James Richard Clapham (born 7 December 1975) is an English former professional footballer and current head coach of Loughborough Students. He played as a left-back from 1994 to 2011, notably in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur, Ipswich Town and Birmingham City. He has also played for Leyton Orient, Bristol Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester City, Leeds United, Notts County, Lincoln City and Kettering Town. He began his coaching career with Middlesbrough. Playing career Tottenham Hotspur Clapham was born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. His career started at Tottenham Hotspur with Clapham playing for the Spurs' first XI in the 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup. Subsequently, he made one first-team league appearance for Spurs, a 2–1 defeat to Coventry City on 11 May 1997. Clapham had loan spells at Leyton Orient (six games between 29 January and 22 February 1997) and Bristol Rovers (five games between 27 March and 26 April the same year). Ipswich Town The next season saw him loaned to Ipswich Town for two months between 9 January and 12 March 1998, the move then becoming permanent for a fee of £300,000. He made a total of 175 full and 20 substitute appearances in the league for Ipswich and scored eight goals, the most notable coming from his left-footed free kicks. In 1999, he was voted Ipswich Town's Player of the Year. He also tasted European action with the club, playing 12 games in the UEFA Cup in two successive campaigns, 2001–02 and 2002–03. Ipswich Town's relegation in 2002 led to the club going into administration and created a need to sell players. Clapham was one such player as he was sold. Birmingham City He joined Premier League club Birmingham City for £1.3 million in 2003 after four years at Portman Road. He settled into the team and was a virtual ever-present until a hamstring injury forced him out in December 2003. His recovery was hampered when he suffered shingles during February 2004, and he was unable to return until April. In the following two seasons, he remained a squad player with competition for his slot from a number of players, such as Stan Lazaridis and Julian Gray, limiting his appearances. In May 2006, he was released by the club as they slipped from the top flight. In all, he played 84 league games over three seasons and scored once, against Manchester United in December 2005. Wolverhampton Wanderers In July 2006,