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JAMES BITTNER
Born: 02 February 1982
Came from: Salisbury City Went to: Newport County
First game: 24 January 2015 Last game: 14 November 2015
Appearances: 2 (1/1) Goals: 0
Born in Devizes in Wiltshire, goalkeeper Bittner became John Sheridan's seventh summer signing of 2014 to provide experienced back-up for Luke McCormick after Jake Cole's release at the end of the previous season. With McCormick electing to retain the number 23 jersey he had worn throughout his Home Park career, Bittner was assigned the vacant number one shirt, even though he was recruited with cover in mind.
Starting his career as a junior with Salisbury City in 2001, Bittner then had a brief spell as a non-contract player with AFC Bournemouth, but did not make a first team appearance. He made his professional debut in 2003 with Exeter City and went on to play 45 times in two seasons for the Grecians. Whilst at St James Park he was also called up for the England National Game XI squad. He then had a brief non-contract spell with Torquay United in 2005-06, without making a first team appearance, before moving to Woking for the 2006-07 season, where he played 12 times. In the summer of 2007 he returned to his first club, Salisbury City, and played 85 times over the following three seasons, and then in June 2010 he moved to Forest Green Rovers, where he stayed for two seasons, playing 65 times.
In July 2012 Bittner moved to Hereford United, playing 34 times, before a brief spell with Newport County for whom he signed in July 2013 on a one-month contract after injury problems for the two goalkeepers at the newly reinstated Football League club. He then returned to Salisbury City for a third spell in September 2013 in a player-coach role and also added a further six appearances. Bittner left Salisbury at the end of the 2013-2014 season after the club was demoted from the Conference National division following its failures to pay creditors.
Having moved to Argyle on a one-year contract it was announced that Bittner would also be involved with the Argyle Community Trust, working on a number of initiatives including the post-16 Argyle Scholarship programme, coaching the Marjon Men's team and running goalkeeping clinics.
After an injury to Luke McCormick in a home match against Morecambe in January 2015 - and having only previously played in the Conference National - Bittner came on as a half-time substitute to make a belated Football League debut, just nine days short of his 33rd birthday.
Out of contract at the end of the 2014-15 season, Bittner was offered new terms when the club's Released List was issued by John Sheridan. After a period of consideration and with new manager Derek Adams at Home Park, Bittner accepted terms for the 2015-16 season as back-up to Luke McCormick, and, as well as continuing his youth coaching activities, he was also given an extended remit to cover the release of part-time goalkeeping coach, Rhys Wilmot.
His brief League appearance as a substitute against Morecambe in the 2014-15 season turned out not to be a one-off. In November 2015, following a groin strain for Luke McCormick that ended his own run of 74 starts, Bittner finally made the team sheet for the away win at York, to some national media interest. Several articles ran about the life of a journeyman second/third choice 'keeper and reported his wait of 4,991 days (13 years, 7 months & 29 days, otherwise translated as 86 bench placings and 713 weeks) as a career understudy before finally getting a Football League start.
Bittner's time at Home Park came to an end in the summer of 2016 when the 34-year-old joined Newport County in a familiar role: as reserve 'keeper and goalkeeping coach. He went on to make his Newport debut in October 2016, ironically, against Argyle after County's keeper was sent-off. In June 2017 he signed a one-year contract extension but was then released at the end of the 2017-18 season.
In July 2018, Bittner joined Reading as their under-23 goalkeeping coach, leaving in July 2022 after changes were made to the coaching staff. He then joined Cheltenham Town as their first-team goalkeeper coach. In July 2024 he followed former Cheltenham manager Darrell Clarke to Barnsley, joining the first-team coaching staff there.
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APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]
The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.
I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.
The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.
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