James Bransgrove

James Arthur Bransgrove (born 12 May 1995) is a retired professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Saffron Walden Town.

James Bransgrove
Personal information
Full name James Arthur Bransgrove[1]
Date of birth (1995-05-12) 12 May 1995[2]
Place of birth Harlow, England
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Saffron Walden Town
Youth career
Leyton Orient
Buckhurst Hill[3]
2011–2012 Waltham Abbey
2012–2013 Brentford
2013–2014 Colchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Waltham Abbey 6 (0)
2014–2016 Colchester United 1 (0)
2015 → Bishop's Stortford (loan) 7 (0)
2016 → Maldon & Tiptree (loan) 6 (0)
2016 → Wealdstone (loan) 5 (0)
2017 Chelmsford City 0 (0)
2017–2018 Coggeshall Town 52 (0)
2019–2020 Walthamstow 40 (0)
2020 Bowers & Pitsea 0 (0)
2020 Dunmow Town 3 (0)
2020- Saffron Walden Town 12 (0)
National team
Scotland U18
Scotland U21
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:42, 14 August 2020 (UTC)

Bransgrove was signed by Brentford from Waltham Abbey in 2012, and a year later he was signed to Colchester United's Academy. After helping Colchester's under-18s to league and cup success, he progressed into the under-21 development squad while experiencing loans away from Colchester with Bishop's Stortford, Maldon & Tiptree and Wealdstone. He made his professional debut for Colchester in May 2016. He announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 21 in December 2016 to pursue a career in business.

Club career

Born in Harlow,[4] Bransgrove was signed by Brentford from Waltham Abbey at the age of 17.[5] He joined Colchester United's Academy from Brentford in the summer of 2013 and impressed in the under-18 side at Colchester. He received a call-up to the Scotland under-18 side following an unbeaten start to the 2013–14 season.[6] The season ended in glory for the under-18 side as Bransgrove helped them to a league title and cup winning double. He made several important saves in the Youth Alliance Cup final on 29 April 2014 during Colchester's 4–2 win against Bradford City at Valley Parade.[7]

Bransgrove made the step-up to the under-21 development squad in the 2014–15 season, where early on he made a crucial penalty save during Colchester's 3–2 win against his old club Brentford at Florence Park. He also provided an assist for Drey Wright after he latched on to Bransgrove's long goal kick.[8] He was named on the first-team bench for the first time on 9 November 2014 for Colchester's FA Cup first round clash against Gosport Borough, although he was unused during the 6–3 win.[9] He joined Conference South side Bishop's Stortford on 12 March 2015 and impressed on his debut during a 0–0 draw with Sutton United.[5] After making seven league appearances for the club, he was recalled early by Colchester during the midst of a goalkeeper injury crisis.[10] As a result, Bransgrove was again named on the first-team bench for Colchester when they were beaten 6–0 by Chesterfield on 14 April.[11]

Bransgrove signed a new one-year deal with Colchester in the summer of 2015, but was then ruled out for several months following knee surgery.[12] He made a return to action in December 2015 in the Essex Senior Cup as Colchester saw off Canvey Island on penalties.[13] He was named on the bench again for Colchester's 3–2 FA Cup win against Altrincham on 6 December,[14] before he was sent out on loan to Maldon & Tiptree for one month on 22 January 2016.[15] He made six league appearances and one cup appearance for the Jammers.[16] He was then loaned out again on 4 March to Wealdstone for one month,[17][18] where he made five appearances.[19] He signed a new three-year contract with Colchester on 27 April 2016.[20]

Despite dislocating his finger in training earlier in the week, Bransgrove was handed his professional debut by Colchester caretaker manager Steve Ball on 8 May 2016. Fellow Colchester goalkeeper Dillon Barnes missed his own opportunity to make his professional debut after getting caught in traffic, meaning Bransgrove was selected for the game ahead of the absent Barnes. He conceded two goals as the U's lost their final game of the season 2–1 against Rochdale.[21]

Bransgrove made his first appearance of the 2016–17 season on 4 October in Colchester's 2–1 defeat to Southampton U23 in the EFL Trophy.[22]

In December 2016, Bransgrove announced that he was to retire from professional football in order to pursue a career in business, having undertaken a Business Management degree with the Open University.[23]

In March 2017, Bransgrove signed for Chelmsford City as backup to regular goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons.[24]

Bransgrove signed for Coggeshall Town for the 2017–18 season, making 35 league appearances as the club won the Eastern Counties League.[25][26]

In January 2019, Bransgrove left Coggeshall Town and signed for Walthamstow. He transferred to Bowers & Pitsea in February 2020.[27]

Ahead of the 2020–21 season, Bransgrove joined newly formed Essex and Suffolk Border League club Dunmow Town.[28]

International career

Bransgrove was called up to a Scotland under-18 training camp in November 2013 after helping his Colchester United under-18 side to twelve wins out of twelve during the 2013–14 season.[6] He was called up to the under-21 side for the first time in August 2016 for Scotland's games against Macedonia and Ukraine.[29]

Career statistics
As of match played 8 February 2020

    Honours
    Colchester United U18
    Coggeshall Town FC

    References
    1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/05/2015 and 31/05/2015" (PDF). The Football Association. 31 May 2015. p. 1. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    2. James Bransgrove at Soccerbase
    3. "Hall of Fame". Buckhurst Hill F.C. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
    4. "Results for Britain records". Findmypast. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    5. Gold, Alasdair (14 March 2015). "Colchester United goalkeeper shines on his Bishop's Stortford debut". Herts & Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    6. Waldron, Jonathan (5 November 2013). "U's keeper Bransgrove deserves Scotland call-up, says Hall". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    7. Marston, Carl (30 April 2014). "League-Cup double for super Colchester United Under-18s". East Anglian Daily Times. Ipswich. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    8. Waldron, Jonathan (16 September 2014). "Wright scores twice as U's under-21s see off Bees". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    9. "Gosport Borough 3–6 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    10. "Colchester United recall James Bransgrove from Blues". Herts & Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    11. "Chesterfield 6–0 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    12. Waldron, Jonathan (26 May 2015). "U's keeper Bransgrove suffers injury blow". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    13. Waldron, Jonathan (1 December 2015). "Colchester United see off nine-man Canvey Island on spot-kicks". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    14. "Colchester United 3–2 Altrincham". BBC Sport. 6 December 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    15. Hudson, Matt (22 January 2016). "James Goes To Maldon". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    16. "James Bransgrove". Maldon & Tiptree FC. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    17. "New Loan Keeper for Stones". The National League. 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    18. Raeburn, Andrew (4 March 2016). "Wealdstone sign Colchester keeper on loan". West London Sport. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    19. "Scotland – J. Bransgrove – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Soccerway. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    20. Waldron, Jonathan (27 April 2016). "Alex Wynter has put pen to paper on a fresh deal with Colchester United". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    21. Waldron, Jonathan (8 May 2016). "Steve Ball experiences eventful afternoon in caretaker charge of Colchester United against Rochdale". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    22. "Colchester United 1–2 Southampton U23". Sky Sports. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
    23. "James Bransgrove: Colchester United goalkeeper, 21, quits to pursue business career". BBC Sport. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
    24. Jeeves, Brian (17 March 2017). "New signing: Clarets sign goalkeeper, James Bransgrove". Chelmsford City FC. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
    25. "An interview with James Bransgrove". Coggeshall Town F.C. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
    26. "Thurlow Nunn League". The Football Association. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
    27. "Bowers sign Bransgrove – The BetVictor Isthmian League". www.betvictoristhmian.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
    28. "Dunmow Town FC: "We are very ambitious and want to build it right!"". Football Review. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
    29. Hudson, Matt (26 August 2016). "Bransgrove Called Up". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
    30. "Newsletter 34" (PDF). The Football League. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
    Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
    DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    Waltham Abbey 2012–13 Isthmian League First Division North 6 0 ― ― ― 6 0
    Total 6 0 ― ― ― 6 0
    Colchester United 2014–15[1] League One 0000000000
    2015–16[2] League One 1000000010
    2016–17[3] League Two 0000001[lower-alpha 1]010
    Total 1000001020
    Bishop's Stortford (loan) 2014–15[4] Conference South 70― ― ― 70
    Maldon & Tiptree (loan) 2015–16[5] Isthmian League First Division North 60― ― 1[lower-alpha 2]070
    Wealdstone (loan) 2015–16[4] National League South 50― ― ― 50
    Chelmsford City 2016–17[4] National League South 00― ― ― 00
    Coggeshall Town 2017–18[4] Eastern Counties League 410― ― ― 410
    2018–19[6] Isthmian League First Division North 1106 0― 3[lower-alpha 3] 0200
    Total 52 0 6 0 ― 3 0 80 0
    Walthamstow 2018–19[7] Essex Senior League 180― ― 2[lower-alpha 4] 0200
    2019–20[7] 2205 0― 6[lower-alpha 5] 1331
    Total 40 0 5 0 ― 8 1 53 1
    Bowers & Pitsea 2019–20[8] Isthmian League Premier Division 0 0 ― ― ― 0 0
    Career total 1170110001301411
    1. "Games played by James Bransgrove in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    2. "Games played by James Bransgrove in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    3. "Games played by James Bransgrove in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
    6. "Coggeshall Town | Appearances | James Bransgrove | 2018–2019 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
    7. "James Bransgrove – Walthamstow Football Club". Retrieved 14 February 2020.
    8. "James Bransgrove". www.bowersandpitseafootballclub.com. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
    1. Appearance in EFL Trophy
    2. Appearance in Tolleshunt D'Arcy Cup
    3. 1 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance in Essex Senior Cup
    4. 1 appearance in Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy, 1 appearance in Errington Challenge Cup
    5. 2 appearances in FA Vase, 1 appearance in Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy, 1 appearance in Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy, 1 appearance in Essex Thameside Trophy, 1 appearance and 1 goal in Errington Challenge Cup
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