Irving Nattrass
Irving Nattrass (born 20 December 1952) is an English former footballer who played primarily as a right back for Newcastle and Middlesbrough.[1]
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 20 December 1952 | ||
Place of birth | Fishburn, England | ||
Position(s) | right back[1] | ||
Youth career | |||
Newcastle United | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1970–1979 | Newcastle United | 238 | (16) |
1979–1986 | Middlesbrough | 191 | (2) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Born in Fishburn, England, Nattrass attended Ferryhill Grammar School and signed with Newcastle at age 16 on an apprenticeship.
As a youth player Nattrass lacked confidence and made slow progress within the club, even going so far as to look for employment elsewhere as a mechanic. However, he soon found his stride and went on to sign professionally for the club in July 1970, aged 17. A year later Nattrass went on to make his debut against Derby.
The then Newcastle manager Joe Harvey once commented "Nattrass is my Paul Madeley and I can't pay him a bigger compliment than that". Madeley was a Leeds and England player who was dubbed the "Rolls Royce" of footballers.
Hampered by injuries and disagreements with the Newcastle board he eventually moved to Middlesbrough for the sum of £375,000. Nattrass made his league debut for them against Arsenal on 15 September 1979.
Nattrass is now a successful businessman and keen golfer.
Footnotes
- "Born on this day: One of Newcastle United's best-ever right-backs". Chronicle. Newcastle: chroniclelive.co.uk. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
External links
- Sporting Heroes Irving Nattrass record and photo
- Evening Chronicle Interview with Irving Nattrass
- Toonarama Irving Nattrass Biography
- Image