Nathan Ellington

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Nathan Ellington
Personal information
Full name Nathan Robert Ellington
Date of birth 2 July 1981 (1981-07-02) (age 26)
Place of birth    Bradford, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club Derby County (loan)
Number TBA
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1997–1998
1999–2002
2002–2005
2005–2007
2007–
2008–		 Walton & Hersham
Bristol Rovers
Wigan Athletic
West Bromwich Albion
Watford
→ Derby County (loan)		 088 (57)
116 (35)
134 (59)
068 (15)
034 0(4)
000 0(0)   

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 15:27, 9 May 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Nathan Robert Ellington (born 2 July 1981 in Bradford, West Yorkshire) is an English professional footballer. He is a striker and currently plays for Championship side Derby County, where he is on a season-long loan from Watford.

In 2004, upon marriage to a Bosnian woman Ellington converted to Islam and has since been a practicing Muslim.[1] The past few years he has visited his wife's country of origin and since then Ellington has expressed will to play for the Bosnian national team.[2] He is nicknamed The Duke after legendary jazz musician Duke Ellington.[3]

Contents

[edit] Playing career

[edit] Non-league and Bristol Rovers

Ellington began his career with non-league Tooting and Mitcham United F.C., making 1 first team appearance at 16 years of age. He played regularly for the youth team there, but was frustrated by a lack of first team chances, so he moved to Walton & Hersham, before moving to Bristol Rovers in February 1999 for £150,000. He made his professional debut on 23 February 1999, coming on as a second-half substitute for Jamie Cureton in a 1–0 home defeat to Gillingham. He came off the bench to score his first goal on 6 March 1999, helping his team to a 2–0 win over York City. He found a growing reputation with the side,[citation needed] and his highest point for Rovers was scoring a hat-trick in a 3–1 win against Premiership team Derby County in the FA Cup, on 6 January 2002.[4] This was the first time a team from the Third Division had beaten a Premiership team in the FA Cup. It was also the second of three hat-tricks scored by Ellington for Rovers, with all three coming within the space of a month. He was named in the PFA Division Three team of the year for 2001-02.[5]

[edit] Wigan Athletic

On 28 March 2002 - transfer deadline day - Ellington signed for Paul Jewell's Wigan Athletic for a then club record fee of £1.2 million.[6] He made an instant impact, scoring on his debut in a 2–1 win at Chesterfield on 6 April 2002.[7] He also scored on his home debut a week later as Wigan beat Northampton Town 3–0.[8] His only hat-trick for Wigan came against West Bromwich Albion in a 3–1 League Cup victory on 2 October 2002, his second career hat-trick against Premiership opposition.[9] He was named Division One player of the month for February 2004.[10] Ellington was a major factor in the club's promotion to the Premiership in the 2004–05 season, the first time they had reached the top flight in their history. He was the leading scorer in the Football League Championship and formed a formidable partnership with Jason Roberts, with whom he had previously played at Bristol Rovers. Both players were named in the PFA Championship team of the season.[11] Ellington became one of the more desirable properties in English football, and joined West Bromwich Albion on 16 August 2005 for £3,000,001.[12] With the player unable to agree a new contract with Wigan, Albion used a clause in his existing contract that allowed him to leave for any fee over £3m.

[edit] West Bromwich Albion

Ellington made his West Brom (and Premier League) debut in a 4–0 away defeat at Chelsea on 24 August 2005, replacing Jonathan Greening in the second half.[13] He scored twice in a 4–1 League Cup win against Bradford City on 20 September 2005, his first goals for the club.[14] He generally struggled in his first ever season in the Premier League, as his season was damaged by a series of niggling injuries and a shoulder problem,[citation needed] but he still managed to score eight goals. Ellington's first Premiership goals came in the 4–0 win against Everton; he scored a goal in either half by a penalty and a long range shot. He became quite unpopular with the West Brom fans towards the end of the same season because of his complaint of a "bruised toe", and his refusal to have painkilling injections to help him through such a minor complaint.[citation needed] He almost redeemed himself near the end of the season though, when he scored for Albion in the 1–1 draw with Birmingham and almost went on to score the winner as a substitute, unfortunately hitting the woodwork. In June 2006, West Bromwich Albion rejected an undisclosed offer for Ellington from his former club Wigan Athletic, insisting that the player was "not for sale".[15]

After failing to settle in the area, Ellington submitted a transfer request in the 2007 January transfer window, which was reluctantly accepted by West Bromwich Albion. However, Albion chairman Jeremy Peace qualified this by stating that "...no-one will leave unless it suits us." Ellington was also still seen as an important part of the squad by manager Tony Mowbray.[16] Wigan Athletic again expressed an interest in re-signing the player,[17] but failed to meet Albion's valuation. Ellington therefore remained at the Midlands club, returning to the first team at the start of February after a month out due to a stress-related illness. Ellington won West Brom's official goal of the season competition for 2006–07, for his dipping, swerving half volley against Cardiff City, scored in a 1–0 win on 20 February 2007.[18] One week after that goal, he received the first red card of his career, for a dangerous tackle on Middlesbrough's Stuart Parnaby. Albion subsequently lost the 5th round FA Cup replay on penalties.[19] Ellington featured regularly towards the end of the season, helping Albion reach the play-offs, but in the play-off games he was used only as a substitute. Albion lost 1–0 to Derby County in the final at Wembley.

Ellington's only goal for Albion in 2007–08 came in a 2–0 win away at Peterborough United in the League Cup on 28 August 2007. It proved to be his last game for the club, as he signed for Watford the following day. In all he scored 20 goals in 81 appearances for West Bromwich Albion.

[edit] Watford

On 29 August 2007 Ellington joined Watford on a four-year deal. Watford paid a club record £3.25 million for the striker, a fee that could rise to £4.25m depending on appearances.[20] He made his Watford debut three days later, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 win over Ipswich Town, hitting the post a few minutes after entering the field.[21] Ellington initially found it difficult to command a starting place in the Watford starting line-up due to the excellent form of Darius Henderson and Marlon King. Ellington scored his first goal for Watford in a 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic on 19 January 2008.[22]

[edit] Derby County

Derby County signed Ellington on 30 May 2008 on a season long loan, re-uniting the player with manager Paul Jewell. Ellington is due to join the Rams permanently on a free transfer at the end of 2008–09.[23]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Watford 2-0 Ipswich", The Daily Mirror, 2007-09-02. Retrieved on 2007-09-03. 
  2. ^ "Ellington eyes Bosnia call-up", SkySports, 2008-03-12. Retrieved on 2008-03-12. 
  3. ^ Sloan, Tom. "Duke and Kris to join Derby", Burton Mail, 2008-05-27. Retrieved on 2008-05-31. 
  4. ^ "Ellington rips Rams apart", BBC Sport, 2002-01-06. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. 
  5. ^ "Plymouth players rewarded", BBC Sport, 2002-04-15. Retrieved on 2007-04-25. 
  6. ^ "Wigan win race for Ellington", BBC Sport, 2002-03-28. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. 
  7. ^ "Chesterfield 1-2 Wigan", BBC Sport, 2002-04-06. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. 
  8. ^ "Wigan 3-0 Northampton", BBC Sport, 2002-04-13. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. 
  9. ^ "Ellington blows away Baggies", BBC Sport, 2002-10-02. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. 
  10. ^ "Ellington gets League award", BBC Sport, 2004-03-04. Retrieved on 2008-05-31. 
  11. ^ "Sunderland/Wigan dominate line-up", BBC Sport, 2005-04-24. Retrieved on 2007-04-26. 
  12. ^ "Ellington blames Wigan for exit", BBC Sport, 2005-08-15. Retrieved on 2007-04-25. 
  13. ^ "Chelsea 4-0 West Brom", BBC Sport, 2005-08-24. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. 
  14. ^ "WBA vs Bradford City", West Bromwich Albion F.C., 2005-09-20. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. 
  15. ^ "West Brom reject Wigan triple bid", BBC Sport, 2006-06-23. Retrieved on 2008-05-17. 
  16. ^ "Baggies braced for Ellington exit", BBC Sport, 2007-01-10. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. 
  17. ^ Chowdhury, Saj. "Wigan chase West Brom's Ellington", BBC Sport, 2007-01-02. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. 
  18. ^ "Duke bags Goal-of-the-Season gong", West Bromwich Albion F.C., 2005-05-07. Retrieved on 2007-06-23. 
  19. ^ Sinnott, John. "West Brom 1-1 Middlesbrough (aet)", BBC Sport, 2007-02-27. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. 
  20. ^ "Watford sign Ellington for £3.25m", BBC Sport, 2007-08-29. Retrieved on 2007-08-30. 
  21. ^ "Watford vs Ipswich Town", Watford F.C., 2007-09-01. Retrieved on 2007-09-01. 
  22. ^ "Watford 1-1 Charlton", BBC Sport, 2008-01-19. Retrieved on 2008-01-19. 
  23. ^ "Rams sign Ellington and Stewart", BBC Sport, 2008-05-30. Retrieved on 2008-05-31. 

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Derby County F.C. – current squad

1 Price • 3 Camara • 4 McEveley • 5 Leacock • 7 Jones • 8 Stubbs • 9 Villa • 11 Fagan • 15 Lewis • 16 Teale • 17 Todd • 19 Davis • 21 Sterjovski • 22 Feilhaber • 23 Moore • 24 Mears • 25 Pearson • 28 Barnes • 30 Nyatanga • 31 Carroll • 32 Addison • 33 Hanson • 34 Richards • 35 Beardsley • 41 Simmons • 43 Bywater • 44 Savage • –– Commons • –– Connolly • –– Davies • –– Ellington • –– Green • –– Stewart • –– Zadkovich • Manager: Jewell


Persondata
NAME Ellington, Nathan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ellington, Nathan Robert
SHORT DESCRIPTION Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH July 2, 1981
PLACE OF BIRTH Bradford, England
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH