James Trafford

Grassroots club: Cockermouth
County FA: Westmorland CFA

The Burnley goalkeeper was first drafted into the men's senior squad during the March 2024 international window, when he made the move across from the MU21s group ahead of the game with Belgium at Wembley.

James has been a regular for the Young Lions across a number of development teams over the years, but it was during the summer of 2023 when he really came to prominence following his performances at the UEFA U21 EURO Finals in Georgia and Romania.

The Cumbrian made history as he became the first goalkeeper in that competition to not concede a goal throughout England's six games at the tournament, as Lee Carsley's Young Lions lifted the title.

But it was in the final moments of their win over Spain in the Final that Trafford proved crucial. With England leading 1-0 through Curtis Jones' first-half goal, Spain were awarded a penalty in second-half stoppage time which had they scored would've sent the game to extra time.

But Trafford made a stunning save from the spot-kick and then again from the follow-up to help England to the title and make himself one of the heroes of 2023.

A down-to-earth and affable character, James grew up on a farm just outside the town of Cockermouth in Cumbria, where he was first spotted playing in grassroots football by Carlisle United, initially as a midfielder until he discovered goalkeeping at the age of nine. He was snapped up by his local club's centre of excellence to continue his development, but it was at the age of 12 when he moved to Manchester City.

He continued to progress at City's academy, before he was sent out on loan spells in the EFL with both Accrington Stanley in 2021 and then Bolton Wanderers in January 2022, going on to spend 18 months with the Lancashire outfit. 

The move to Burnley came in the summer of 2023, following his time at Bolton and after his MU21s' EURO heroics and he went on to feature regularly for the Clarets in the Premier League during the 2023-24 season.