James Archibald Platt (born 26 January 1952) is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Northern Ireland.

Jim Platt
Personal information
Full name James Archibald Platt
Date of birth (1952-01-26) 26 January 1952 (age 72)
Place of birth Ballymoney, Northern Ireland
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1983 Middlesbrough 481 (0)
1978–1979Hartlepool United (loan) 13 (0)
1978–1979Cardiff City (loan) 4 (0)
1983–1985 Ballymena United
1985–1987 Coleraine
International career
1976–1986 Northern Ireland 23 (0)
Managerial career
1984–1985 Ballymena United
1985–1991 Coleraine
1991–1992 Ballyclare
1992–1993 Assyriska
1995 Darlington (joint manager with David Hodgson)
1995–1996 Darlington
1997 Gateshead
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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During his career, Platt won 23 caps for Northern Ireland, an amount largely restricted due to the presence of Pat Jennings in the side. At club level, Platt played for the majority of his career at Middlesbrough, and also played for Hartlepool United, Cardiff City and Ballymena United. He conceded a hat trick in a junior match in Northern Ireland, when Kenny McKillop scored 3 goals from outside the box against him.

Platt was also in the Irish team that won the Home Championship the last time it was played.[citation needed]

Managerial and coaching career

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As a manager, Platt's first job was to take charge of Ballymena United for a season from 1984–85, after which he had a longer spell at Coleraine, managing them for six years from 1985 to 1991. In 1991, he had another short spell, this time at Ballyclare, for just one season from 1991–92.

For the 1992–93 season, Platt was given the job of managing Swedish outfit Assyriska, in the Swedish First Division. He had a two-season spell managing Darlington one partly with David Hodgson then the other from 1995–96, before leaving full-time management to take a job with Gateshead.

Previously Middlesbrough's Chief Coach at their Football Community Centre. He ran a private football school for local primary school around the Middlesbrough/Stockton Area.

In May 2009, Platt was appointed as Darlington's goalkeeping coach. However, three months later, Platt left the club following manager Colin Todd's sacking.[1]

Family

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Platt is the uncle of Angela Platt, a former goalkeeper with both the Ireland women's national field hockey team and the Northern Ireland women's national football team. His nephew and Angela's brother, David Platt, is also a former footballer and played as a goalkeeper for Limavady United, Finn Harps and Derry City. He later managed Coleraine and Limavady United.[2][3][4][5][6]

In 2019 he was elected to Middlesbrough Council in Kader ward, representing the Middlesbrough Independent Councillors Association.[7] He was re-elected in 2023.[8]

Honours

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Middlesbrough Second Division Championship 1973/74

References

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  1. ^ "Darlington part company with Todd". BBC Sport. 26 September 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  2. ^ "NCU chief has big plans as Ireland get set for new era". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Kuper names Irish squad". www.irishtimes.com. 1 March 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Ex-Ballymoney hockey 'keeper seeking glory". www.ballymoneytimes.co.uk. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Former Ireland women's hockey goalkeeper Angela Platt has made a sensational return to the playing arena with Ballymoney after five years in retirement". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 12 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Platt takes Coleraine helm". www.newsletter.co.uk. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Election results". www.middlesbrough.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Election results". www.middlesbrough.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
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