Cameron James

Cameron Lewis James (born 11 February 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for League Two club Colchester United. He joined Colchester United's Academy at the age of nine, progressing through the age groups to make his professional debut in May 2016.

Born in Chelmsford, James began his playing career with Colchester United where he had been a member of the Academy since the age of nine. James featured for the Colchester under-18 side for the first time in October 2013 in a 3–1 win over Stevenage in the Youth Alliance Cup. This came in the same season that Colchester's under-18 side won both their Football League Youth Alliance South East league and the national cup.

In July 2015, James and fellow academy graduate Tariq Issa committed themselves to the club by signing four-year professional contracts. He was then named on the bench for a first-team game for the first time on 20 October as an unused substitute in Colchester's 2–1 win over Port Vale.

Caretaker manager Steve Ball handed James his professional debut on 8 May 2016 during Colchester's final game of the season. He was introduced as a 64th-minute replacement for Joe Edwards, who had suffered an injury in a 2–1 defeat against Rochdale at the Colchester Community Stadium.

Ahead of the 2016–17 season, James agreed a new four-year contract with the club just one year into his existing four-year deal. He made his first appearance of the new season on 4 October 2016 as a substitute in Colchester's 2–1 defeat to Southampton U23 in the EFL Trophy.

As of match played 8 October 2016.

Colchester United U18

• 2013–14 Football League Youth Alliance South East winner