Nathan Abbey

Nathanael "Nathan" Abbey (born 11 July 1978) is an English journeyman former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Nathan Abbey
Personal information
Full name Nathanael Abbey
Date of birth (1978-07-11) 11 July 1978
Place of birth Islington, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
–1995 Luton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2001 Luton Town 55 (0)
2001–2002 Chesterfield 46 (0)
2002–2003 Northampton Town 5 (0)
2003 Stevenage Borough 6 (0)
2003 St Albans City 1 (0)
2003 Hayes 1 (0)
2003–2004 Ipswich Town 0 (0)
2004 Burnley 0 (0)
2004–2006 Boston United 61 (0)
2005–2006 → Leyton Orient (loan) 0 (0)
2006 Bristol City 1 (0)
2006 Torquay United 24 (0)
2006–2007 Brentford 16 (0)
2007–2009 Milton Keynes Dons 1 (0)
2009–2010 Rushden & Diamonds 10 (0)
2010 Kettering Town 29 (0)
2011–2013 Arlesey Town 56 (0)
2013–2014 St Neots Town 37 (0)
2014–2015 Dunstable Town 1 (0)
2015–2018 Arlesey Town 0 (0)
Total 350 (0)
Teams managed
2011–2013 Arlesey Town (player-assistant)
2013–2014 St Neots Town (player-assistant)
2015–2018 Arlesey Town (joint-coach)
2018–2019 Bedford Town (assistant)
2019 Bedford Town (joint-manager)
2019–2020 Bedford Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Luton Town

Abbey was born in Islington, London, and began his football career as a trainee with Luton Town, turning professional in August 1995. His first team debut came on 26 August 1997 in the League Cup first round second leg tie at home to Colchester United, a 1–1 draw taking the Hatters into the second round.[1] Later that season he had a spell on loan to Football Conference side Woking. He had to wait until January 1999 for this next first team appearance for Luton, playing in the 3–0 defeat at home to Walsall in the Football League Trophy. His league debut came the following month, on 6 February, playing in the 2–1 win away to Burnley.

He began the 1999–2000 season as Luton's first choice goalkeeper, previous first choice Kelvin Davis having been sold to Wimbledon to aid Luton's financial problems, and remained a regular throughout the season. In the summer of 2000, Luton manager Ricky Hill signed Mark Ovendale and chose him to start the season in place of Abbey. However, Abbey soon regained his place in the side,[2] though spent most of the season in and out of the side as first Lil Fuccillo and then Joe Kinnear took over as Luton manager.

Chesterfield

With Luton relegated to the bottom flight of the Football League, Abbey was released by Luton[3] and joined Chesterfield in August 2001. He was an ever-present the following season and won the Chesterfield Player of the Year Award, but left after failing to agree a new contract.[4]

Non-league

He joined Northampton Town in August 2002[5] and signed a contract extension until the end of the season,[6] but struggled to establish himself and was released at the end of the season having played only eight games. He returned to Luton on trial, but signed for Conference side Stevenage Borough in July 2003. He played six Conference games before returning to Luton Town in October 2003. He was released by Luton manager Mike Newell the following month, joining Macclesfield Town,[7] where he again failed to make the first team and was released, joining non-league Hayes in December 2003.[8] Abbey had similar experiences on moving to Ipswich Town later the same month[9] and Burnley in January 2004.

Boston United

In July 2004, Abbey signed for Boston United, playing 61 league games over the next season and a half. He had a spell on loan with Leyton Orient in December 2005[10] and moved to Bristol City on a free transfer in February 2006[11] after being released by Boston at the end of January.[12] He made just one appearance for City, as a substitute for Adriano Basso in the 1–0 defeat away to Southend United on 6 May 2005, before being released at the end of the season.[13]

Torquay United

He signed for Torquay United in July 2006[14] and was soon installed as first choice goalkeeper by Torquay manager Ian Atkins. Despite being ever-present in the Torquay goal from the start of the 2006–07 season, Abbey was only offered a one-month extension to his existing six-month contract and left the club at the end of his contract on 28 December 2006.[15] His last game for Torquay came on 26 December 2006 at home to Milton Keynes Dons, where Torquay manager Lubos Kubik decided to substitute him for debutant keeper Martin Horsell with seven minutes of the game remaining and Torquay 2–0 down.[16]

Brentford

Abbey signed for Brentford on 29 December 2006 on an emergency loan as regular goalkeepers Stuart Nelson and Clark Masters were injured.[17] He signed a permanent contract on 26 January 2007.[18] He made sixteen appearances for the Bees before being released on 16 May 2007.[19]

Milton Keynes Dons

He signed for Milton Keynes Dons shortly before the start of the 2007–08 season. He made his debut for MK Dons coming on as a sub against Cheltenham Town when regular keeper Willy Gueret was sent off.[20] After two seasons he was released by MK Dons.[21]

Return to non-league

He joined Rushden & Diamonds making eleven appearances for the club. In January 2010 he joined Kettering Town on a non-contract basis.[22] It was announced on 16 November 2010 that Abbey had been sacked from Kettering Town due to gross misconduct, having made 29 appearances for the club.[23]

Managerial career

He joined his brother Zema Abbey as player/assistant manager at Arlesey Town.[24] In November 2013, Abbey moved with his brother to St Neots Town.[25] Abbey left the club at the same time as his brother a couple of months into the 2014–15 season, with Gary King assuming sole control of the first team. Abbey soon joined Dunstable Town in late 2014. In February 2015, he returned to Arlesey Town as player-joint manager alongside his brother.[26] The two left the club in May 2018.

In the summer 2018, Abbey joined Bedford Town both as a player and as an assistant coach, monitoring the match analysis.[27] Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Abbey was promoted to joint-head coach alongside Jon Taylor.[28] On 3 November 2019, Taylor decided to step back and Abbey agreed to take on the role by himself.[29] However, he decided to step back on 14 January 2020 after a disappointing run of form since he took charge of the team.[30]

Personal life

His brother, Zema, was also a professional footballer.

Career statistics
As of 18 November 2018[31]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Luton Town 1997–98 Second Division 0000100010
1998–99 Second Division 2000001030
1999–00 Second Division 340502000410
2000–01 Second Division 200300000230
Total 560803010680
Chesterfield 2001–02 Second Division 460301030530
Northampton Town 2002–03 Second Division 5000102080
Stevenage Borough 2003–04 Conference 600000—60
Ipswich Town 2003–04 First Division 000000—00
Burnley 2003–04 First Division 000000—00
Boston United 2004–05 League Two 440402010510
2005–06 League Two 170201020220
Total 610603030730
Leyton Orient (loan) 2005–06 League Two 00———00
Bristol City (loan) 2005–06 League One 10———10
Torquay United 2006–07 League Two 240301010290
Brentford 2006–07 League One 160———160
Milton Keynes Dons 2007–08 League Two 0010200030
2008–09 League One 1000001020
Total 1010201050
Rushden & Diamonds 2009–10 Conference Premier 10020——120
Kettering Town 2009–10 Conference Premier 170———170
2010–11 Conference Premier 11000——110
Total 28000——280
Career total 25402301101102990

References
  1. "Nathan Abbey player profile". Luton Town F.C. Archived from the original on 21 May 2003. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  2. "Hill explains why he axed Ovendale". BBC Sport. 19 October 2000. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  3. "Clear-out begins at Luton". BBC Sport. 20 April 2001. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  4. "Spireites capture Dawson". BBC Sport. 8 May 2002. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  5. "Cobblers capture Abbey". BBC Sport. 5 August 2002. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  6. "Abbey stays with Cobblers". BBC Sport. 7 October 2002. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  7. "Abbey arrives at Moss Rose". BBC Sport. 15 November 2003. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  8. "Hayes lose Abbey to Ipswich". NonLeagueDaily.com. 19 December 2003. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  9. "Ipswich sign Abbey". BBC Sport. 17 December 2003. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  10. "Pilgrims ponder keeper loan swoop". BBC Sport. 21 December 2005. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  11. "City recruit McCammon and Abbey". BBC Sport. 17 February 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  12. "Boston release Whelan and Abbey". BBC Sport. 31 January 2006. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  13. "Johnson will release five players". BBC Sport. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  14. "Abbey agrees terms with Torquay". BBC Sport. 27 July 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  15. "Goalkeeper Abbey leaves Torquay". BBC Sport. 28 December 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  16. "Torquay 0–2 MK Dons". BBC Sport. 26 December 2006. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  17. "Goalkeeper Abbey joins Brentford". BBC Sport. 29 December 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  18. "Abbey signs contract at Brentford". BBC Sport. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  19. "Bees sign Mackie after clear-out". BBC Sport. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  20. "Dons sign Abbey, Navarro & Howell". BBC Sport. 12 August 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  21. James Chard (19 May 2009). "Six players go in Dons clear-out". MK Citizen. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  22. "Player Up-date 15 January". Kettering Town F.C. 15 January 2010. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  23. "Kettering Town sack goalkeeper Nathan Abbey". BBC Sport. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  24. "Arlesey Town – Players & Coaches – Nathan Abbey – Arlesey Town FC". Pitchero.com. 29 November 2012. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  25. "Abbey brothers leave Arlesey Town for St Neots". The Comet. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  26. http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/staff/nathan-abbey
  27. Eagles announce flurry of new signings including ex-Hatters Benson and Abbey, bedfordtoday.co.uk, 30 June 2018
  28. Joint Management Structure Announced, pitchero.com, 21 June 2019
  29. Bedford Town FC - MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE CHANGE ..., facebook.com, 3 November 2019
  30. CLUB STATEMENT - NATHAN ABBEY, pitchero.com, 14 January 2020
  31. "Games played by Nathan Abbey". Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
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