James Francis Dayton (born 12 December 1988) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger.

James Dayton
Personal information
Full nameJames Francis Dayton[1]
Date of birth (1988-12-12) 12 December 1988 (age 35)[1]
Place of birthEnfield, England
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Position(s)Winger
Team information
Current team
Enfield Town
Number10
Youth career
1999–2007Crystal Palace
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2007–2009Crystal Palace0(0)
2008Yeovil Town (loan)2(0)
2008Crawley Town (loan)3(0)
2010–2013Kilmarnock65(6)
2013–2015Oldham Athletic51(4)
2015St Mirren (loan)13(1)
2015Swindon Town0(0)
2015–2017Cheltenham Town50(5)
2017–2021Leyton Orient80(5)
2021–2022Dulwich Hamlet25(0)
2022–2023Enfield Town19(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:50, 16 October 2023 (UTC)

Career

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Dayton was released by Crystal Palace on 6 May 2009, after being at the club since the age of 10.[2] During his time at Palace he went on two loan spells, both in 2008, to Yeovil Town and Crawley Town.

In November 2009, he accepted an invitation to join the Glenn Hoddle Academy.[3]

He signed for Kilmarnock on a three-year deal in August 2010 after a successful trial period. He suffered a cruciate ligament injury which ruled him out for most of the season after a promising start. He also scored a contender for goal of the season during the same match in which he received the knee injury.[4] However, he returned to first team action in the 1–1 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the SPL on 9 April 2011 and went on to appear in the remaining games of the 2010–11 season. Concluding the season with a consolation goal from a free-kick in the 5–1 defeat to Rangers on 15 May 2011.[5]

In another good start to the 2011–12 season, Dayton picked up the man of the match award in a game against Hibernian, scoring from a free-kick.[6]

In December 2011, Dayton picked up the Clydesdale Bank Sky Sports goal of the month award for his 35-yard strike against Dundee United on 17 December 2011 which was subsequently named SPL goal of the season.[7]

After rejecting a new three-year contract at Kilmarnock, rendering him a free-agent, Dayton joined Oldham Athletic on 20 May 2013 signing a two-year contract, therefore reuniting with former teammate turned Oldham Athletic manager Lee Johnson.[8]

On 29 January 2015, Dayton joined St Mirren on a loan deal until the end of season 2014–15.[9] Dayton scored after six minutes on his debut for Saints, in a 1–0 victory at Partick Thistle on 30 January 2015.[10]

After completing his loan spell at St Mirren,[11] Dayton became a free agent after Oldham Athletic announced that he had been released by the club.[12]

Dayton made his Cheltenham debut on 24 October 2015, coming off the bench against Havant and Waterlooville.

Dayton signed for Leyton Orient on 1 August 2017.[13] He signed a new contract with the club in July 2019.[14]

After being released by Orient after the 2020–21 season, Dayton signed for National League South side Dulwich Hamlet.[15] He made his debut against Chippenham Town on 14 August 2021.[16]

In July 2022 Dayton signed for Enfield Town of the Isthmian League Premier Division.[17]

Career statistics

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As of 7 March 2020[18]
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOther[note 1]Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Crystal Palace2007–080000000000
2008–090000000000
Yeovil Town (loan)2008–092000101040
Crawley Town (loan)2008–093000000030
Kilmarnock2010–11102001000112
2011–12283202000323
2012–13271311000312
Total656514000747
Oldham Athletic2013–14343401021414
2014–15171101030221
Total514502051635
St Mirren (loan)2014–15131000000131
Swindon Town2015–160000000000
Cheltenham Town2015–16222100000232
2016–17283301040363
Total505401040595
Leyton Orient2017–18282110000293
2018–19292000000292
2019–2011111003[a]0152
Total685220030737
Career totals252211638013128925
  1. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

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Club

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Cheltenham Town

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Vanarama National League Winners: 2015–16[19]

Leyton Orient

Notes

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  1. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. ^ "Palace offer Kuqi new deal". Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Glennhoddleacademy.com".
  4. ^ "Winger James Dayton wins Kilmarnock contract". BBC Sport. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  5. ^ Moffat, Colin (15 May 2011). "Kilmarnock 1-5 Rangers". BBC News.
  6. ^ "Kilmarnock 4-1 Hibernian". BBC News. 14 August 2011.
  7. ^ "BBC Sport". BBC Sport.
  8. ^ "Latics sign Dayton". Oldham Athletic AFC. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  9. ^ "James Dayton – Loan Signing". Official St Mirren website. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Partick Thistle 0–1 St Mirren". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Manager's Report- 29/05/2015". St Mirren Official website. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  12. ^ "Oldham Athletic: Latics announce release of two players". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Leyton Orient sign defender Jamie Sendles-White and midfielder James Dayton". BBC Sport. 1 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Leyton Orient: James Dayton signs new deal, James Alabi taken off transfer list". BBC Sport. 12 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Dulwich Hamlet sign James Dayton after Leyton Orient release". The 72. 15 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Match Report Chippenham Town (H)". Pitchers/Dulwich Hamlet. 14 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Isthmian League news". Isthmian League. 2 July 2011.
  18. ^ James Dayton at Soccerbase
  19. ^ "Cheltenham players mobbed by fans". BBC Sport.
  20. ^ "National League: 2018/19: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
    "Leyton Orient FC: Squad". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
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