In the years that followed, James repeatedly fell in and out of favour. Only for Capello to select him as England’s n0.1 For the 2010 world cup.
David James (MBE)
26 colourful years between the sticks.
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