:Nicky Bailey

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Nicky Bailey

| image = Nicky Bailey player of the season 2007-08.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Bailey playing for Southend United

| fullname = Nicky Francis Bailey{{cite news

| title = Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13

| url = http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0,,10794~179534,00.pdf

| publisher = The Football League

| date = 18 May 2013

| page = 74

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140802074454/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0,,10794~179534,00.pdf

| archive-date = 2 August 2014}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|6|10|df=y}}{{cite book

| editor-first = Barry J.

| editor-last = Hugman

| title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11

| year = 2010

| publisher = Mainstream Publishing

| location = Edinburgh

| isbn = 978-1-84596-601-0

| page = 29 }}

| birth_place = Putney, England

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Fulham

| youthyears2 = 2000–2001 | youthclubs2 = Sutton United

| years1 = 2001–2004 | caps1 = 85 | goals1 = 27 | clubs1 = Sutton United

| years2 = 2004–2007 | caps2 = 125 | goals2 = 17 | clubs2 = Barnet

| years3 = 2007–2008 | caps3 = 45 | goals3 = 9 | clubs3 = Southend United

| years4 = 2008–2010 | caps4 = 89 | goals4 = 25 | clubs4 = Charlton Athletic

| years5 = 2010–2013 | caps5 = 99 | goals5 = 4 | clubs5 = Middlesbrough

| years6 = 2013–2015 | caps6 = 36 | goals6 = 1 | clubs6 = Millwall

| years7 = 2015 | caps7 = 2 | goals7 = 0 | clubs7 = Barnet

| years8 = 2016–2019 | caps8 = 107 | goals8 = 9 | clubs8 = Sutton United

| years9 = 2019–2020 | caps9 = 34 | goals9 = 2 | clubs9 = Havant & Waterlooville

| years10 = 2020–2021 | caps10 = 4 | goals10 = 0 | clubs10 = Gosport Borough

| years11 = 2021 | caps11 = 2 | goals11 = 0 | clubs11 = Cray Wanderers

| totalcaps = 628 | totalgoals = 94

| nationalyears1 = 2005 | nationalteam1 = England C

| nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Nicky Francis Bailey (born 10 June 1984) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He has played for the England C national team.

Club career

=Early career and Barnet=

Bailey, born in Putney, London, began his career with local team Fulham but was released and moved to non-league Sutton United where he played as a teenager.[http://suttonunited.net/firstteam_stats.html SUFC first team stats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203045334/http://suttonunited.net/firstteam_stats.html |date=3 February 2017 }} Accessed 2016-08-20 At twenty, he went to Conference side Barnet in 2004 for a tribunal fee of £10,000.

Bailey was Paul Fairclough's first signing as Barnet manager, and he immediately established himself as a regular for the club.

Bailey made his Barnet debut against Farnborough Town in a 0–0 draw in the Football Conference on 17 August 2004, and scored his first goal for the club on 4 September 2004 in a 5–1 win against Morecambe. He helped the club to promotion in the 2004–05 season and then establish itself in Football League Two over the following two years. In 2006-7 he was voted Barnet FC Player of the Season by the club's supporters.

=Southend United=

After attracting interest from several clubs during the January transfer window, it was announced on 29 June 2007 that Bailey was discussing terms with Southend United of League One. He eventually signed with Southend on 3 July 2007 for a fee of £175,000. After winning the club's player of the year award for the 2007–08 season, Bailey was transfer listed on 5 June 2008 after failing to agree to terms over a contract extension. He signed with Charlton Athletic on a three-year contract for a fee that could reach £750,000 in August 2008, seeking championship football and a higher wage, a move that has made him unpopular with Southend fans.

=Charlton Athletic=

Charlton Athletic were relegated from the championship after finishing at the bottom of the table, despite Bailey finishing as top scorer. He was voted the club's player of the season.

On 26 April 2010 it was announced that Bailey was in the 2009–10 PFA team of the year alongside teammate Frazer Richardson. Bailey captained Charlton to a semi-final playoff defeat against Swindon Town, the semi-final went to penalties and it was Bailey who missed the decisive spot kick for Charlton to send Swindon through to the final. It was to be his last kick as a Charlton player.

=Middlesbrough=

On 19 June 2010 the BBC claimed that Middlesbrough F.C. were set to sign Bailey for a fee of £1.4m. The deal was confirmed by both clubs on 24 June 2010, and Bailey was officially announced as a Middlesbrough player on 8 July.{{cite news

|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/8749850.stm

|date= 8 July 2010

|access-date= 8 July 2010

|title=Middlesbrough sign Nicky Bailey from Charlton Athletic

|publisher=BBC Sport}}

Bailey had a difficult start as a Middlesbrough player, however under new manager Tony Mowbray, Bailey was converted to a more defensive minded midfielder and became popular with the fans. His ongoing impressive form led to Bailey being nominated for the Championship player of the month in December 2011.

Bailey scored his first goal for Middlesbrough against Burnley on 10 September 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.mfc.co.uk/page/matches/reports/0,,1~58035,00.html|title=Burnley 0 Boro 2|access-date=10 September 2011|date=10 September 2011|publisher=Middlesbrough F.C}} Bailey then scored again in Middlesbrough's 2–1 home win against Southampton. Bailey scored on 21 August 2012, his third goal for Boro, again against Burnley in a 3–2 home win. Following injuries to Rhys Williams and Jonathan Woodgate, Bailey captained Boro three times in the 2012–13 season. Bailey's fourth Boro goal was a spectacular long shot in a 2–1 home defeat to Leicester City. At the end of the 2012–13 season Bailey's contract expired.

=Millwall=

Bailey joined Millwall on a two-year deal in July 2013.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23375238 Nicky Bailey: Millwall sign ex Middlesbrough midfielder] He suffered numerous injuries during his two years with the club, limiting him to 39 appearances. He was released at the end of the 2014–15 season following Millwall's relegation to League One.[http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11735/9840142/millwall-release-18-players-including-captain-alan-dunne Millwall release 18 players including captain Alan Dunne]

=Barnet=

Bailey started training with Barnet in October 2015,[http://www.times-series.co.uk/sport/13843736.Former_Barnet_favourite_Bailey_trains_with_Bees_with_view_to_return/ Former Barnet favourite Nicky Bailey is training with the Bees with a view to a return to the club he left eight years ago] and re-signed on a short-term deal later in the month.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34615956 Nicky Bailey: Barnet re-sign former Millwall midfielder] On 23 December, Bailey was released after only four appearances.[http://www.barnetfc.com/news/article/nicky-bailey-leaves-barnet-fc-2865949.aspx Nicky Bailey leaves Barnet FC]

=Sutton United=

At the end of his contract with Barnet, Bailey re-signed for Sutton United, initially until the end of the 2015–16 season.{{cite web |url=http://suttonunited.net/news.php#3293 |title= SuttonUnited.net - the official website of Sutton United Football Club|website=suttonunited.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213205052/http://www.suttonunited.net/news.php |archive-date=13 February 2012}} In his second spell at Sutton, Bailey made his first league appearance in a 2–0 away victory against Chelmsford City on 30 January 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.suttonunited.net/matchreport.html?id=1249 |title=SuttonUnited.net - The official website of Sutton United Football Club |website=suttonunited.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214125620/http://suttonunited.net/matchreport.html?id=1249 |archive-date=2016-02-14}} He made a total of nine full and seven substitute appearances for the U's, helping them win the National League South title.{{cite web |url=http://www.suttonunited.net/firstteam_stats_1516.html |title=SuttonUnited.net - the official website of Sutton United Football Club |access-date=2017-04-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017073922/http://www.suttonunited.net/firstteam_stats_1516.html |archive-date=17 October 2016 }}

Bailey agreed to stay with Sutton for the 2016–17 season, playing in the National League, and scored the first goal in his new spell at the club by converting a penalty against Forest Green Rovers at The New Lawn on 9 August 2016, a game which ended in a 1–1 draw.{{cite news|url=http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/sport/14671905.FULL_TIME_MATCH_REPORT__Forest_Green_1_Sutton_United_1___Stalemate_at_the_New_Lawn.html/|title=Forest Green 1 Sutton United 1|access-date=1 September 2016|date=9 August 2016|publisher=Stroud News and Journal}} After a string of impressive performances, Sutton supporters unofficially voted Bailey player of the month for August.{{Cite web|url=http://suttonunited.proboards.com/thread/7731/august-player-month|title = August Player of the Month | Amber Planet}} Having converted two further penalties, one in a victory over Torquay United on 16 August and the other a consolation in a 2–1 defeat to Braintree Town on 13 September, Bailey scored his first goal for Sutton from open play on 8 October when he finished a corner supplied by Ross Stearn in a 4–1 rout of Surrey rivals Woking at Gander Green Lane.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37527705|title=Sutton United 4 Woking 1|date=8 October 2016|access-date=8 October 2016|publisher=BBC}} On 19 October 2016, it was announced that Bailey had signed a one-year contract extension with Sutton United and will stay with the club until the end of the 2017–18 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.suttonunited.net/news.php#3714 |title=Pair agree contract extensions as Paul signs defender |publisher=Sutton United |access-date=30 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512064011/http://www.suttonunited.net/news.php#3714 |archive-date=12 May 2016 }}

Bailey appeared for Sutton during their historic run to the 5th round of the FA Cup for the first time ever, including a 1–0 victory over Championship club Leeds United on 29 January 2017 and 0–2 defeat to Premier League club Arsenal on 20 February, where he made more tackles and interceptions than any other player.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38709037 |title=Sutton United 1 Leeds United 0 |date=29 January 2017 |access-date=7 March 2017 |publisher=BBC}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38952752 |title=Sutton United 0 Arsenal 2 |date=20 February 2017 |access-date=7 March 2017 |publisher=BBC}}

On 4 March, Bailey was instrumental in helping Sutton to secure their first away clean sheet back in the non-League top flight, a 0–0 draw at Barrow, since a 9–0 away victory against Gateshead on 22 September 1990.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39086829|title=Barrow 0 Sutton United 0|date=4 March 2017|access-date=5 March 2017|publisher=BBC}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.statto.com/football/stats/results/1990-09-22/gateshead-v-sutton-united|title=Gateshead v Sutton United|access-date=5 March 2017|publisher=Statto.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306032348/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/results/1990-09-22/gateshead-v-sutton-united|archive-date=6 March 2017}} Bailey featured the following day in The Non-League Paper's team of the day. Across three and a half seasons, Bailey played 125 times for Sutton in his second spell, scoring nine goals.

=Later career=

Bailey followed Sutton manager Paul Doswell to Havant & Waterlooville for the 2019–20 season.[https://www.havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk/articles/bailey-latest-to-join-hawks-revolution-.html Bailey latest to join Hawks revolution] He joined Gosport Borough on 19 September 2020.[https://www.gosportboroughfc.co.uk/news/three-new-signings-for-boro-2569881.html THREE NEW SIGNINGS FOR BORO] In September 2021 he joined Cray Wanderers.{{cite web | url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/cray-wanderers/appearances/nicky-bailey/930030 | title=Cray Wanderers | Appearances | Nicky Bailey | Football Web Pages }}

International career

Bailey was picked to play for the England C national team, by Paul Fairclough when he was also manager of Barnet.{{cite news

|first = Gary

|last = Haines

|title = Addicks seal midfielder deal

|publisher = Charlton Athletic F.C

|date = 13 August 2008

|url = http://www.cafc.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=32706

|access-date = 13 August 2008

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20120803065308/http://www.cafc.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=32706

|archive-date = 3 August 2012

}} He made four appearances before moving into the Football League, which meant he could no longer take part.

Career statistics

rowspan=2\|Club !rowspan=2\|Season !colspan=3\|League !colspan=2\|FA Cup !colspan=2\|League Cup !colspan=2\|Other !colspan=2\|Total
class=wikitable style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan=4\|Sutton United \|2001–02{{cite web \| title = 01/02 Stats \| url = http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2001/player_details.php?playerid=6880 \| publisher = SoccerFactsUK \| access-date = 1 March 2017}} \|Isthmian League Premier Division \|5	0			colspan=2\|—			5	0
2002–03{{cite web \| title = 02/03 Stats \| url = http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2002/player_details.php?playerid=3260 \| publisher = SoccerFactsUK \| access-date = 1 March 2017}} \|Isthmian League Premier Division \|37	14			colspan=2\|—			37	14
2003–04{{cite web \| title = 03/04 Stats \| url = http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2002/player_details.php?playerid=3260 \| publisher = SoccerFactsUK \| access-date = 1 March 2017}} \|Isthmian League Premier Division \|43	13			colspan=2\|—			43	13
colspan=2\|Total !85	27			colspan=2\|—			85	27
rowspan=4\|Barnet \|2004–05{{cite web \| title = 04/05 Stats \| url = http://www.onlybarnet.com/bfcsa/0405/stats/stats.htm \| publisher = Only Barnet \| access-date = 21 February 2017}} \|Conference National \|36	5	1	0	colspan=2\|—	4Two appearances and two goals in Football League Trophy, two appearances and two goals in FA Trophy	4	41	9
2005–06{{soccerbase season\|38752\|2005\|access-date=27 February 2016}} \|League Two \|46	7	1	0	2	1	2Appearances in Football League Trophy	1	51	9
2006–07{{soccerbase season\|38752\|2006\|access-date=27 February 2016}} \|League Two \|43	5	4	0	3	0	2	0	52	5
colspan=2\|Total !125	17	6	0	5	1	8	5	144	23
rowspan=3\|Southend United \|2007–08{{soccerbase season\|38752\|2007\|access-date=27 February 2016}} \|League One \|44	9	5	2	3	0	3Two appearances and one goal in League Two play-offs, one in Football League Trophy	1	55	12
2008–09{{soccerbase season\|38752\|2008\|access-date=27 February 2016}} \|League One \|1	0	colspan=2\|—	0	0	colspan=2\|—	1	0
colspan=2\|Total !45	9	5	2	3	0	3	1	56	12
rowspan=3\|Charlton Athletic \|2008–09 \|Championship \|43	13	3	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	46	13
2009–10{{soccerbase season\|38752\|2009\|access-date=27 February 2016}} \|League One \|46	12	1	0	1	0	1	1	49	13
colspan=2\|Total !89	25	4	0	1	0	1	1	95	26
rowspan=4\|Middlesbrough \|2010–11{{soccerbase season\|38752\|2010\|access-date=27 February 2016}} \|Championship \|34	0	1	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	37	0
2011–12{{soccerbase season\|38752\|2011\|access-date=27 February 2016}} \|Championship \|37	2	0	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	39	2
2012–13{{soccerbase season\|38752\|2012\|access-date=27 February 2016}} \|Championship \|28	2	3	0	4	0	colspan=2\|—	35	2
colspan=2\|Total !99	4	4	0	8	0	colspan=2\|—	111	4
rowspan=3\|Millwall \|2013–14{{soccerbase season\|38752\|2013\|access-date=27 February 2016}} \|Championship \|28	1	1	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	31	1
2014–15{{soccerbase season\|38752\|2014\|access-date=27 February 2016}} \|Championship \|8	0	0	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	8	0
colspan=2\|Total !36	1	1	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	39	1
Barnet \|2015–16{{soccerbase season\|38752\|2015\|access-date=27 February 2016}} \|League Two \|2	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	4	0
rowspan=5\|Sutton United \|2015–16{{cite web \|title=N. Bailey \|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/nick-bailey/51103/\|work=Soccerway \|publisher=Perform Group \|access-date=27 February 2017}} \|National League South \|16	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	2Appearances in FA Trophy	0	18	0
2016–17 \|National League \|38	7	5	0	colspan=2\|—	2	0	45	7
2017–18{{cite web\|url=http://www.suttonunited.net/firstteam_stats.html\|title=First Team Stats – Appearances & Goalscorers\|website=suttonunited.net\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203045334/http://suttonunited.net/firstteam_stats.html\|archive-date=3 February 2017\|url-status=dead\|access-date=25 April 2017}} \|National League \|30	1	2	0	colspan=2\|—	2One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in National League play-offs	0	34	1
2018–19 \|National League \|23	1	2	0	colspan=2\|—	3Two appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup	0	28	1
colspan=2\|Total !107	9	9	0	colspan=2\|—	9	0	125	9
rowspan=1\|Havant & Waterlooville \|2019–20 \|National League South \|34	2	3	0	colspan=2\|—	3Two appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in National League South playoffs	0	40	2
rowspan=1\|Gosport Borough \|2020–21{{cite web \| url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/nicky-bailey#playingcareer \| title=Nicky Bailey Profile \| Aylesbury United FC }} \|SFL Premier Division South \|4	0	1	0	colspan=2\|—	0	0	5	0
rowspan=1\|Cray Wanderers \|2021–22{{Cite web \|title=Nicky Bailey \|url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/cray-wanderers/appearances/nicky-bailey/930030}} \|Isthmian League Premier Division \|2	0	1	0	colspan=2\|—	0	0	3	0
colspan=3\|Career total !628	94	36	2	19	1	24	7	707	104

Honours

Barnet

Conference National: 2004–05

Sutton United

National League South : 2015–16

Individual

PFA Team of the Year: 2009–10 League One{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8643305.stm |title=Rooney is PFA player of the year |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 April 2010 |access-date=17 January 2023}}