*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:24, 28 June 2022 (UTC)
Jake David Charles (born 16 February 1996) is a semi-professional footballer who plays as a striker or winger for Whitby Town. Born in England, he has represented Wales at youth international level.
Club career
Huddersfield Town
Charles was born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire.[1] He began to play football when he was three and joined Battyeford Juniors and Garforth Villa's youth academy before joining Huddersfield Town's U11 side when he was 10.[3]
Having progressed through the academy, Charles signed his first professional contract with the club on 28 February 2013[4] and started his first years scholars.[5] With his contract set to expire at the end of the 2013–14 season, Charles signed a contract extension, keeping him until 2017.[6] Throughout 2013–14, Charles was honoured by the League Football Education[7] and was nominated for the League Football Education's Championship Apprentice of the Year, but lost out to Mason Bennett of Derby County.[8]
After appearing as unused substitute against Norwich City on 17 March 2015 for the first time,[9] Charles made his first-team debut for Huddersfield Town as an 87th-minute substitute in a 2–0 Championship defeat by Fulham.[10] Later in the 2014–15 season Charles scored twice for the Huddersfield Town under-21 team as they beat Crystal Palace under-21s to seal a place in the Professional Development League 2 play-off Final.[11]
On 31 July 2015, he joined National League club Guiseley on a one-month loan until 29 August 2015[12] but he did not make any appearances for the club during this spell.[13]
Barnsley
On 1 September 2016, Charles signed for fellow Championship club Barnsley on a contract until the end of 2016–17.[14] On 25 November 2016, he joined National League club York City on loan until 1 January 2017.[15] Charles was released by Barnsley at the end of 2016–17.[16]
Stalybridge Celtic
Charles signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Stalybridge Celtic on 28 July 2017.[17] He made 45 appearances in all competitions, scoring 12 goals,[18] as Stalybridge finished in 22nd place in the table.[19] He left the club at the end of 2017–18.[18]
On 29 May 2020 National League North club Farsley Celtic announced they had signed Charles.[21]
In June 2021, Charles returned to Stafford Rangers.[22] He finished the season with nine goals in 39 appearances in all competitions.[23]
In May 2022, it was announced that Charles had joined Scarborough Athletic following their promotion to National League North.[24] On 29 September, he joined FC United of Manchester on an initial one-month loan deal.[25] In November 2023, he joined Ashton United on an initial one-month loan deal.[26] The following month, the loan was extended by an additional two months.[27] After remaining on loan at Ashton, Charles was released by Scarborough at the end of the season.[28]
Charles has represented Wales at under-16, under-17 and under-19 and under-21 levels.[30][13] After making his debut for the Wales under-17 side, Charles became the fourth member of his family to play for the country after his grandfather, his great-uncle Mel and his cousin Jeremy.[31] He was capped three times by the under-17s in 2012, before appearing three times for the under-19s in 2014.[13]