James Vaughan (footballer born 1988)

Infobox Football biography
playername = James Vaughan


fullname = James Oliver Vaughan
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|7|14|df=y
cityofbirth = Birmingham
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=5|in=11
position = Striker
currentclub = Everton
clubnumber = 14
youthyears = 2002–2004
youthclubs = Everton
years = 2004–
clubs = Everton
caps(goals) = 290 (6)0
nationalyears = 2004–2005
2006–2007
2007–
nationalteam = England U17
England U19
England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 60 (2)
30 (3)
10 (0)
pcupdate = 19:14, 24 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 18:23, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

James Oliver Vaughan (born 14 July, 1988 in Birmingham England) is an English footballer, who currently plays for Everton F.C. He plays as a striker and represents England at Under-21 level. He is also the Premiership’s youngest goalscorer. He is also eligible to play for the Trinidad & Tobago national football team due to his father's heritage.

Club career

Vaughan was spotted by the Blues’ talent scouts while playing in the Preston area. He was a member of the 2002 Milk Cup winning squad and voted by his fellow team-mates as the Under-16s player of the season for 2003–04. He ran the 100 metres in 11.5 seconds as a 13 year old. In 1999, was recognised as the 3rd fastest 13 year old in Britain. [ [http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2067455,00.html Guardian] ]

Vaughan scored a number of goals for the reserve team during the 2004–05 season, catching the eye of the manager. He was named among the substitutes for the first time on Saturday, February 19 for the FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Manchester United and was also named in the Blues’ 16 a week later for the 3-1 win at Aston Villa. His 73rd-minute substitute appearance against Crystal Palace on April 10 2005, ensured that the 16-year-old from Birmingham broke Joe Royle’s record as the club’s youngest first-team player by 11 days, as he was just 16 years and 271 days old.

Then his 84th-minute strike not only made him Everton’s youngest-ever scorer, surpassing Wayne Rooney at 16 years 360 days, but he also overtook James Milner as the Premiership’s youngest scorer, who previously held the record at 16 years 357 days.

Vaughan signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2005, agreeing to a two year contract. Early in the 2005–06 campaign, however, he sustained a knee ligament injury whilst on international duty with England Under-18s. A series of complications sidelined him for the remainder of the campaign and he did not have the chance to establish himself as a regular in the senior squad. Vaughan made his return for Everton reserves on the August 29 2006 against Newcastle F.C.'s reserves. He played 63 minutes scoring a goal in the process.

He scored his 2nd league goal in the 93rd minute of a 2-0 win over West Ham United F.C.. Vaughan, despite suffering a severed foot artery in a match with Bolton, went on to score three more goals in the final stages of the 2006–07 season including one against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

At the end of the 2006–07 season, Vaughan extended his contract with Everton until the summer of 2011. He was awarded the Evertonfc.com 'Young Player of the season' award, at an awards ceremony held at St. George's Hall.

On July 18 2007, in a pre-season friendly, Vaughan suffered a dislocated shoulder following an innocuous challenge with Preston North End's defender Youl Mawene. He was out of action for three months before returning in late October. He made his Premier League return in a match against Birmingham City in which he came on as a substitute in the last 10 minutes. He went on to score in stoppage time and ensured Everton victory where they won 3-1.

James Vaughan scored the winner in a 3-2 Everton victory over AZ Alkmaar, who had a 32 years record of never being beaten at home in European Competitions.

International career

After returning from an injury in 2006, Vaughan was called up to the England under 19 squad.

In a U-19's game against Switzerland, Vaughan came on as a second half substitute and scored a 90th minute goal with a header that won the match for England, 3-2.

At the end of the 2006–07 season, Vaughan was named in Stuart Pearce's 23-man squad for the England U21's European Championship campaign. His first appearance for the side came as a substitute in the 2-2 draw with Italy on June 14.

Statistics

External links

*soccerbase|id=40847|name=James Vaughan
* [http://www.jamesvaughan.net/ James Vaughan's Official Website]
* [http://www.jamesvaughan.co.uk/ James Vaughan's Un-Official Fansite]
* [http://www.evertonfc.com/match/everton-squad.html?player_id=43 Everton FC profile]
* [http://www.inthenews.co.uk/sports/football/sport/features/england-cub/england-watch-%E2%80%93-james-vaughan-$452426.htm An England prospect?]