BIOGRAPHY
Nathaniel ‘Natty’ James joins Portland Hearts of Pine after leaving Mount Pleasant FA in the first division of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) in 2024.
Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, James’ football journey began at the age of five when his father, a guiding influence in his career, introduced him to the game.
He first gained national attention during the 2022 Concacaf Under-20 Championship, where he scored four goals and provided three assists, helping Trinidad and Tobago reach the round of 16.
His performances at the youth level led to his senior international debut in a friendly against Jamaica in March 2023.
In the inaugural Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) season in 2023, James emerged with 15 goals, playing a pivotal role in Club Sando’s third-place finish.
His domestic success earned him a move to Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant Football Academy in September 2023. On the international stage James scored the winning goal in Trinidad and Tobago’s 1-0 victory over Curaçao in a Concacaf Nations League match that same month.
Beyond soccer, James is eager to experience Maine’s renowned seafood and stunning coastal landscapes, especially its iconic lighthouses, which he hopes will remind him of the waters back home.
When presented with the opportunity at Hearts of Pine, he saw it as the perfect stepping stone to push himself toward his full potential.