James Morton (footballer, born 1999)

James Samuel Morton (born 22 April 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League club Southend United. He has played in the Football League for Bristol City, Forest Green Rovers, Grimsby Town and Gillingham. He has also spent time on loan with Chippenham Town and Bath City.

James Morton

Morton in 2023
Personal information
Full name	James Samuel Morton[1]
Date of birth	(1999-04-22) 22 April 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth	Bristol, England
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Southend United
Number	23
Youth career
2013–2017	Bristol City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2023	Bristol City	0	(0)
2017	→ Chippenham Town (loan)	2	(1)
2017–2018	→ Bath City (loan)	16	(0)
2018–2019	→ Bath City (loan)	34	(1)
2019–2020	→ Forest Green Rovers (loan)	12	(0)
2020	→ Grimsby Town (loan)	7	(0)
2021	→ Gillingham (loan)	1	(0)
2022–2023	→ Bath City (loan)	34	(2)
2023	Weston-super-Mare	19	(3)
2023–	Southend United	60	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:00, 20 April 2025 (UTC)

Career

Bristol City

Morton joined Bristol City aged 14 and progressed through the club's youth system.^[2] He was loaned out to Chippenham Town in October 2017^{[citation needed]} and then Bath City on loan until 13 January 2018,^[3] before extending his loan to the end of the season.^[4] In the summer of 2018, he re-joined Bath City on loan for the 2018–19 season,^[5] and won their 'Goal of the season' award for that season.^[6] After signing a four-year deal with Bristol City in summer 2019, Morton joined Forest Green Rovers on a season-long loan,^[2] making his EFL League Two debut when he played the entire match against Oldham Athletic on the opening day of the 2019–20 season.^[7]

On 30 September 2020, Morton joined Grimsby Town on a season-long loan.^[8] On 31 December 2020, following the departure of manager Ian Holloway, Morton and fellow Bristol City teammate Owura Edwards were recalled from their loan spells at Grimsby. Morton made only four starts during his time at Blundell Park.^[9]

On 1 February 2021, Morton joined League One side Gillingham on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.^[10] Morton would only feature once for the Gills, appearing as a 91st minute substitute in a 3–0 home defeat by Lincoln City on 5 February 2021.^[11]

In July 2021, Bristol City allowed Morton to join Milton Keynes Dons on trial with a view to a permanent transfer,^[12] however after playing in a 7–1 pre-season victory over Coventry City the transfer fell through following a change of management at MK.^[13]

On 23 September 2022, Morton returned to National League South club Bath City on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season.^[14]

In May 2023, Morton was released by Bristol City.^[15]

Weston-super-Mare

On 9 August 2023, Morton signed a contract for National League South club Weston-super-Mare.^[16]

Southend United

On 29 December 2023, Morton signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with National League club Southend United.^[17]

Personal life

Morton is a Christian.^[18]

Career statistics

As of match played 30 December 2023

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
Bristol City	2017–18[19]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2018–19[20]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2019–20[21]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2020–21[22]	Championship	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2021–22[23]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2022–23[24]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
Chippenham Town (loan)	2017–18[25]	National League South	2	1	0	0	—		1[a]	0	3	1
Bath City (loan)	2017–18[25]	National League South	16	0	0	0	—		0	0	16	0
Bath City (loan)	2018–19[25]	National League South	34	1	1	0	—		3[b]	0	38	1
Forest Green Rovers (loan)	2019–20[21]	League Two	12	0	0	0	2	0	3[c]	0	17	0
Grimsby Town (loan)	2020–21[22]	League Two	7	0	1	0	0	0	1[c]	0	9	0
Gillingham (loan)	2020–21[22]	League One	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Bath City (loan)	2022–23[25]	National League South	34	2	1	0	—		8[d]	0	43	2
Weston-super-Mare	2023–24[25]	National League South	19	3	3	0	—		3[e]	0	25	3
Southend United	2023–24[25]	National League	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
Career total			126	7	6	0	3	0	19	0	154	7

1. Appearance in Wiltshire FA Senior Cup
2. One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Somerset Premier Cup, one appearance in National League South play-offs
3. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
4. Three appearances in FA Trophy, five appearances in Somerset Premier Cup
5. Two appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in Somerset Premier Cup