Jack Bonham

Jack Bonham
Jack Elliott Bonham (born 14 September 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Stoke City.
A product of the Watford academy, Bonham spent time on loan at Harrow Borough, before transferring to Brentford in June 2013. After failing to break into the team, he spent much of his later career with the club away on loan, before transferring to Gillingham in 2019. Following two seasons as the Gills' first-choice goalkeeper, he transferred to Stoke City in 2021. Although born in England, Bonham represented the Republic of Ireland at U17 level.
Club career
Watford
Bonham signed a scholarship deal with Watford in June 2010, but quickly signed his first professional contract three months later, having just turned 17. Due to first team goalkeeper Scott Loach incurring a suspension, Bonham won his maiden call up to the first team squad on 26 November 2011, when he was an unused substitute during a 0–0 Championship draw with Doncaster Rovers. Bonham was an unused substitute on 12 occasions during the 2012–13 season.
On 17 February 2012, Bonham joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Harrow Borough on a one-month emergency loan. He made the first senior appearance of his career the following day, conceding two goals in a 2–2 draw with Bury Town. On 14 March, the loan was extended by a further month. He returned to Watford in April after he broke a bone in his hand during a 4–3 defeat to Canvey Island. He made 9 appearances for the club and failed to keep a clean sheet.
Bonham made his only appearance for Watford on 4 May 2013, when he came on as a substitute for injured goalkeeper Jonathan Bond after 24 minutes of the final game of the season against Leeds United. He was only included in the squad due to an injury sustained in the warm up by first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and was at fault for both Leeds' goals in the 2–1 defeat, which cost Watford the chance of automatic promotion to the Premier League. After the match, Watford manager Gianfranco Zola refused to blame Bonham for his actions. Bonham was not called into the squad for Watford's unsuccessful playoff campaign. On 7 June 2013, Watford announced that Bonham's contract would not be renewed and he was released by the club.
Brentford
2013–2015
On 12 June 2013, Bonham signed a two-year contract with League One club Brentford on a free transfer. He made his debut for the club in a League Cup first round tie at home to Dagenham & Redbridge on 6 August, in which Brentford ran out 3–2 extra time winners. His second appearance came in the following round away to Derby County, in which he endured a torrid evening as the home side cruised to a 3–0 lead before half time, eventually winning 5–0. Bonham made his league debut on 7 September, coming off the bench against Bradford City after starting keeper David Button was sent off. Described as a 'nightmare afternoon' in press reports, he conceded four goals as Brentford lost 4–0.
Bonham spent much of the remainder of the 2013–14 season away on loan at Southern League Premier Division club Arlesey Town. Joining on 15 November 2013, he made his debut the following day in a 2–0 FA Trophy third qualifying round victory over Marlow. He endured another nightmare afternoon in the following round, conceding five goals in a 5–1 defeat to Whitehawk on 30 November. After four successive defeats and conceding 12 goals, Bonham helped Arlesey to three league wins in a row in December and at the end of the month, his loan was extended until the end of the 2013–14 season. Bonham was recalled on 8 February 2014, after making 19 appearances.
Following Brentford's promotion to the Championship, a persistent shoulder injury suffered by Richard Lee saw Bonham serve as backup to David Button through the 2014–15 season. He signed a new year contract on 2 January 2015 and celebrated his signing the following day with his only appearance of the season with a start in an FA Cup third round match versus Brighton & Hove Albion. He conceded two late goals as Brentford were knocked out after suffering a 2–0 defeat, though winning the club's social media man of the match award proved to be a consolation.
2015–2019
Bonham had a nightmare start to the 2015–16 season, conceding four goals on his sole appearance against Oxford United in the League Cup first round on 11 August 2015. He again served as David Button's backup throughout the campaign. Despite the departure of Button on 19 July 2016, Bonham entered the 2016–17 season as second-choice behind new signing Dan Bentley. He made his first appearance of the season in a 1–0 EFL Cup first round defeat to Exeter City on 9 August 2016. Having failed to make an appearance in nearly five months, Bonham revealed in late December 2016 that it was "frustrating" to be denied the chance to move away on loan. He made his second and final appearance of the season with his first Brentford start in a 1–1 draw versus Barnsley on 17 April 2017 and won the club's man of the match award for his performance.
Bonham signed a one-year contract extension in June 2017, which would keep him at Griffin Park until the end of the 2018–19 season. He spent the entire 2017–18 season away on loan at League Two club Carlisle United. Bonham's performances in January 2018 saw him nominated for the PFA League Two Fans' Player of the Month award and he finished the season with 49 appearances.
On 27 August 2018, Bonham joined League One club Bristol Rovers on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season. He had an impressive start to his time with the club and was reported on 15 October 2018 to have "the best save percentage of any first-choice goalkeeper in England so far this season, with 91.5%". Bonham finished the season with 46 appearances. Bonham departed Brentford when his contract expired at the end of the 2018–19 season, after making just seven appearances during six seasons at Griffin Park.
Gillingham
On 4 June 2019, Bonham signed a two-year contract with League One club Gillingham on a free transfer, effective 1 July 2019. He made 89 appearances during two mid-table seasons with the club and departed Priestfield after rejecting a new contract at the end of the 2020–21 season.
Stoke City
On 28 June 2021, Bonham signed a two-year contract with Championship club Stoke City. He failed to win a call into a matchday squad until 20 November 2021, when he was promoted to the substitutes' bench due to first-choice goalkeeper Josef Bursik suffering a torn thigh muscle. Bonham backed up second-choice goalkeeper Adam Davies until January 2022, when he assumed the starting role. After Davies' transfer away from the club in January 2022 and Bursik's return from injury one month later, Bonham largely held the starting spot through to the end of the 2021–22 season and finished the campaign with 17 appearances.
Bonham improved his tally to 28 appearances during the 2022–23 season and the one-year option to extend his contract was exercised at the end of the campaign.
International career
Bonham won five caps for the Republic of Ireland U17 team in 2009 and 2010. In October 2018, it was reported that the full Republic of Ireland team were considering calling up Bonham, due to his club form at Bristol Rovers.
Career statistics
References
External links
Jack Bonham at soccerscene.ie
Jack Bonham at fai.ie
Jack Bonham at stokecityfc.com
1993 births
Living people
Footballers from Hertfordshire
Sportspeople from Stevenage
Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
English men's footballers
English people of Irish descent
Men's association football goalkeepers
Watford F.C. players
Harrow Borough F.C. players
Brentford F.C. players
Arlesey Town F.C. players
English Football League players
Isthmian League players
Southern Football League players
Carlisle United F.C. players
Bristol Rovers F.C. players
Gillingham F.C. players
Stoke City F.C. players