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Jack Bonham
Jack Bonham
from Wikipedia

Jack Elliott Bonham (born 14 September 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Stoke City.

Key Information

A product of the Watford academy, Bonham spent time on loan at non-League club Harrow Borough, before transferring to Brentford in June 2013. After failing to break into the team, he spent much of his later career with the club away on loan, before transferring to Gillingham in 2019. Following two seasons as the Gills' first-choice goalkeeper, he transferred to Stoke City in 2021. Although born in England, Bonham represented the Republic of Ireland at U17 level.

Club career

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Watford

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2010–2012

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Bonham signed a scholarship deal with Watford in June 2010, but quickly signed his first professional contract three months later, having just turned 17.[4] Due to first team goalkeeper Scott Loach incurring a suspension,[5] Bonham won his maiden call up to the first team squad on 26 November 2011, when he was an unused substitute during a 0–0 Championship draw with Doncaster Rovers.[6] Bonham was an unused substitute on 12 occasions during the 2012–13 season.[6]

On 17 February 2012, Bonham joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Harrow Borough on a one-month emergency loan.[7] He made the first senior appearance of his career the following day, conceding two goals in a 2–2 draw with Bury Town.[8] On 14 March, the loan was extended by a further month.[9] He returned to Watford in April after he broke a bone in his hand during a 4–3 defeat to Canvey Island.[9] He made 9 appearances for the club and failed to keep a clean sheet.[8]

2012–13 season

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Bonham made his only appearance for Watford on 4 May 2013,[10] when he came on as a substitute for injured goalkeeper Jonathan Bond after 24 minutes of the final game of the season against Leeds United.[11] He was only included in the squad due to an injury sustained in the warm up by first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and was at fault for both Leeds' goals in the 2–1 defeat,[12] which cost Watford the chance of automatic promotion to the Premier League.[11] After the match, Watford manager Gianfranco Zola refused to blame Bonham for his actions.[13] Bonham was not called into the matchday squads during Watford's unsuccessful playoff campaign.[6] On 7 June 2013, Watford announced that Bonham's contract would not be renewed and he was released by the club.[14][15]

Brentford

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2013–14 season and loan to Arlesey Town

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On 12 June 2013, Bonham signed a two-year contract with League One club Brentford on a free transfer.[16][17] He made his debut for the club in a League Cup first round tie at home to Dagenham & Redbridge on 6 August, in which Brentford ran out 3–2 extra time winners.[18] His second appearance came in the following round away to Derby County, in which he endured a torrid evening as the home side cruised to a 3–0 lead before half time, eventually winning 5–0.[18] Bonham made his league debut on 7 September, coming off the bench against Bradford City after starting keeper David Button was sent off.[18] Described as a 'nightmare afternoon' in press reports,[19] he conceded four goals as Brentford lost 4–0.[18]

Bonham spent much of the remainder of the 2013–14 season away on loan at Southern League Premier Division club Arlesey Town.[20] Joining on 15 November 2013,[21] he made his debut the following day in a 2–0 FA Trophy third qualifying round victory over Marlow.[22] He endured another nightmare afternoon in the following round, conceding five goals in a 5–1 defeat to Whitehawk on 30 November.[22] After four successive defeats and conceding 12 goals, Bonham helped Arlesey to three consecutive league wins in December.[22] At the end of the month, his loan was extended until the end of the 2013–14 season.[23] Bonham was recalled on 8 February 2014, after making 19 appearances.[24]

2014–15 season

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Following Brentford's promotion to the Championship,[25] a persistent shoulder injury suffered by Richard Lee saw Bonham serve as backup to David Button through the 2014–15 season.[6][26] He signed a new 3+12 year contract on 2 January 2015 and celebrated his signing the following day with his only appearance of the season with a start in an FA Cup third round match versus Brighton & Hove Albion.[27][28] He conceded two late goals as Brentford were knocked out after suffering a 2–0 defeat,[28] though winning the club's social media man of the match award proved to be a consolation.[29]

2015–2017

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Bonham had a nightmare start to the 2015–16 season, conceding four goals on his sole appearance against Oxford United in the League Cup first round on 11 August 2015.[30] He again served as David Button's backup throughout the campaign.[31] Despite the departure of Button on 19 July 2016,[32] Bonham entered the 2016–17 season as second-choice behind new signing Dan Bentley.[33] He made his first appearance of the season in a 1–0 EFL Cup first round defeat to Exeter City on 9 August 2016.[34] Having failed to make an appearance in nearly five months, Bonham revealed in late December 2016 that it was "frustrating" to be denied the chance to move away on loan.[35] He made his second and final appearance of the season with his first Brentford start in a 1–1 draw versus Barnsley on 17 April 2017 and won the club's man of the match award for his performance.[36][37]

2017–18 season and loan to Carlisle United

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Bonham signed a one-year contract extension in June 2017, which would keep him at Griffin Park until the end of the 2018–19 season.[38] He spent the entire 2017–18 season away on loan at League Two club Carlisle United.[39] Bonham's performances in January 2018 saw him nominated for the PFA League Two Fans' Player of the Month award and he finished the season with 49 appearances.[40][41]

2018–19 season and loan to Bristol Rovers

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On 27 August 2018, Bonham joined League One club Bristol Rovers on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season.[26] He had an impressive start to his time with the club and was reported on 15 October 2018 to have "the best save percentage of any first-choice goalkeeper in England so far this season, with 91.5%".[42] Bonham finished the season with 46 appearances.[43] Bonham departed Brentford when his contract expired at the end of the 2018–19 season, after making just seven appearances during six seasons at Griffin Park.[44]

Gillingham

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On 4 June 2019, Bonham signed a two-year contract with League One club Gillingham on a free transfer,[45] effective 1 July 2019.[46] He made 89 appearances during two mid-table seasons with the club and departed Priestfield after rejecting a new contract at the end of the 2020–21 season.[47][48][49]

Stoke City

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2021–22 season

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On 28 June 2021, Bonham signed a two-year contract with Championship club Stoke City.[50][51] He failed to win a call into a matchday squad until 20 November 2021,[6] when he was promoted to the substitutes' bench due to first-choice goalkeeper Josef Bursik suffering a torn thigh muscle.[52] Bonham backed up second-choice goalkeeper Adam Davies until January 2022, when he assumed the starting role.[6] After Davies' transfer away from the club in January 2022 and Bursik's return from injury one month later,[53][54] Bonham largely held the starting spot through to the end of the 2021–22 season and finished the campaign with 17 appearances.[55]

2022–2025

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Bonham improved his tally to 28 appearances during the 2022–23 season and the one-year option to extend his contract was exercised at the end of the campaign.[56][57] Bonham signed another one-year contract extension in November 2023.[58] Behind successive loan signings Mark Travers and Daniel Iversen in the pecking order,[59] Bonham made 16 appearances during a mid-table 2023–24 season.[60][61] Despite the presence of Viktor Johansson restricting Bonham to just two cup appearances during the 2024–25 season,[62] he signed a further one-year contract extension in May 2025.[63]

On his first appearance of the 2025–26 season,[64] Bonham scored the penalty that decided an EFL Cup first round shootout versus Walsall on 12 August 2025.[65]

International career

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Bonham won five caps for the Republic of Ireland U17 team in 2009 and 2010.[66][67] In October 2018, it was reported that the full Republic of Ireland team were considering calling up Bonham, due to his club form at Bristol Rovers.[42]

Career statistics

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As of match played 4 October 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Watford 2011–12[68] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012–13[10] Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Harrow Borough (loan) 2011–12[8] Isthmian League Premier Division 9 0 9 0
Brentford 2013–14[18] League One 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0
2014–15[28] Championship 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2015–16[30] Championship 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
2016–17[34] Championship 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
2017–18[41] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018–19[43] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 2 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 7 0
Arlesey Town (loan) 2013–14[22] Southern League Premier Division 15 0 4[a] 0 19 0
Carlisle United (loan) 2017–18[41] League Two 42 0 5 0 2 0 0 0 49 0
Bristol Rovers (loan) 2018–19[43] League One 40 0 0 0 0 0 6[b] 0 46 0
Gillingham 2019–20[69] League One 35 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 40 0
2020–21[70] League One 44 0 2 0 2 0 1[b] 0 49 0
Total 79 0 6 0 3 0 1 0 89 0
Stoke City 2021–22[55] Championship 15 0 2 0 0 0 17 0
2022–23[56] Championship 24 0 3 0 1 0 28 0
2023–24[60] Championship 14 0 0 0 2 0 16 0
2024–25[71] Championship 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0
2025–26[64] Championship 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
Total 53 0 6 0 6 0 65 0
Career total 240 0 18 0 15 0 11 0 284 0
  1. ^ 2 appearances in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Southern League Cup, 1 appearance in Bedfordshire Senior Cup
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Jack Elliott Bonham (born 14 September 1993) is an English-born professional footballer who plays as a for EFL Championship club Stoke City. He holds citizenship of the and represented the country at under-17 international level. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches (1.92 m) tall, Bonham is known for his commanding presence in goal and has accumulated over 200 senior appearances across various English leagues. Bonham began his career in the youth setup at , making his sole first-team appearance as a substitute in a match against Leeds United in May 2013. After being released by , he signed a two-year professional contract with in 2013, where he featured in just seven matches over six seasons but gained valuable experience on loan, including 42 appearances for Carlisle United in League Two during the 2017–18 season. In August 2018, Bonham joined Bristol Rovers on loan from until the end of the 2018–19 season, following a previous loan spell there, playing 40 league games that season. He moved to Gillingham in July 2019, becoming the club's first-choice goalkeeper and making 79 appearances across two seasons in League One. Bonham signed with Stoke City on a free transfer in July 2021 after his Gillingham contract expired, debuting in the against West Bromwich Albion and keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory. Since joining Stoke, Bonham has made 64 appearances in all competitions as of November 2025, competing for the starting position alongside other members. He extended his contract with the club in May 2025, committing his future until June 2026. In August 2025, Bonham played a key role in Stoke's Carabao Cup progression by saving a penalty and scoring the decisive one in a shootout victory over .

Early life

Upbringing in Stevenage

Jack Bonham was born on 14 September 1993 in , , . He hails from the town, a new town development in , where he spent his formative years. Bonham's family background reflects roots, supplemented by Irish heritage through his grandparents, which granted him dual nationality and eligibility to represent the at youth international levels, including under-17 and under-19 teams. This ancestry provided context for his upbringing while opening pathways to international opportunities beyond .

Entry into professional football

Bonham's entry into organized football began when he joined Watford's youth as a schoolboy, having shown early promise in his hometown of . Over the next years, Bonham progressed steadily through Watford's Harefield ranks, training alongside emerging talents and benefiting from the club's structured youth program at the facility. Key milestones included his selection for the under-17 national team in 2009, where he earned caps while still in the academy, demonstrating his growing shot-stopping ability and command of the . By age 16, his consistent performances in youth fixtures led to a scholarship deal in June 2010, marking the transition from schoolboy to full-time academy status. In September 2010, at age 17, Bonham signed his first professional contract with , a one-year agreement that recognized his potential as a senior prospect and integrated him into the club's development pathway. This milestone capped his youth progression, positioning him for potential first-team opportunities while underscoring the academy's role in nurturing local talents into professionals.

Club career

Watford (2010–2013)

Bonham joined 's academy as a youth player and signed his first professional contract with the club in September 2010, shortly after securing a deal in June of that year. During the 2010–2012 period, he primarily featured for the club's , serving as a backup while continuing to develop his skills in the youth setup. In February 2012, Bonham was sent on a two-month loan to non-League side Harrow Borough to gain first-team experience, where he made nine appearances in the Premier Division between 17 February and 4 April. The loan provided him with competitive minutes but limited advanced performance metrics are available from the stint. Bonham's only senior appearance for came during the 2012–13 season on 4 May 2013, when he substituted for the injured after 24 minutes in a 2–1 home defeat to Leeds United. Despite this brief outing, which occurred in the final match of the regular season amid a promotion push, he received no further first-team opportunities at the club. Following the expiration of his , released Bonham in June 2013, ending his three-year professional tenure with the Hornets after just one senior outing and concluding his time primarily in the reserves and on loan.

(2013–2019)

Jack Bonham joined on a free transfer from on 12 June 2013, signing a two-year as a 19-year-old product seeking first-team opportunities after limited exposure at his previous club. He quickly established himself as the third-choice goalkeeper behind Richard Lee and Simon Moore during the 2013–14 League One season. In his debut season, Bonham made three first-team appearances for , including two in the Football League Cup (a 3–2 win over on 6 August and a 5–0 loss to Derby County on 27 August) and one substitute outing in the league during a 4–0 defeat to Bradford City on 26 October, where he entered after an early red card to Lee. Despite his limited involvement, Bonham contributed to the squad's depth as secured automatic promotion to the by finishing third in League One, clinching the title on the final day with a 1–0 win over Leyton Orient. In November 2013, Bonham joined non-League side Arlesey Town on a youth loan until January 2014, where he made 15 appearances in the Southern League Premier Division. Bonham extended his contract in January 2015 with a new three-and-a-half-year deal, followed by a one-year extension in June 2017, reflecting the club's faith in his potential despite ongoing loans to build experience. He remained a peripheral figure in subsequent seasons, serving as backup to in the , and added just one more appearance—a start in a 1–1 draw with on 17 April 2017—before being released upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2018–19 season. During the 2017–18 season, Bonham was loaned to League Two club Carlisle United in June 2017, initially until January before extending to the end of the season, where he made 42 appearances and kept 14 clean sheets. In August 2018, Bonham joined League One club Bristol Rovers on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season, making 40 league appearances, keeping 15 clean sheets, and earning the club's player of the year award, though he opted not to sign permanently and returned to .

Gillingham (2019–2021)

Bonham joined League One club Gillingham on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract on 4 June 2019 that took effect from 1 July following his release from . This move came after a series of spells at lower-tier clubs, which had honed his professional experience and positioned him for a permanent first-team role. During the 2019–20 season, Bonham became Gillingham's established number one goalkeeper, starting all 35 League One matches as the team secured a mid-table finish in 17th place with 56 points, comfortably clear of the relegation zone. He contributed to 13 clean sheets in the league and featured in 4 ties and 1 appearance, totaling 40 outings across all competitions that year. His consistent performances earned him the away supporters' player of the year award at the club's end-of-season ceremony. In the 2020–21 season, Bonham continued as the primary goalkeeper, making 44 League One appearances and helping Gillingham to a 10th-place finish with 67 points. He added 2 matches to his tally, achieving 10 clean sheets in the league and further solidifying his reputation for reliability between the posts. Over his two seasons at , Bonham amassed 89 appearances in all competitions. Upon the expiry of his contract on 30 June 2021, Bonham rejected an extension offer from Gillingham and signed a two-year deal with side Stoke City on a free transfer, effective 1 July.

Stoke City (2021–present)

Bonham joined Stoke City on 28 June 2021, signing a two-year contract after his release from Gillingham, where he had established himself as a reliable in League One. Initially positioned as a backup to Adam Davies under manager Michael O'Neill, Bonham made limited first-team appearances during the 2021–22 season, focusing instead on maintaining match fitness through training and reserve matches. His opportunities increased in the 2022–23 campaign following the appointment of Alex Neil as in January 2022, where he featured in 23 league games, contributing to Stoke's mid-table finish in the . Throughout his tenure, Bonham has balanced roles between starter and deputy under successive managers, including from December 2023, amassing 64 appearances across all competitions by November 2025, during which he recorded 18 clean sheets. In November 2023, he extended his contract by one year to cover the 2024–25 season, and in May 2025, he signed another extension to remain until June 2026. The 2024–25 season proved challenging, with Bonham sidelined by a hand injury sustained in August 2024 that kept him out for approximately 38 days, followed by intense competition for the starting spot from and , resulting in no league outings but occasional cup involvement. Entering the 2025–26 season, Bonham has featured in cup competitions, highlighted by his performance in the first-round tie against on 12 August 2025; after a 0–0 draw, he saved a penalty in the shootout before scoring the decisive kick to secure a 4–3 victory and progression to the second round. He has yet to make a league appearance amid competition for the starting position, as of November 2025.

International career

Youth international career

Despite being born in Stevenage, England, Bonham was eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland at international level through his Irish grandparents. Bonham received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland under-17 squad during the 2009–10 season under coach Sean McCaffrey. He served as an unused substitute in a 2–1 friendly defeat by under-17 on 1 September 2009 at the FAI International Football Academy in Abbotstown. Three weeks later, he remained on the bench for the opening match of the qualifying campaign, a 2–1 group win against under-17 on 27 September 2009 in Druzhba Stadium, . Bonham made his youth international debut two days later, starting in goal for the 1–0 victory over under-17 on 29 September 2009 in as part of Group 6 qualifiers. He played 80 minutes in the match, helping secure a clean sheet. These appearances highlighted his early involvement in the team's qualifying efforts, and topped the group after a goalless draw with under-17 on 2 2009, advancing to the elite round but ultimately failing to qualify for . Bonham won five caps for the U17 team between 2009 and 2010. His time with the under-17 side extended into 2010 with additional call-ups for friendlies, reflecting his emerging role in Ireland's youth setup despite limited playing time overall.

Senior international eligibility

Born in , , Jack Bonham holds eligibility for the senior national team by virtue of his birthplace. He is also eligible to represent the at senior level due to Irish ancestry, a qualification reinforced by his prior youth appearances for the Irish U17 side. As of November 2025, Bonham has not received any senior call-ups or earned caps for either nation, with his professional focus remaining on club football across the English leagues. In October 2018, during his time at , the monitored him as a potential future option for the senior squad amid a search for goalkeeping depth, but no invitation followed. Subsequent years have seen no further discussions or selections, attributed in part to his career trajectory in domestic competitions rather than international exposure.

Career statistics

Club appearances

Jack Bonham's professional club career has seen him accumulate 260 appearances across all competitions as of November 2025, during which he has conceded 304 goals and recorded 79 clean sheets. In league matches alone, he has made 225 appearances, demonstrating steady progression from substitute roles to regular starting duties in the . His statistical profile underscores reliability in lower divisions, particularly in achieving clean sheets relative to games played, though goals conceded per season reflect the defensive contexts of his teams. Bonham's appearances are distributed across multiple clubs, with significant contributions during loan spells from and as a mainstay at Gillingham and Stoke City. At Gillingham from 2019 to 2021, he featured in 79 league games, conceding 91 goals in league matches while securing 28 clean sheets, including 13 in the 2019–20 season amid a mid-table finish. His time at Stoke City, beginning in 2021, accounts for 57 league outings by October 2025, where he has averaged approximately 1.4 goals conceded per game and contributed 18 clean sheets, notably 6 during the 2022–23 campaign when he started 23 matches. Loan periods at Carlisle United (2017–18) and Bristol Rovers (2018–19) yielded 82 combined league appearances, with 15 and 18 clean sheets respectively, highlighting his development as a first-choice in League Two and League One. Earlier stints at and were limited, totaling just 3 league games with no clean sheets. The table below details his club statistics by major club and period, focusing on league and total appearances, goals conceded, and clean sheets (cups included in totals where applicable; youth games excluded).
Club/PeriodLeague AppearancesTotal AppearancesGoals Conceded (All Comps.)Clean Sheets (All Comps.)
(2012–13)1120
(2013–19)27190
Carlisle United (loan, 2017–18)42495815
Bristol Rovers (loan, 2018–19)40464418
Gillingham (2019–21)798910328
Stoke City (2021–Nov 2025)61688218
Career Total22526030879
These figures illustrate Bonham's impact in defensive stability, particularly at Gillingham where his clean sheet rate exceeded 35% of appearances, aiding the team's promotion push in 2020–21 despite conceding 57 league goals that season. At Stoke, his role has been rotational, with fewer starts in 2023–24 (14 league games, 19 goals conceded) but a resurgence in 2025–26, featuring in the opening five fixtures and keeping one clean sheet against .

International appearances

Bonham represented the at under-17 level, earning 5 caps in 2009 and 2010, including squad appearances in three matches during 2009 as part of the qualifying campaign for the 2010 tournament finals and an accompanying friendly. He featured as the starting in one game, keeping a clean sheet during an 80-minute performance in a 1–0 victory over U17. Two additional caps were earned in 2010. Despite his youth international involvement, Bonham has received no senior caps for the , for which he remains eligible through his Irish grandfather, though he has not progressed to that level.
DateOpponentCompetitionResultRole/Notes
1 September 2009 U17International Friendly1–2 LOn the bench
27 September 2009 U17UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification1–0 WStarted; 80 minutes; 0 goals conceded
29 September 2009 U17UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification2–1 WOn the bench

References

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