James Wallace

Everton

Wallace joined Everton's youth academy at 13, before joining the reserves and ultimately progressing to the senior squad. He made his competitive debut for Everton against Sigma Olomouc in the UEFA Europa League in August 2009, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw in Olomouc. It was to be Wallace's only first-team appearance of the 2009–10 campaign, as he was sidelined later that year with a double hernia problem that subsequently kept him out of action until 2010. After making no first-team appearance at the start of Everton's 2010–11 season, Wallace joined Bury on a one-month loan deal in November 2010. He made his debut for the club two days later, in an FA Cup Second Round match against Peterborough United, playing the whole game in a 2–1 defeat. Wallace made no further appearances for Bury during his one-month loan spell due to the adverse weather conditions that resulted in a spate of postponements throughout December 2010, and the player returned to his parent club shortly before the start of 2011. In February 2011, Wallace was loaned out, this time joining relegation threatened League Two side Stockport County, with the deal running for a month. He made a scoring debut for Stockport in a game against Macclesfield Town, scoring the opening goal of the game with a "superb 25-yard strike", although the club went on to lose the match 4–1. Wallace played in five games during his loan spell as Stockport had a brief up-turn in form, and the…

After retiring at the end of the 2018–19 season, Wallace became Fleetwood Town's chief scout. In June 2022, he was appointed in the same role at Preston North End.

Republic of Ireland

Wallace previously played for Republic of Ireland at under-16 level, and participated in the 2007 Montaigu Tournament for the Republic of Ireland. However, it was later found that he was not eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland national team.

England

Wallace was subsequently called up to represent the England U19 side in March 2009, although he was an unused substitute in a 0–0 draw with Czech Republic at the Bescot Stadium. Wallace made his debut for the England U19s in September 2009, coming on as a second-half substitute, replacing Andros Townsend, in a 2–1 victory against Russia, and made his first U19 start for England the following month, playing the whole game as England beat Finland 3–1. Wallace was called up to represent the England U20 squad in February 2011, playing in a 2–1 defeat to France, and was later named in Brian Eastick's 21-man squad to represent the England U20s at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which took place in Colombia throughout July and August 2011. Wallace was an unused substitute in England's first group match, a 0–0 draw with North Korea, Wallace made his first appearance in the next match against Argentina, which also ended goalless. Wallace made two further appearances for England under-20s, both as a substitute, as England were eventually knocked out 1–0 by Nigeria.

Born in Fazakerley, Liverpool, Wallace is the nephew of former Doncaster Rovers footballer Gregg Blundell. As of 2026, his son, Blake, is in the Everton Football Club academy and is signed until 2028, where he’ll be in Under 15s.