James Caton – MVPS United
I always liked Caton, he was one of the first interviews I did when I started the Stacey West. He’s struggled to make an impact since leaving us, but is now a member of MVPS United. They’re owned by Alisha Lehmann and Maya Jama, a footballer and a radio personality. Caton has played seven times for his team, chipping in with two assists and completing 95.45% of his passes.
He began his youth career with Bolton Wanderers, spending nine years in their academy system before turning professional in 2010. After his release in 2012, he joined Blackpool on a two-year deal, making two Championship appearances. Loan spells with Accrington Stanley and Chester followed, the latter producing a debut goal in the Conference Premier against Grimsby Town.
Caton signed for Shrewsbury Town in 2014 but found first-team opportunities limited, making just two league appearances. During his time at the New Meadow he enjoyed a series of loan spells, most notably with Southport, Wrexham and Mansfield Town, before joining Lincoln City on loan for the remainder of the 2015–16 season.
His short stay at Sincil Bank proved productive. Joining in February 2016, he featured regularly under Chris Moyses, scoring three times in twelve National League appearances. His goals helped us climb the table in the closing months of the campaign, including a brace in a 3–0 win against Welling United. Ironically, he played in the final home game of the season, a 3-2 defeat against Woking in which Andrade scored.
Following the end of his loan, Caton returned to Shrewsbury and was released that summer. He trained again with Lincoln ahead of the 2016–17 season but was unable to agree terms on a permanent deal. He went on to join Southport, where he scored twice in 23 appearances, before brief spells at Dover Athletic and Darlington.
Over the following years, Caton became a well-travelled winger across non-league football, representing Warrington Town, Stalybridge Celtic, Nuneaton Borough, Hereford, Nantwich Town, Bamber Bridge and Ashton United. Alongside his playing career, he completed a degree in Football Coaching and Management with UCFB in 2021.