James Dunne

James William Dunne (born 18 September 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays for Chatham Town.

He is a box to box midfielder.

Dunne started his career at Wimbledon's youth academy, before moving to Arsenal in 2004.

Dunne spent six years at Wimbledon, before moving to Arsenal, along with Kieran Gibbs and Abu Ogogo, when Wimbledon disbanded in 2004 and relocated to Milton Keynes.

He played in both defensive midfield and right midfield for Arsenal's U18s on their way to the FA Youth Cup semi-final during the 2006–07 season, as well as playing regularly for the reserves.

After impressing while progressing through the youth ranks, Dunne signed a professional contract with Arsenal on 20 September 2007.

He was loaned to Nottingham Forest in 2008, where he made no first team appearances, He joined Exeter City in July 2009 after his release from Arsenal, and went on to make over 100 appearances for the club over three seasons.

In October 2008, Dunne went on trial with Nottingham Forest, playing for the reserve side in a 2–1 win over Shrewsbury Town.

Dunne was released by Arsenal at the end of 2008–09 season, having made no first-team appearances for the club.

He signed for Nottingham Forest on loan shortly after, until January 2009, with a view to a permanent move.

However, he made no first-team appearances during the three-month loan spell, and returned to Arsenal in January 2009.

On his return to Arsenal, Dunne was told his contract would not be renewed when it expired in May 2009, and the club encouraged him to look for a new club.

He trialled with Charlton Athletic in February 2009, although no transfer materialised.

Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Dunne spent pre-season with newly promoted League One side Exeter City, and signed for the club in July 2009.

He made his debut for Exeter in a 3–0 away defeat to Gillingham on 5 September 2009, playing the first 61 minutes of the match.

Dunne scored his first professional goal in only his third start, scoring in injury-time with a 30-yard "swerving drive" as Exeter secured a 3–1 win against Hartlepool United.

Dunne's second goal of the season came in March 2010; scoring a last-minute winner with a header at the back post in Exeter's 1–0 home victory over Bristol Rovers.

The goal gave Exeter their first league win in over two months.

He scored a further goal against Swindon Town a month later, and went on to make 26 appearances for Exeter in his maiden season with the club — with Exeter narrowly avoiding relegation by a point.

Dunne was ever-present for Exeter during the 2010–11 season, making 50 appearances in all competitions.

He scored one goal during the campaign, netting the only goal of the game in Exeter's 1–0 win over local rivals Plymouth Argyle in April 2011.

Dunne's next goal for the club, his first goal of the 2011–12 season, was also against Plymouth, with the player scoring from just inside the area with a neat finish in a Football League Trophy tie, which Exeter would ultimately go on to win on penalties.

He also netted in a memorable 4–4 draw away at Sheffield United in October 2011.

Dunne's angled strike came with just four minutes remaining, and salvaged a draw for Exeter after they had trailed to Matt Phillips' second goal just moments earlier.

In May 2012, Dunne joined League One club Stevenage.

His third and final goal of the season, which also turned out to be his last goal for Exeter, came in the club's 3–1 home defeat to fellow relegation rivals Wycombe Wanderers on 20 March 2012.

Dunne was, again, a permanent fixture in the side throughout the season, making 51 appearances and scoring three goals as Exeter were relegated back to League Two.

During his three years with the club, he scored seven times in 127 games.

Dunne signed for League One side Stevenage in May 2012.

Although he was out of contract at Exeter, Stevenage still had to pay a fee for the player because Dunne was under 24 years of age.

The fee for Dunne was set by a tribunal after the two clubs failed to agree a price for the player.

This fee was later revealed as an initial £75,000, with a further £50,000 payment dependent on appearances.

The move reunited Dunne with then Stevenage manager Gary Smith, who had previously coached him during his time at Wimbledon.

He made a goalscoring debut in Stevenage's 3–1 home win over AFC Wimbledon in the League Cup, taking advantage of Seb Brown's goalkeeping mistake, tapping the ball into an empty net, to double Stevenage's lead shortly before half-time.

Dunne scored his second goal for the club in November 2012, netting with a 30-yard effort in a 3–2 away defeat to Rotherham United in the FA Cup.

Three days after his strike against Rotherham, on 6 November, Dunne was on the scoresheet again, this time netting with a low drive, Stevenage's third of the match, in a 3–1 away victory against Yeovil Town.

He was loaned to Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone in 2014, where he won the Scottish Cup.

He signed for Portsmouth in 2014 and joined Dagenham and Redbridge on loan in 2015.

He signed for Cambridge United in 2016 and then Swindon in 2017.

Born in Farnborough, London, Dunne began his career in the Wimbledon academy.