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Jack Bonham
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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
[edit]Watford
[edit]2010–2012
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]2013–14 season and loan to Arlesey Town
[edit]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
[edit]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+1⁄2 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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]2021–22 season
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- As of match played 4 October 2025
| 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 | ||
- ^ 2 appearances in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Southern League Cup, 1 appearance in Bedfordshire Senior Cup
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
References
[edit]- ^ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 80. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 444. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
- ^ "Jack Bonham". Stoke City F.C. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ "Bonham signs pro deal". watfordfc.com. 17 September 2010. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ "Youth trio loaned to Harrow Borough". Watford.vitalfootball.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Jack Bonham at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Official: Youth trio join Harrow Borough". watfordfc.com. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ a b c "All Competitions : Player's Appearances – Bonham Jack". Football.mitoo. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Watford goalkeeper Jack Bonham returns from Harrow Borough loan". Watford Observer. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ a b Osborne, Chris (4 May 2013). "Watford 1–2 Leeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
- ^ Calvin, Michael (5 May 2013). "Watford 1 Leeds United 2 match report: Jack Bonham left in private hell as he lets Watford's chances slip". The Independent. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- ^ "Football – Zola 'won't blame Bonham for loss'". Yahoo! Eurosport. 4 May 2013. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
- ^ "Official: Released Players Confirmed". Watford Website. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016.
- ^ "Watford release seven to leave squad of 15". BBC Sport. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "Brentford sign Jack Bonham". 12 June 2013.
- ^ "Brentford: Watford goalkeeper Jack Bonham signs on a free". BBC Sport. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ "League round-up: Jack Bonham's Bradford battering". The Independent. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ Wickham, Chris. "Jack Bonham makes loan move". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "Jack Bonham Signs on Loan From Brentford". Arlesey Town FC. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Jack Bonham Profile". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "Jack Bonham To Stay at Arlesey Town". Brentfordfc.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- ^ "Jack Bonham Returns From Arlesey Town". Brentfordfc.com. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- ^ Brentford F.C. at the Football Club History Database
- ^ a b "Rovers Wrap Up Goalkeeper Bonham Loan Deal". Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ Wickham, Chris. "Brentford goalkeeper Jack Bonham signs new three-and-a-half year contract". brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
- ^ @BrentfordFC (10 January 2015). "After signing his new deal @JackBonham1 leads Social Media M.O.M vote from Brighton defeat" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
- ^ Moore, Tom (18 May 2016). "Jack Bonham not making life easy for Brentford's David Button". MyLondon. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "David Button leaves Brentford for Fulham". Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ "Brentford sign Daniel Bentley on four-year deal". Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
- ^ Street, Tim (28 December 2016). "Brentford keeper believes his career is in limbo". getwestlondon. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
- ^ Chapman, Mark. "Jack Bonham repays Dean Smith's faith with excellent performance". Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ Brett, Ciaran. "Match Recap: Barnsley vs Brentford". Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "Jack Bonham signs new contract". Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ "Jack Bonham extends stay at Carlisle United". Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ "Carlisle United vote: Jack Bonham up for PFA Bristol Street Motors EFL League Two Player of the Month Award". Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ a b Thomas, Lyall. "Republic of Ireland considering Brentford's Jack Bonham for future call-up". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ "First Team squad update". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Gills sign keeper Jack Bonham". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ "Jack Bonham – Goalkeeper – First Team". Gillingham F.C. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ Jack Bonham at Soccerbase
- ^ Gillingham F.C. at the Football Club History Database
- ^ "Retained list confirmed". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ "Jack Bonham: Stoke City sign Gillingham keeper on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "Bonham to check in". Stoke City FC. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Injury setback for Bursik". Stoke City FC. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Four changes for Swans clash". Stoke City FC. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Michael O'Neill explains thinking on goalkeeper decision at Stoke City". Stoke Sentinel. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ "Seven to depart as Potters pave the way for summer reset". Stoke City FC. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ "Jack Bonham: Stoke City goalkeeper signs new one-year deal". BBC Sport. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ Smith, Pete (9 May 2024). "Pete Smith's Stoke City end of season player ratings for 35-man squad". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ Stoke City F.C. at the Football Club History Database
- ^ "Stoke FC Player Appearances | 2024/25". Soccer Base. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Potters provide end of season contracts update". www.stokecityfc.com. 5 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ "Carabao Cup: Stoke City v Walsall: Stats & head-to-head". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ "Jack Bonham". soccerscene.ie. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ "Hornets go global". watfordfc.com. 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Jack Bonham in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
External links
[edit]- Jack Bonham at Soccerbase
- Jack Bonham at soccerscene.ie
- Jack Bonham at fai.ie
- Jack Bonham at stokecityfc.com
Jack Bonham
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Upbringing in Stevenage
Jack Bonham was born on 14 September 1993 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. He hails from the town, a post-war new town development in southern England, where he spent his formative years.[2] Bonham's family background reflects English roots, supplemented by Irish heritage through his grandparents, which granted him dual nationality and eligibility to represent the Republic of Ireland at youth international levels, including under-17 and under-19 teams.[9] This ancestry provided context for his English upbringing while opening pathways to international opportunities beyond England.[2]Entry into professional football
Bonham's entry into organized football began when he joined Watford's youth academy as a schoolboy, having shown early promise in his hometown of Stevenage.[10] Over the next years, Bonham progressed steadily through Watford's Harefield Academy ranks, training alongside emerging talents and benefiting from the club's structured youth program at the facility.[11] Key milestones included his selection for the Republic of Ireland 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 penalty area.[12] 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.[11] In September 2010, at age 17, Bonham signed his first professional contract with Watford, a one-year agreement that recognized his potential as a senior prospect and integrated him into the club's development pathway.[11] 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.[13]Club career
Watford (2010–2013)
Bonham joined Watford's academy as a youth player and signed his first professional contract with the club in September 2010, shortly after securing a scholarship deal in June of that year.[14][10] During the 2010–2012 period, he primarily featured for the club's reserve team, serving as a backup goalkeeper while continuing to develop his skills in the youth setup.[2] 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 Isthmian League Premier Division between 17 February and 4 April.[15][16] The loan provided him with competitive minutes but limited advanced performance metrics are available from the stint. Bonham's only senior appearance for Watford came during the 2012–13 Championship season on 4 May 2013, when he substituted for the injured Jonathan Bond after 24 minutes in a 2–1 home defeat to Leeds United.[17][18] 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.[13] Following the expiration of his contract, Watford 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.[18]Brentford (2013–2019)
Jack Bonham joined Brentford on a free transfer from Watford on 12 June 2013, signing a two-year contract as a 19-year-old academy 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.[19] In his debut season, Bonham made three first-team appearances for Brentford, including two in the Football League Cup (a 3–2 win over Dagenham & Redbridge 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.[19] Despite his limited involvement, Bonham contributed to the squad's depth as Brentford secured automatic promotion to the Championship by finishing third in League One, clinching the title on the final day with a 1–0 win over Leyton Orient.[20] 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.[21] 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.[22][23] He remained a peripheral figure in subsequent seasons, serving as backup to David Button in the Championship, and added just one more appearance—a start in a 1–1 draw with Barnsley on 17 April 2017—before being released upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2018–19 season.[24][25] 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.[26][1] 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 Brentford.[27][1]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 Brentford.[28][25] This move came after a series of loan 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 FA Cup ties and 1 EFL Cup appearance, totaling 40 outings across all competitions that year.[1][29] His consistent performances earned him the away supporters' player of the year award at the club's end-of-season ceremony.[30] 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.[31] He added 2 FA Cup matches to his tally, achieving 10 clean sheets in the league and further solidifying his reputation for reliability between the posts.[1][29] Over his two seasons at Priestfield Stadium, Bonham amassed 89 appearances in all competitions.[32] Upon the expiry of his contract on 30 June 2021, Bonham rejected an extension offer from Gillingham and signed a two-year deal with Championship side Stoke City on a free transfer, effective 1 July.[33][4]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 goalkeeper in League One.[33] 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 head coach in January 2022, where he featured in 23 league games, contributing to Stoke's mid-table finish in the EFL Championship. Throughout his tenure, Bonham has balanced roles between starter and deputy under successive managers, including Steven Schumacher from December 2023, amassing 64 appearances across all competitions by November 2025, during which he recorded 18 clean sheets.[5][16] 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.[34][35] 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 Viktor Johansson and Frank Fielding, resulting in no league outings but occasional cup involvement.[36] Entering the 2025–26 season, Bonham has featured in cup competitions, highlighted by his performance in the EFL Cup first-round tie against Walsall 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.[37] 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.[9] 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 Russia under-17 on 1 September 2009 at the FAI International Football Academy in Abbotstown.[38] Three weeks later, he remained on the bench for the opening match of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying campaign, a 2–1 group win against Bulgaria under-17 on 27 September 2009 in Druzhba Stadium, Dobrich.[38] Bonham made his youth international debut two days later, starting in goal for the 1–0 victory over Latvia under-17 on 29 September 2009 in Riga as part of Group 6 qualifiers.[38] 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 Ireland topped the group after a goalless draw with Sweden under-17 on 2 October 2009, advancing to the elite round but ultimately failing to qualify for the finals.[39] Bonham won five caps for the Republic of Ireland 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.[35]Senior international eligibility
Born in Stevenage, England, Jack Bonham holds eligibility for the senior England national team by virtue of his birthplace.[35] He is also eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland at senior level due to Irish ancestry, a qualification reinforced by his prior youth appearances for the Irish U17 side.[12][38] 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.[38] In October 2018, during his time at Brentford, the Republic of Ireland monitored him as a potential future option for the senior squad amid a search for goalkeeping depth, but no invitation followed.[12] Subsequent years have seen no further discussions or selections, attributed in part to his career trajectory in domestic competitions rather than international exposure.[38]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 English Football League. 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.[40][36] Bonham's appearances are distributed across multiple clubs, with significant contributions during loan spells from Brentford 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 goalkeeper in League Two and League One. Earlier stints at Watford and Brentford were limited, totaling just 3 league games with no clean sheets.[1][41] 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/Period | League Appearances | Total Appearances | Goals Conceded (All Comps.) | Clean Sheets (All Comps.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watford (2012–13) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Brentford (2013–19) | 2 | 7 | 19 | 0 |
| Carlisle United (loan, 2017–18) | 42 | 49 | 58 | 15 |
| Bristol Rovers (loan, 2018–19) | 40 | 46 | 44 | 18 |
| Gillingham (2019–21) | 79 | 89 | 103 | 28 |
| Stoke City (2021–Nov 2025) | 61 | 68 | 82 | 18 |
| Career Total | 225 | 260 | 308 | 79 |
International appearances
Bonham represented the Republic of Ireland at under-17 level, earning 5 caps in 2009 and 2010, including squad appearances in three matches during 2009 as part of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying campaign for the 2010 tournament finals and an accompanying friendly. He featured as the starting goalkeeper in one game, keeping a clean sheet during an 80-minute performance in a 1–0 victory over Latvia U17. Two additional caps were earned in 2010.[38] Despite his youth international involvement, Bonham has received no senior caps for the Republic of Ireland, for which he remains eligible through his Irish grandfather, though he has not progressed to that level.[12]| Date | Opponent | Competition | Result | Role/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2009 | Sweden U17 | International Friendly | 1–2 L | On the bench |
| 27 September 2009 | Latvia U17 | UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification | 1–0 W | Started; 80 minutes; 0 goals conceded |
| 29 September 2009 | Bulgaria U17 | UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification | 2–1 W | On the bench |
