James Shea

	Shea with Arsenal in 2012
Personal information
Full name	James William Shea
Date of birth	16 June 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth	Islington, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Luton Town
Number	1
Youth career
2007–2010	Arsenal
Senior career*
Years	Team
2010–2013	Arsenal
2011	→ Southampton (loan)
2011	→ Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)
2013	Needham Market
2013–2014	Harrow Borough
2014–2017	AFC Wimbledon
2017–	Luton Town
	* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:51, 20 August 2024 (UTC)
	Show more

James William Shea (born 16 June 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League One club Luton Town.

Career

Arsenal

Born in Islington, Greater London,^[2] Shea joined Arsenal's youth team in August 2007. In 2009, he won both the Premier Academy League and FA Youth Cup.^[4]^[5]

Shea joined League One club Southampton on a month-long loan in February 2011 to act as cover for the injured Bartosz Białkowski. However, he was recalled after eight days by Arsenal without making an appearance.^[6]

Shea was sent out on loan to League Two club Dagenham & Redbridge for the 2011–12 season.^[7] He made his debut as a substitute for Chris Lewington in the match against Macclesfield Town at Moss Rose.^[8] Despite getting a yellow card for wasting time, he helped his team to win their first league match of the season by scoreline of 1–0.^[9]

He was recalled from his loan by Arsenal on 5 December 2011.^[10] On 18 September 2012, he was on the bench because of injuries to Wojciech Szczęsny and Łukasz Fabiański for a UEFA Champions League match against Montpellier HSC.^[11] On 30 June 2013, he was released along with nine other young players at Arsenal.^[12]

Non-League

After a short spell with Needham Market of Division One North,^[13] in October 2013 Shea signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Harrow Borough, where he played 36 matches, with 32 of these in the league.^[14]

AFC Wimbledon

Shea joined League Two club AFC Wimbledon on a free transfer on 4 July 2014.^[15]

Shea was Wimbledon's regular goalkeeper during the 2014–15 season and at the start of the 2015–16 season, but was replaced by loan signings when he was injured, and was not able to regain his place. He was on the substitutes' bench for all of the matches of the League Two play-offs of 2016 where Wimbledon reached the final and eventually won 2–0 against Plymouth Argyle at Wembley Stadium thus securing the club's promotion to League One.^[16]

Luton Town

On 3 July 2017, Shea joined Luton Town on a one-year contract.^[17] He played for the club throughout their journey up the leagues, culminating with a Premier League debut on 19 May 2024. On 24 May 2024, the club said it had exercised an option to extend his contract.^[18]

International experience

In August 2010, Shea trained with the England squad at Arsenal's London Colney training ground because of an injury to David Stockdale.^[19]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 May 2023

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Arsenal	2010–11^[20]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2011–12^[21]	Premier League	0	0	—		—		0	0	0	0
	2012–13^[22]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Southampton (loan)	2010–11^[20]	League One	0	0	—		—		—		0	0
Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)	2011–12^[21]	League Two	1	0	1	0	1	0	1^[a]	0	4	0
Needham Market	2013–14	Isthmian League Division One North	1	0	0	0	—		0	0	1	0
Harrow Borough	2013–14^[14]	Isthmian League Premier Division	32	0	—		—		4^[b]	0	36	0
AFC Wimbledon	2014–15^[23]	League Two	38	0	4	0	1	0	3^[a]	0	46	0
	2015–16^[24]	League Two	21	0	0	0	1	0	1^[a]	0	23	0
	2016–17^[25]	League One	36	0	5	0	0	0	2^[c]	0	43	0
	Total		95	0	9	0	2	0	6	0	112	0
Luton Town	2017–18^[26]	League Two	8	0	0	0	0	0	5^[c]	0	13	0
	2018–19^[27]	League One	41	0	4	0	1	0	0	0	46	0
	2019–20^[28]	Championship	13	0	0	0	3	0	—		16	0
	2020–21^[29]	Championship	7	0	0	0	3	0	—		10	0
	2021–22^[30]	Championship	19	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	21	0
	2022–23^[31]	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2023–24^[32]	Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	Total		90	0	5	0	8	0	5	0	108	0
Career total			219	0	15	0	11	0	16	0	261	0

^ ^a ^b ^c Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
^ Three appearances in Isthmian League Cup, one in Middlesex Senior Cup
^ ^a ^b Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Arsenal

AFC Wimbledon

Football League Two play-offs: 2016^[16]

Luton Town

Individual

Harrow Borough Player of the Year: 2013–14^[15]
EFL League One Golden Glove: 2018–19^[36]

References

^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Luton Town" (PDF). English Football League. p. 39. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
^ ^a ^b "James Shea". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
^ "James Shea: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
^ ^a ^b "James Shea". Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011.
^ ^a ^b Rudzki, Krystyna (26 May 2009). "Young Gunners lift Youth Cup". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012.
^ "Southampton sign Arsenal goalkeeper James Shea on loan". BBC Sport. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
^ "Daggers land Shea". Sky Sports. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
^ Richards, Joshua (7 August 2011). "Elito strike hands 10-man Daggers victory over Macclesfield". Barking & Dagenham Post. Ilford. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
^ "Debutant Elito downs Macc". Sky Sports. 7 August 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
^ Richards, Joshua (5 December 2011). "Shea returns to Arsenal". Barking & Dagenham Post. Ilford. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
^ "Podolski keeps firing for Gunners". Sky Sports. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
^ "Arsenal release 10 young players". Arsenal F.C. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
^ Coney, Steven (29 October 2013). "Needham Market star signs for Harrow Borough". The Non-League Paper. London. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
^ ^a ^b "The team: James Shea: 2013–14". Harrow Borough F.C. Retrieved 1 April 2018 – via Pitchero.
^ ^a ^b "James Shea: AFC Wimbledon sign former Arsenal goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
^ ^a ^b Pilnick, Brent (30 May 2016). "AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
^ "James Shea: Luton Town sign former AFC Wimbledon goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
^ "Luton Town Retained and Released list 2024". www.lutontown.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
^ "James Shea trains with the England squad". Arsenal F.C. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012.
^ ^a ^b "Games played by James Shea in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Games played by James Shea in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
^ "Games played by James Shea in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
^ "Games played by James Shea in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
^ "Games played by James Shea in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
^ "Games played by James Shea in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
^ "Games played by James Shea in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
^ "Games played by James Shea in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
^ "Games played by James Shea in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^ "Games played by James Shea in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
^ "Games played by James Shea in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
^ "Games played by James Shea in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
^ "Games played by James Shea in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
^ "Luton win shootout to reach Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
^ "League One: 2018/19: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
"Luton: Squad details: 2018/19". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
^ Anderson, John, ed. (2018). Football Yearbook 2018–2019. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 214–215. ISBN 978-1-4722-6106-9.
"Promotion presentation and lap of honour". Luton Town F.C. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
^ "James Shea and James Collins win Golden Glove and Golden Boot Awards!". Luton Town F.C. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2020.

External links

Profile at the Luton Town F.C. website

[FLT-23] Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy

[24] Three appearances in Isthmian League Cup, one in Middlesex Senior Cup

[EFLT-28] Appearances in EFL Trophy

[1] "Notification of shirt numbers: Luton Town" (PDF). English Football League. p. 39. Retrieved 22 September 2020.

[Hugman-2] "James Shea". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2018.

[3] "James Shea: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 7 January 2024.

[ReservesProfile-4] "James Shea". Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011.

[2009FAYC-5] Rudzki, Krystyna (26 May 2009). "Young Gunners lift Youth Cup". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012.

[6] "Southampton sign Arsenal goalkeeper James Shea on loan". BBC Sport. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.

[7] "Daggers land Shea". Sky Sports. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2018.

[8] Richards, Joshua (7 August 2011). "Elito strike hands 10-man Daggers victory over Macclesfield". Barking & Dagenham Post. Ilford. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2018.

[9] "Debutant Elito downs Macc". Sky Sports. 7 August 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2018.

[10] Richards, Joshua (5 December 2011). "Shea returns to Arsenal". Barking & Dagenham Post. Ilford. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2018.

[11] "Podolski keeps firing for Gunners". Sky Sports. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2018.

[12] "Arsenal release 10 young players". Arsenal F.C. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2018.

[13] Coney, Steven (29 October 2013). "Needham Market star signs for Harrow Borough". The Non-League Paper. London. Retrieved 28 December 2018.

[Harrow1314-14] "The team: James Shea: 2013–14". Harrow Borough F.C. Retrieved 1 April 2018 – via Pitchero.

[Wimbledon-15] "James Shea: AFC Wimbledon sign former Arsenal goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2018.

[2016POF-16] Pilnick, Brent (30 May 2016). "AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 December 2018.

[17] "James Shea: Luton Town sign former AFC Wimbledon goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2017.

[18] "Luton Town Retained and Released list 2024". www.lutontown.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2024.

[19] "James Shea trains with the England squad". Arsenal F.C. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012.

[sb1011-20] "Games played by James Shea in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

[sb1112-21] "Games played by James Shea in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

[22] "Games played by James Shea in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

[25] "Games played by James Shea in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

[26] "Games played by James Shea in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

[27] "Games played by James Shea in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

[29] "Games played by James Shea in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2018.

[30] "Games played by James Shea in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.

[31] "Games played by James Shea in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2020.

[32] "Games played by James Shea in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 August 2021.

[33] "Games played by James Shea in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.

[34] "Games played by James Shea in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.

[35] "Games played by James Shea in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.

[36] "Luton win shootout to reach Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2023.

[37] "League One: 2018/19: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
"Luton: Squad details: 2018/19". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.

[38] Anderson, John, ed. (2018). Football Yearbook 2018–2019. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 214–215. ISBN 978-1-4722-6106-9.
"Promotion presentation and lap of honour". Luton Town F.C. Retrieved 5 May 2019.

[39] "James Shea and James Collins win Golden Glove and Golden Boot Awards!". Luton Town F.C. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2020.

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James Shea

Hub talks

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James Shea

Hub rules

James Shea

Hub overview

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International experience

Career statistics

Honours

References

External links

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Personal information
Shea with Arsenal in 2012
Full name	James William Shea^[1]
Date of birth	(1991-06-16) 16 June 1991 (age 34)^[2]
Place of birth	Islington, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)^[3]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Luton Town
Number	1
Youth career
2007–2010	Arsenal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2013	Arsenal	0	(0)
2011	→ Southampton (loan)	0	(0)
2011	→ Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)	1	(0)
2013	Needham Market	1	(0)
2013–2014	Harrow Borough	32	(0)
2014–2017	AFC Wimbledon	95	(0)
2017–	Luton Town	91	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:51, 20 August 2024 (UTC)