Nathan Arnold
{{Short description|Former professional footballer turned manager}}
{{use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nathan Arnold
| image = Nathan Arnold 25-10-2008 1.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Arnold playing for Mansfield Town in 2008
| fullname = Nathan Anthony Arnold
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|07|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Mansfield, England
| height =
| position = Attacking midfielder / Winger / Striker
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = {{0|000}}?–2005 | youthclubs1 = Mansfield Town
| years1 = 2005–2009 | clubs1 = Mansfield Town | caps1 = 104 | goals1 = 13
| years2 = 2009–2010 | clubs2 = Hyde United | caps2 = 35 | goals2 = 9
| years3 = 2010–2013 | clubs3 = Alfreton Town | caps3 = 109 | goals3 = 23
| years4 = 2013–2015 | clubs4 = Cambridge United | caps4 = 35 | goals4 = 3
| years5 = 2014–2015 | clubs5 = → Grimsby Town (loan) | caps5 = 35 | goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2015–2016 | clubs6 = Grimsby Town | caps6 = 40 | goals6 = 8
| years7 = 2016–2018 | clubs7 = Lincoln City | caps7 = 65 | goals7 = 12
| years8 = 2018 | clubs8 = → Salford City (loan) | caps8 = 3 | goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2018 | clubs9 = Boston United | caps9 = 8 | goals9 = 3
| years10 = 2019 | clubs10 = Altrincham | caps10 = 3 | goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2020 | clubs11 = Bourne Town | caps11 = 7 | goals11 = 1
| totalcaps = 443 | totalgoals = 78
| nationalyears1 = 2008 | nationalteam1 = England C | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| ntupdate =
| manageryears1 = 2020–2021 | managerclubs1 = Bourne Town
| manageryears2 = 2021–2022 | managerclubs2 = Newark Town
| manageryears3 = 2022 | managerclubs3 = Newark and Sherwood United
| manageryears4 = 2022–2023 | managerclubs4 = Cleethorpes Town
| manageryears5 = 2023–2024
| managerclubs5 = Sleaford Town
| manageryears6 = 2024–2025
| managerclubs6 = Grantham Town
}}
Nathan Anthony Arnold (born 26 July 1987) is an English football manager and former professional footballer. He was most recently manager of Grantham Town.
As a player he was active between 2005 and 2020 and was primarily a winger but could also play as a striker. He played for Lincolnshire sides Grimsby Town and Lincoln City; with The Mariners he scored the third goal in stoppage time to earn Grimsby promotion back to the Football League in a 3–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers at Wembley Stadium in the National League play-off final.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36244418 |title = Forest Green Rovers 1-3 Grimsby Town | publisher=BBC Sport }} The following season he also scored the only goal of the game for a Non-League Lincoln side in a 1–0 win over Ipswich Town in the FA Cup third round and would go on to be part of the Imps side that were eventually knocked out in the Quarter finals by Arsenal. He also played professionally for Mansfield Town and Cambridge United with spells at Non-League sides Hyde United, Alfreton Town, Salford City, Boston United and Altrincham.
Early life
Arnold attended Mansfield's Queen Elizabeth's Secondary School and often played for his own year group's school team as well as years above.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}
Playing career
= Mansfield Town =
Arnold came up through the youth team at Mansfield Town,{{cite web |title=Nathan Arnold profile |publisher=Mansfield Town F.C. |url=http://www.mansfieldtown.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10325~34565,00.html |accessdate=15 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412045553/http://www.mansfieldtown.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10325~34565,00.html |archivedate=12 April 2008 |df=dmy-all }} and made his debut against Hereford United in October 2005.{{cite web |title=Games played by Nathan Arnold in 2005/2006 |work=Soccerbase |publisher=Racing Post |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=42094&season_id=135|access-date=16 April 2008}} He scored his first career goal against Bristol Rovers in December 2005 in his third appearance for Mansfield. By the end of the 2006–07 season, he had made over 30 appearances for Mansfield, scoring four goals,{{cite web |title=Nathan Arnold |work=Soccerbase |publisher=Racing Post |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=42094|access-date=16 April 2008}} and was offered a new contract in May 2007.{{cite news |title=Stags offer deals to 11 players |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 May 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/mansfield_town/6640247.stm |accessdate=16 April 2008}} By the end of the 2007–08 season, Arnold had made 70 appearances in all competitions for Mansfield.
= Hyde =
After a trial at Grimsby Town in July, he signed for Hyde United in the Conference North on a free transfer in August 2009, but with a sell-on clause in his contract stating that if he was sold in the future, Mansfield would gain some of the profits. His competitive debut for Hyde came with his first goal in a 1–0 win against Stafford Rangers, and then in the very next game he netted again in a 1–1 draw with Fleetwood Town. He also scored a 25-yard free kick against Salford City in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.
At the end of his first season with Hyde he was one of the outstanding players in their team scoring 11 goals in 38 games in all competitions, making him Hyde's second-top scorer, two goals behind David McNiven.[http://www.hydeunited.com/careerstats.php?sort=2&y=2009 Arnold Second top goalscorer]
= Alfreton Town =
Arnold spent only a single season at Hyde before returning to the East Midlands, signing-on for Conference North club Alfreton Town,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8755487.stm Alfreton sign Arnold] helping them to win the league and achieve promotion to the Conference National in his first season.{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13212598.stm | title=Alfreton Town's Nicky Law relishing well-earned break | publisher=BBC Sport | date=27 April 2011 | accessdate=6 July 2011}} Arnold was one of the outstanding performers for the club, and immediately became a fans' favourite. He contributed 13 goals in all competitions over the course of the season.
The 2011–12 season started badly as Arnold missed a large proportion of the first half of the season after breaking his metatarsal which added to Alfreton Town's already lengthy injury list.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14663922.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Alfreton hit with Arnold injury | date=25 August 2011}} After returning he scored at both ends in a bizarre game against Hayes & Yeading where there were four goals in injury time and the final score being 3–2.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/15802825.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Alfreton Town 3–2 Hayes & Yeading | date=26 November 2011}} Arnold began to play an integral part in Alfreton Town's upturn in form from the halfway point in the season by contributing goals and assists, and was subsequently named runner-up for the supporters' player of the year for his part in sustaining the team's Conference National status. His contract came to an end at the end of the 2011–12 season and thus became a free agent, and was believed to be in discussions with his former club Mansfield Town despite Alfreton Town stating he had agreed to stay, creating confusion amongst the fans. On 5 June 2012, Alfreton Town announced that he had signed a new one-year contract with the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.alfretontownfc.com/news/arnold-commits-to-alfreton-for-another-season-1644.htm |title=Arnold commits to Alfreton for another season |publisher=Alfreton Town F.C |accessdate=12 November 2012}} He again contributed largely to the team's season by scoring nine goals and again contributing key assists helping them to achieve a comfortable midtable finish. In June 2013 Alfreton manager Nicky Law confirmed that Arnold was unlikely to remain with the club for the following season as he was keen to play League football again.{{cite web |url=http://www.alfretontownfc.com/news/LAW%3A-NEXT-SEASON-WILL-BE-TOUGHEST-YET-2041.htm |title=Law: Next season will be the toughest yet |publisher=Alfreton Town F.C |accessdate=6 July 2013}}
= Cambridge United =
He trialled at former club Mansfield Town but was not offered a contract and instead joined Cambridge United on a two-year deal{{when|date=August 2013}}.{{cite news |url=http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/striker-seeking-stags-box-paul-cox-hopes-storms-do-not-wash-out-rainworth-friendly-1-5881370 |title=Striker-seeking Stags box Paul Cox hopes storms do not wash out Rainworth friendly |newspaper=Mansfield Chad |accessdate=23 July 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/article/arnold-signs-939022.aspx |title=Nathan Arnold signs for the U's |publisher=Cambridge United F.C |accessdate=23 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726193356/http://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/article/arnold-signs-939022.aspx |archivedate=26 July 2013 }} In the first half of the season he played a key part, mainly as an impact player from the bench, in the team's good form which seen them unbeaten for the first 16 games of the season, however the team's form soon dipped around Christmas and Arnold then found himself on the sidelines for periods until the end of the season. It was a compliment to the squad overall that the likes of Arnold and Delano Sam-Yorke amongst others found themselves on the sub's bench on many occasions. He did however play a key role in getting Cambridge United to the FA Trophy final by scoring the winner in the first round against Salisbury City and also against St. Albans City in the second round. He then made an appearance in every game of the cup run including a 20-minute appearance at Wembley Stadium for the final where Cambridge United beat Gosport Borough 4–0 to lift the trophy, and also contributed to them finishing the season in 2nd place and a play-off spot. At the end of the 2014–15 season the club did not offer him a new deal when his contract expired.{{cite news|url=http://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/article/us-retained-list-confirmed-2442891.aspx|title=U's retained list confirmed|publisher=Cambridge United|date=6 May 2015|accessdate=31 May 2015}}
= Grimsby Town =
On 19 July 2014, Arnold joined Grimsby Town on a season long loan deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/article/attacker-joins-town-1769374.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719183943/http://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/article/attacker-joins-town-1769374.aspx|url-status=usurped|archive-date=19 July 2014|title=Attacker Joins Town|publisher=Grimsby Town F.C.|date=19 July 2014|accessdate=19 July 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28393102|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Grimsby Town sign Cambridge United forward|date=20 July 2014|accessdate=20 July 2014}} Although he started his Grimsby Town career injured he went on to establish himself firmly as a first team starter and helped guide them to the play-offs, where he scored two wonderful goals in the 1–2 play off semi-final win over Eastleigh.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32473544|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Eastleigh 1–2 Grimsby|date=30 April 2015|accessdate=14 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/335377/report|publisher=Sky Sports|title=Mariners set sail in play-offs through two Nathan Arnold stunners|date=30 April 2015|accessdate=14 June 2015}} The club narrowly missed out promotion by losing out in the 2015 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley Stadium to Bristol Rovers on penalties, although Arnold set up Lenell John-Lewis's opening goal with a run from the half-way line and then went on to draw 1–1 after extra time.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32679757|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Bristol Rovers 1–1 Grimsby|date=17 May 2015|accessdate=14 June 2015}} His efforts over the season earned him a place in the National League team of the year, alongside the league's outstanding players.
On 29 May 2015, he joined the club on a permanent one-year deal after being released by Cambridge United, citing the positivity around the club following their narrow avoidance of promotion, even despite reported interest from Football League teams.{{cite news|url=http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Nathan-Arnold-s-delight-new-Grimsby-Town-deal/story-26598330-detail/story.html|newspaper=Grimsby Telegraph|title=Nathan Arnold's delight at new Grimsby Town deal|date=30 May 2015|accessdate=14 June 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614205156/http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Nathan-Arnold-s-delight-new-Grimsby-Town-deal/story-26598330-detail/story.html|archivedate=14 June 2015}} Over the course of the 2015/16 season Arnold once again played an integral part in taking Grimsby to the play-off and FA Trophy finals.
Arnold scored the third goal in Grimsby's 3–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers in the 2016 National League play-off final at Wembley, seeing Grimsby promoted to League Two after a six-year absence from the Football League.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36244418|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Forest Green 1–3 Grimsby|date=15 May 2016|accessdate=15 May 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/forest-grn-vs-grimsby/355101|publisher=Sky Sports|title=Grimsby secure promotion back to Football League at Wembley|date=15 May 2016|accessdate=16 May 2016}}
At the end of the season, he was offered new terms, but after mulling over the contract, Arnold decided to seek a fresh challenge. "Several factors" were behind the decision.{{cite news|url=http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/nathan-arnold-exit-former-grimsby-town-man-confirms-decision/story-29426203-detail/story.html|newspaper=Grimsby Telegraph|title=Nathan Arnold EXIT: Former Grimsby Town man confirms decision|date=21 June 2016|accessdate=22 June 2016}}{{dead link|date=February 2018}}
= Lincoln City =
On 29 July 2016, Arnold signed for Lincoln City; he was signed using money raised from the club's crowd funding scheme. He made his debut for Lincoln in a 3–1 win over Woking.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}
On 17 January 2017, Arnold scored an injury time goal in a 1–0 FA Cup replay victory over Ipswich Town to enable Lincoln City to reach the Fourth Round of the FA Cup for the first time in 41 years.{{cite web |last=Strickland |first=Jamie |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38565597 |title=Lincoln City 1 Ipswich Town 0 |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=18 January 2017 |date=17 January 2017}}{{cite web |title=Injury-time goal gives Lincoln incredible win |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38659082 |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=18 January 2017|date=17 January 2017}} He was part of the team that not only won the National League that season, but also became the first non-league team for over 100 years to reach the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. On 10 February 2017, Arnold joined Salford City until the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2018/february/180210-arnoldloan|title=Arnold Makes Loan Move}} Speaking to the Lincolnshire Echo after his arrival he made comments about the clubs ambitions not matching reality, saying the club was complacent and the professionalism wasn't what it was at Lincoln.{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Alan |url=https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nathan-arnold-speaks-candidly-move-1296240 |title=Nathan Arnold speaks candidly on his move to Salford City |work=Lincolnshire Echo |date=4 March 2018 |accessdate=5 August 2021}} The loan move was cancelled shortly afterwards.{{cite web |last=Badcock |first=Matt |url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/features/23151/nathan-arnold-im-ready-to-begin-my-new-vocation/ |title=Nathan Arnold: I'm ready to begin my new vocation |work=The Non-League Paper |date=21 June 2018 |accessdate=5 August 2021}}
=Boston United=
On 1 June 2018, Arnold left Lincoln City, following a mutual termination of his contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2018/june/180601-arnold-exits|title = Nathan Arnold makes Sincil Bank exit}} The following day, he joined Boston United on a one-year contract, which also included a management role.{{Cite web |title=Arnold is first summer signing |first=Craig |last=Singleton |work=Boston United F.C. |date=2 June 2018 |accessdate=2 June 2018 |url=http://www.bostonunited.co.uk/news/arnold-is-first-summer-signing-2311950.html}}
On 6 October 2018, Arnold left the club by mutual consent.[https://www.bostonstandard.co.uk/sport/football/boston-united/elliott-looks-to-bring-in-fresh-faces-as-five-depart-boston-united-1-8659573 Elliott looks to bring in fresh faces as five depart Boston United], bostonstandard.co.uk, 6 October 2018
=Altrincham=
In June 2019, Arnold signed for Altrincham after six months away from football.{{Cite web|url=https://www.altrinchamfc.com/news/major-coup-for-alty-as-arnold-signs-on-at-the-j-davidson-stadium|title = Major coup for Alty as Arnold signs on at the J.Davidson Stadium | Altrincham Football Club}} He left the club on 21 August 2019.[https://www.altrinchamfc.com/news/nathan-arnold-leaves-altrincham Nathan Arnold Leaves Altrincham], altrinchamfc.com, 21 August 2019
International career
On 27 August 2008, Arnold received an England C call-up by manager Paul Fairclough along with his Mansfield teammate Jonathan D'Laryea for the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which England lost 6–2.{{cite news |title=England C taste defeat
|publisher=The FA |date=17 September 2008 |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/england-c/News/2009/bosnia_report |accessdate=17 December 2010}}
Managerial career
Arnold joined Bourne Town in August 2020, and was appointed joint player manager alongside Simon Dawes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/sport/wakes-appoint-new-joint-manager-9120708/|title=Wakes appoint new joint manager|date=25 August 2020}}
The team only played nine games before the season was abandoned due to COVID-19 restrictions. He left the club in May 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/non-league-paper/391474/nathan-arnold-leaves-bourne-town/|title=Nathan Arnold leaves Bourne Town|date=15 May 2021}}
In June 2021, Newark Town appointed him as their First Team Manager.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/sport/former-lincoln-city-pro-takes-newark-town-job-9203432/|title = Former Lincoln City pro takes Newark Town job|date = 16 June 2021}}
Arnold resigned his position with Newark Town at the end of the 2021–22 season and was appointed manager of local rivals Newark and Sherwood United.{{cite web | url=https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/sport/football/on-the-move-former-boston-united-players-find-new-clubs-3726333 | title=On the move! Former Boston United players find new clubs }}
On 9 November 2022, Arnold was appointed manager of Cleethorpes Town.{{cite web | url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/cleethorpestown/news/owls-appoint-nathan-arnold-2741827.html | title=Owls Appoint Nathan Arnold }} He left the club via mutual consent in March 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/cleethorpestown/news/club-statement--nathan-arnold-2770385.html | title=Club Statement - Nathan Arnold }}
On 1 November 2023, Arnold was appointed joint manager of Sleaford Town Football Club, working alongside Tom Ward.{{cite web | url=https://www.sleafordtownfc.com/news/big-news-greens-2813963.html | title=Big News Greens! }} He left Sleaford in May the following year.
In December 2024, he was appointed manager of Grantham Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.lincsonline.co.uk/grantham/sport/nathan-s-named-as-new-manager-of-grantham-9397352/|title=Former Mansfield Town, Lincoln City and Grimsby Town player Nathan Arnold is the new manager of Grantham Town|website=Lincs Online|date=22 December 2024}} Having been unable to win a match in charge, he resigned following relegation in April 2025. {{cite web|url=https://www.lincsonline.co.uk/grantham/sport/arnolds-resigns-as-grantham-boss-after-incredibly-challengin-9413196/|title=Nathan Arnold resigns as manager of Grantham Town|publisher=Lincs Online|last=Bedford|first=James|date=16 April 2025|accessdate=19 April 2025}}
Personal life
Arnold has previously spoken about his struggles with anxiety following his mother's sudden death, even suffering an anxiety attack on the morning of Lincoln's title clinching 2–1 victory against Macclesfield Town in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/it-crippling-me-lincoln-citys-171601|title = 'It was crippling me' - Imps winger opens up about battle with anxiety|date = 6 July 2017}}{{Blockquote|"There were probably 20 games out of the 51 that I played last season when I was dealing with anxiety in my own way and just trying to battle through."|Nathan Arnold, speaking to Lincolnshire Live in July 2017.}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|19 August 2019}}{{soccerway|nathan-arnold/36187}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=January 2017}}
= Club =
;Alfreton Town
;Cambridge United
- Conference Premier play-offs: 2013–14
- FA Trophy: 2013–14
;Grimsby Town
- National League play-off winners: 2015–16
- FA Trophy runner-up: 2015–16
;Lincoln City
= Individual =
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20121028031222/http://www.alfretontownfc.com/content/arnold,-nathan-110.htm Nathan Arnold profile] at Alfreton Town F.C.
{{2014–15 Conference Premier Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arnold, Nathan}}
Category:Footballers from Mansfield
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's semi-pro international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Mansfield Town F.C. players
Category:Hyde United F.C. players
Category:Alfreton Town F.C. players
Category:Cambridge United F.C. players
Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players
Category:Lincoln City F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Salford City F.C. players
Category:Boston United F.C. players
Category:Altrincham F.C. players
Category:Bourne Town F.C. players
Category:English football managers
Category:Bourne Town F.C. managers
Category:Newark Town F.C. managers
Category:Newark and Sherwood United F.C. managers
Category:Cleethorpes Town F.C. managers
Category:Sleaford Town F.C. managers
Category:Grantham Town F.C. managers