James-Lewis came through Southend United's youth system, signing a professional contract with the club in August 2010, having previously been with Fulham.[2][3] He joined Conference South club Braintree Town on loan in March 2011, for the remainder of the 2010–11 season.[4][5]
The following season, he went out on loan to Braintree Town again in August, having been promoted to the Conference National. He was recalled on 19 September, due to a lack of first-team opportunities, having made just four appearances.[6] James-Lewis made his professional début for Southend on 24 September 2011, coming on as a substitute for Ryan Leonard in the 79th minute in their 4–0 away win at Rotherham United.[7]
On 16 March 2012, it was announced that James-Lewis would join Carshalton Athletic on a month's loan.[8]
On 18 May, James-Lewis was one of eleven players to be released at the end of their contract.[9]
After his release, he went on trial with Southend's rivals Colchester United, playing in a pre-season friendly against Heybridge Swifts.[10] Following a successful trial with the club he was given an initial deal on 30 July 2012.[11] Having made A handful of appearances for the U's, James-Lewis was released by Colchester following the expiration of his contract.[12]
In February 2013 James-Lewis was signed by Canvey Island, after being on the books of island neighbours Concord Rangers.[13] He made just one appearance for The Gulls, away to Lowestoft Town.[14] On 2 April 2013, he signed for Conference side Ebbsfleet United on a short-term contract until the end of the season. He was featured on the bench for the club's 1–1 draw with Barrow on 4 April.[15][16]
Farnborough manager Spencer Day snapped him up prior to the 2013–14 season, following a successful summer trial alongside Tyrone Berry.[17] They were both released following a disappointing FA Cup defeat to Eastbourne Borough on 1 October 2013.[18] The following month he was added to Walton & Hersham caretaker boss James Cameron's squad,[19] before switching to Crawley Down Gatwick in January 2014[20] and Cray Wanderers in February 2014.[21]
Ahead of the 2014–15 Football Conference season he was handed a chance at Staines Town by manager Marcus Gayle,[22] In early October after 11 games he was gone,[23] being questioned his commitment on both match days and training ground by Gayle.[24] By the summer he had put pen to paper at Walton Casuals in October 2014,[25] Grays Athletic in December 2014,[26] and Walton Casuals again in January 2015.[27]
2015–16 proved to be yet another much-travelled season, starting off at Maldon & Tiptree in June.[28] Shortly after the season kicked off, he featured for Tooting & Mitcham United on 22 August 2015,[29] and in October he switched to Heybridge Swifts.[30] He played only once for The Swifts, in a 3–1 win at Bury Town.[31][32] Further moves include Merstham in October 2015,[33][34] and returns to Canvey Island in January 2016[14][35][36] and Farnborough in March 2016.[37]
He signed for AFC Uckfield Town in October 2016,[38] after leaving Enfield Town without making any competitive appearances.[39][40] In November 2016 he moved to Thamesmead Town,[41] and Hendon in December 2016.[42] He reportedly returned to Thamesmead Town in February 2017,[43] but never featured in a matchday squad list before returning to Walton Casuals for a third spell on deadline day.[44] Despite committing to the club for the 2017–18 season, he failed to make an appearance for the club and joined Herne Bay in October.[45] The spell with The Bay also was short-lived as he only made one appearance. The season opening round of 2018–19 saw him return to Thamesmead Town. Following the club going into creditors voluntary administration in October 2018,[46] he signed for Egham Town of Isthmian League South Central Division in November.[47]
In September 2020, James-Lewis joined Lewes, where he made five appearances in the Isthmian League Premier Division[48] before, in October, moving on to South Park, making three league appearances and scoring one goal, on his debut, in a 4–4 draw with Staines Town.[49]
In July 2021, he joined Haywards Heath Town,[50] but did not play for the club;[48] he moved on in October to Sutton Common Rovers,[51] then again in November to East Grinstead Town, where he scored once in fourteen league appearances in the Isthmian League Division One South East.[48]
In November 2022, he joined Corinthian-Casuals, where he made two league appearances and one in the Surrey Senior Cup.[52] Later that season he moved to Tower Hamlets of east London.[53]
His last known signing is Sutton Athletic of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division ahead of the 2024–25 season.[54]
