Nathan Abbey
{{Short description|English footballer (born 1978)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Lead too short|date= July 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nathan Abbey
| image =
| fullname = Nathanael Abbey
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1978|7|11}}
| birth_place = Islington, England
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| position = Goalkeeper
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1995 | youthclubs1 = Luton Town
| years1 = 1995–2001 | clubs1 = Luton Town | caps1 = 55 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2001–2002 | clubs2 = Chesterfield | caps2 = 46 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2002–2003 | clubs3 = Northampton Town | caps3 = 5 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2003 | clubs4 = Stevenage Borough | caps4 = 6 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2003 | clubs5 = St Albans City | caps5 = 1 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2003 | clubs6 = Hayes | caps6 = 1 | goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2003–2004 | clubs7 = Ipswich Town | caps7 = 0 | goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2004 | clubs8 = Burnley | caps8 = 0 | goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2004–2006 | clubs9 = Boston United | caps9 = 61 | goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2005–2006 | clubs10 = → Leyton Orient (loan) | caps10 = 0 | goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2006 | clubs11 = Bristol City | caps11 = 1 | goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2006 | clubs12 = Torquay United | caps12 = 24 | goals12 = 0
| years13 = 2006–2007 | clubs13 = Brentford | caps13 = 16 | goals13 = 0
| years14 = 2007–2009 | clubs14 = Milton Keynes Dons | caps14 = 1 | goals14 = 0
| years15 = 2009–2010 | clubs15 = Rushden & Diamonds | caps15 = 10 | goals15 = 0
| years16 = 2010 | clubs16 = Kettering Town | caps16 = 29 | goals16 = 0
| years17 = 2011–2013 | clubs17 = Arlesey Town | caps17 = 56 | goals17 = 0
| years18 = 2013–2014 | clubs18 = St Neots Town | caps18 = 37 | goals18 = 0
| years19 = 2014–2015 | clubs19 = Dunstable Town | caps19 = 1 | goals19 = 0
| years20 = 2015–2018 | clubs20 = Arlesey Town | caps20 = 0 | goals20 = 0
| totalcaps = 350 |totalgoals = 0
| club-update =
| manageryears1 = 2011–2013
| managerclubs1 = Arlesey Town (player-assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2013–2014
| managerclubs2 = St Neots Town (player-assistant)
| manageryears3 = 2015–2018
| managerclubs3 = Arlesey Town (joint-coach)
| manageryears4 = 2018–2019
| managerclubs4 = Bedford Town (assistant)
| manageryears5 = 2019
| managerclubs5 = Bedford Town (joint-manager)
| manageryears6 = 2019–2020
| managerclubs6 = Bedford Town
}}
Nathanael "Nathan" Abbey (born 11 July 1978) is an English journeyman former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Career
=Luton Town=
Nathanael Abbey was born on 11 July 1978 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.lutonfc.com/playerprofile.asp?PlayerID=31|archive-url=https://archive.today/20030521113857/http://www.lutonfc.com/playerprofile.asp?PlayerID=31|url-status=dead|archivedate=21 May 2003|title=Nathan Abbey player profile|publisher=Luton Town F.C.|accessdate=8 December 2008}} 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.
Abbey 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 him. However, Abbey soon regained his place in the side,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/979952.stm|title=Hill explains why he axed Ovendale|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 October 2000|accessdate=8 December 2008}} 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{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/1287480.stm|title=Clear-out begins at Luton|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 April 2001|accessdate=8 December 2008}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chesterfield/1972673.stm|title=Spireites capture Dawson|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 May 2002|accessdate=8 December 2008}}
=Non-league=
He joined Northampton Town in August 2002{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/northampton_town/2173442.stm |title=Cobblers capture Abbey |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 August 2002 |accessdate=20 May 2007 }} and signed a contract extension until the end of the season,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/northampton_town/2306263.stm|title=Abbey stays with Cobblers|publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 October 2002|accessdate=8 December 2008}} 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,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/macclesfield_town/3273167.stm |title=Abbey arrives at Moss Rose |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 November 2003 |accessdate=20 May 2007 }} where he again failed to make the first team and was released, joining non-league Hayes in December 2003.{{cite web |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=14516 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001125124/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=14516 |archivedate=2012-10-01 |title=Hayes lose Abbey to Ipswich |publisher=NonLeagueDaily.com |date=19 December 2003 |url-status=usurped |accessdate=20 May 2007 }} Abbey had similar experiences on moving to Ipswich Town later the same month{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/3328459.stm |title=Ipswich sign Abbey |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 December 2003 |accessdate=20 May 2007 }} 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{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/boston_united/4548642.stm|title=Pilgrims ponder keeper loan swoop|publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 December 2005|accessdate=8 December 2008}} and moved to Bristol City on a free transfer in February 2006{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/4723812.stm |title=City recruit McCammon and Abbey |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 February 2006 |accessdate=20 May 2007 }} after being released by Boston at the end of January.{{cite news|title=Boston release Whelan and Abbey|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/boston_united/4666490.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 January 2006|accessdate=8 December 2008}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/4752035.stm|title=Johnson will release five players|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 May 2006|accessdate=8 December 2008}}
=Torquay United=
He signed for Torquay United in July 2006{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/5220334.stm |title=Abbey agrees terms with Torquay |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 July 2006 |accessdate=20 May 2007 }} 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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/6212745.stm |title=Goalkeeper Abbey leaves Torquay |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 December 2006 |accessdate=20 May 2007 }} 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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/6200963.stm|title=Torquay 0–2 MK Dons|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 December 2006|accessdate=8 December 2008}}
=Brentford=
Abbey signed for Brentford on 29 December 2006 on an emergency loan as regular goalkeepers Stuart Nelson and Clark Masters were injured.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/6218079.stm |title=Goalkeeper Abbey joins Brentford |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 December 2006 |accessdate=20 May 2007 }} He signed a permanent contract on 26 January 2007.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brentford/6303323.stm |title=Abbey signs contract at Brentford |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 January 2007 |accessdate=20 May 2007 }} He made sixteen appearances for the Bees before being released on 16 May 2007.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brentford/6663481.stm|title=Bees sign Mackie after clear-out|publisher=BBC Sport|date=16 May 2007|accessdate=5 December 2008}}
=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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/6943296.stm|title=Dons sign Abbey, Navarro & Howell|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 August 2007|accessdate=8 December 2008}} After two seasons he was released by MK Dons.{{cite news|url=http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/Six-players-go-in-Dons.5281078.jp|title=Six players go in Dons clear-out|author=James Chard|publisher=MK Citizen|date=19 May 2009|accessdate=29 May 2009}}
=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.{{cite news|url=http://www.ketteringtownfc.co.uk/story.php?story_id=379|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307074147/http://www.ketteringtownfc.co.uk/story.php?story_id=379|archivedate=2012-03-07|title=Player Up-date 15 January|publisher=Kettering Town F.C.|date=15 January 2010|accessdate=20 January 2010}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/k/kettering_town/9195869.stm|title=Kettering Town sack goalkeeper Nathan Abbey|date=16 November 2010|accessdate=16 November 2010|publisher=BBC Sport}}
Managerial career
Abbey joined his brother Zema as player/assistant manager at Arlesey Town.{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/arleseytownfc/s/players-coaches-60531.html?player_id=692456 |title=Arlesey Town – Players & Coaches – Nathan Abbey – Arlesey Town FC |publisher=Pitchero.com |date=29 November 2012 |accessdate=22 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130131215018/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/arleseytownfc/s/players-coaches-60531.html?player_id=692456 |archivedate=31 January 2013 }} In November 2013, Abbey moved with his brother to St Neots Town.{{cite magazine| url=http://www.thecomet.net/sport/abbey_brothers_leave_arlesey_town_for_st_neots_1_2994047|title=Abbey brothers leave Arlesey Town for St Neots |magazine=The Comet |date=13 November 2013 |accessdate=1 January 2013}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/staff/nathan-abbey|title = Nathan Abbey Profile | Aylesbury United FC}} 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.[https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/sport/football/eagles-announce-flurry-new-signings-including-ex-hatters-benson-and-abbey-1331228 Eagles announce flurry of new signings including ex-Hatters Benson and Abbey], bedfordtoday.co.uk, 30 June 2018 Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Abbey was promoted to joint-head coach alongside Jon Taylor.[https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bedfordtownfootballclub/news/joint-management-structure-announced-2437346.html Joint Management Structure Announced], pitchero.com, 21 June 2019 On 3 November 2019, Taylor decided to step back and Abbey agreed to take on the role by himself.[https://www.facebook.com/bedfordtown/posts/management-structure-change-club-statementbedford-town-football-club-can-confirm/2248657571905928/ Bedford Town FC – MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE CHANGE ...], facebook.com, 3 November 2019 However, he decided to step back on 14 January 2020 after a disappointing run of form since he took charge of the team.[https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bedfordtownfootballclub/news/club-statement--nathan-abbey-2502742.html CLUB STATEMENT – NATHAN ABBEY], pitchero.com, 14 January 2020
In December 2021 it was announced that Bedford FC had been sold to new owner Peter McCormack. The club team, now known as Real Bedford, is currently managed by Nathan Abbey as it continues its season in the Spartan South Midlands Football League.
Personal life
His brother, Zema, was also a professional footballer.
Career statistics
{{updated|18 November 2018}}{{cite web|title=Games played by Nathan Abbey|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=9590|website=Soccerbase|accessdate=18 November 2018}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=5|Luton Town
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1998–99
|Second Division |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1999–00
|Second Division |34 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
| 2000–01
|Second Division |20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!56 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 68 | 0 | |
| Chesterfield
|Second Division |46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 53 | 0 | |
| Northampton Town
|Second Division |5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Stevenage Borough
|6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | ||
| Ipswich Town
|2003–04 |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| Burnley
|2003–04 |First Division |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Boston United
|44 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 0 | |
| 2005–06
|League Two |17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!61 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 73 | 0 | |
| Leyton Orient (loan)
|2005–06 |League Two |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Bristol City (loan)
|2005–06 |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Torquay United
|League Two |24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| Brentford
|2006–07 |League One |16 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Milton Keynes Dons
|League Two |0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2008–09
|League One |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Rushden & Diamonds
|10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 0 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Kettering Town
|2009–10 |Conference Premier |17 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 0 | ||||
| 2010–11
|Conference Premier |11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 0 | |||
| colspan=3|Career total
!254 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 299 | 0 |
Honours
Milton Keynes Dons
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7309420.stm
|title=Grimsby 0-2 MK Dons
|publisher=BBC Sport
|date=30 March 2008 |accessdate=8 September 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318060438/http://www.mkdons.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10420~9090%2C00.html |date=18 March 2012 |title=Nathan Abbey player profile at mkdons.com }}
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{NeilBrownPlayers|player7/nathanabbey}}
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160114162524/http://basingstoketown.net/stats/player.php?id=190 Nathan Abbey – Basingstoke Town Profile]}}
{{Chesterfield F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbey, Nathan}}
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Islington
Category:People from Islington (district)
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:English men's footballers
Category:English Football League players
Category:Southern Football League players
Category:Boston United F.C. players
Category:Brentford F.C. players
Category:Bristol City F.C. players
Category:Chesterfield F.C. players
Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players
Category:Leyton Orient F.C. players
Category:Luton Town F.C. players
Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players
Category:Rushden & Diamonds F.C. players
Category:Northampton Town F.C. players
Category:Stevenage F.C. players
Category:Torquay United F.C. players
Category:Arlesey Town F.C. players
Category:St Albans City F.C. players
Category:Kettering Town F.C. players
Category:St Neots Town F.C. players
Category:Dunstable Town F.C. players
Category:English football managers
Category:Arlesey Town F.C. managers
Category:English people of Ghanaian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Ghanaian descent
Category:English people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines descent