Michael Nelson
Encyclopedia
Michael John Nelson is an English
professional footballer who currently plays as a defender
for Championship side Scunthorpe United.
, Leek Town
and Bishop Auckland
. Nelson’s performances attracted the attention of league clubs who sent scouts to watch him. Nelson was given a trial at Hartlepool
but he was not offered a contract by the then Hartlepool manager Chris Turner. However Nelson was offered a contract at Bury
by manager Andy Preece
after Bury scout Peter Ward convinced him to give Nelson a chance.
. However during the season Nelson suffered what he described as ‘‘the worst injury of his career’’ after suffering a collapsed lung and several cracked ribs after a collision during Bury’s match against Wigan Athletic. Nelson had to have a drain inserted into his chest for several days while he was hospitalised. The injury threatened to keep him sidelined for three months but remarkably Nelson was able to resume training less than three weeks later.
Despite being dropped early on, Nelson’s second season turned out to be even more successful as he played in 40 of Bury’s 46 matches, scoring 5 goals. Nelson was made club captain and his performances earned him the respect of the club’s players and fans. Nelson made a clean sweep at the Bury end of season awards, as he picked up Forever Bury Player of the season, Billy Ayre Website Player of the Season, Players Player of the Season and Disabled Player of the Season. During that season, Bury manager Andy Preece hailed Nelson as "the best centre-half in Division Three". However, Bury failed to gain promotion to League 1 as they missed out during the play-offs and Nelson was offered the chance to play in a higher division by several League 1 clubs.
who had joined Sheffield Wednesday. Nelson started strongly for Hartlepool and scored the winner from 30 yards during his debut in Hartlepool’s 4–3 win over Peterborough
. This goal almost earned him another award as it was on the shortlist for Hartlepool’s Goal of the Season. He was also voted September’s Player of the Month on the official Hartlepool website. Nelson began to form a strong partnership with Chris Westwood
and the pair played together for the majority of Hartlepool’s games. Nelson went onto to play in 40 of Hartlepool’s league matches and played in both legs of Hartlepool’s play-off semi final match against Bristol City
. Nelson was in contention for Hartlepool’s Fans and Players’ Player of the season but he missed out to Jim Provett
on both occasions.
However Nelson failed to maintain this through to the 2004–05 season and he handed in a transfer request. His agent claimed that he’d been “promised” a better deal. This triggered a feud with Hartlepool chairman Ken Hodcroft
who criticised Nelson and his agent. Nelson was missing in several of Hartlepool’s matches and was rumoured to be signing for Hull City
for a fee of around £100,000. However Nelson withdrew his transfer request and was reinstalled into the starting line-up. His performances earned him an improved contract and he was offered a new three-year contract that would tie him to the club until 2008.
Nelson’s third season of the club saw him receiving his first red card for Hartlepool after he retaliated and elbowed Jack Lester
during Hartlepool’s defeat to Nottingham Forest. He was the favoured central defender alongside Ben Clark
during the 2006–07 campaign, playing a major part in the 18 game unbeaten run along with Dimitrios Konstantopoulos in goal. The season also saw him take the captain's armband in the absence on Michael Barron
.
Nelson was named in the PFA League Two
Team of the Year for the 2006–07 season.
newcomers Norwich City
on a two year deal once his contract at Hartlepool expired at the end of the month. He made his debut in the 7–1 opening-day thrashing at the hands of Colchester, and did not play for the first team again until the game against his former club Hartlepool later in August, in which he scored his first goal for Norwich. Nelson established himself as a regular starter following an injury to teammate Jens Berthel Askou
in December. On 17 April 2010, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory at Charlton Athletic
which secured Norwich's return to the Championship
at the first attempt.
He left the Canaries on deadline day in January 2011 for an undisclosed fee, joining Scunthorpe United, just an hour from the deadline.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who currently plays as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Championship side Scunthorpe United.
Early career
Nelson started his playing career as a semi-professional, playing for non league teams such as Spennymoor UnitedSpennymoor United F.C.
Spennymoor United F.C. was an English association football club based in Spennymoor, County Durham.In 1905, they joined the Northern League and won the league title six times in their history. In the 1936-37 season, they reached the third round of the FA Cup, where they lost to top-flight side West...
, Leek Town
Leek Town F.C.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
and Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland F.C.
Bishop Auckland Football Club are an English football team based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. They are one of the most successful amateur sides, having won the old FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions , and losing finalists on a further 8. They currently play in the Northern League Division One. ...
. Nelson’s performances attracted the attention of league clubs who sent scouts to watch him. Nelson was given a trial at Hartlepool
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
but he was not offered a contract by the then Hartlepool manager Chris Turner. However Nelson was offered a contract at Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
by manager Andy Preece
Andy Preece
Andrew Preece is a part-time English footballer and manager. He is currently the player-manager at Northwich Victoria.-Career:...
after Bury scout Peter Ward convinced him to give Nelson a chance.
Bury
Once Nelson had settled down to professional football, he gradually became a first team regular and during his first full season at Bury he managed to play 31 of the clubs 46 league matches, scoring 2 goals in the process. Nelson formed a defensive partnership with Danny SwailesDanny Swailes
Daniel "Danny" Swailes is an English football defender.Swailes moved to MK Dons from Macclesfield Town F.C. for an undisclosed fee of around £50,000 at the beginning of the 2007/08 season to join up with former Macclesfield manager, Paul Ince...
. However during the season Nelson suffered what he described as ‘‘the worst injury of his career’’ after suffering a collapsed lung and several cracked ribs after a collision during Bury’s match against Wigan Athletic. Nelson had to have a drain inserted into his chest for several days while he was hospitalised. The injury threatened to keep him sidelined for three months but remarkably Nelson was able to resume training less than three weeks later.
Despite being dropped early on, Nelson’s second season turned out to be even more successful as he played in 40 of Bury’s 46 matches, scoring 5 goals. Nelson was made club captain and his performances earned him the respect of the club’s players and fans. Nelson made a clean sweep at the Bury end of season awards, as he picked up Forever Bury Player of the season, Billy Ayre Website Player of the Season, Players Player of the Season and Disabled Player of the Season. During that season, Bury manager Andy Preece hailed Nelson as "the best centre-half in Division Three". However, Bury failed to gain promotion to League 1 as they missed out during the play-offs and Nelson was offered the chance to play in a higher division by several League 1 clubs.
Hartlepool United
The following season, Nelson joined Hartlepool United on the same day that Neale Cooper was appointed manager for a fee of around £70,000. Nelson was seen as natural replacement for Graeme LeeGraeme Lee (footballer)
Graeme Lee is an English professional footballer who plays for Darlington as a defender. He has previously played for Hartlepool United, Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Rovers, Bradford City and also had loan spells with Hartlepool and Shrewsbury Town...
who had joined Sheffield Wednesday. Nelson started strongly for Hartlepool and scored the winner from 30 yards during his debut in Hartlepool’s 4–3 win over Peterborough
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
. This goal almost earned him another award as it was on the shortlist for Hartlepool’s Goal of the Season. He was also voted September’s Player of the Month on the official Hartlepool website. Nelson began to form a strong partnership with Chris Westwood
Chris Westwood
Christopher John "Chris" Westwood is an English footballer, currently playing as a defender for Wrexham.-Career:Westwood began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he scored once against Portsmouth, before moving to Reading. First team chances at both clubs were limited, and at the...
and the pair played together for the majority of Hartlepool’s games. Nelson went onto to play in 40 of Hartlepool’s league matches and played in both legs of Hartlepool’s play-off semi final match against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. Nelson was in contention for Hartlepool’s Fans and Players’ Player of the season but he missed out to Jim Provett
Jim Provett
James "Jim" Provett is a football goalkeeper, who currently plays for Norton & Stockton Ancients.-Playing career:...
on both occasions.
However Nelson failed to maintain this through to the 2004–05 season and he handed in a transfer request. His agent claimed that he’d been “promised” a better deal. This triggered a feud with Hartlepool chairman Ken Hodcroft
Ken Hodcroft
Ken Hodcroft is the managing director of Increased Oil Recovery and the chairman of Hartlepool United F.C. .-Early life:Ken Hodcroft was born in Newcastle but moved to Leeds when he was five with his family. There he was educated at Leeds Grammar School and took his A-Levels. It was at Leeds...
who criticised Nelson and his agent. Nelson was missing in several of Hartlepool’s matches and was rumoured to be signing for Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
for a fee of around £100,000. However Nelson withdrew his transfer request and was reinstalled into the starting line-up. His performances earned him an improved contract and he was offered a new three-year contract that would tie him to the club until 2008.
Nelson’s third season of the club saw him receiving his first red card for Hartlepool after he retaliated and elbowed Jack Lester
Jack Lester
Jack William Lester is an English professional footballer, currently playing for English Football League One side Chesterfield. He plays either as a striker or an attacking midfielder...
during Hartlepool’s defeat to Nottingham Forest. He was the favoured central defender alongside Ben Clark
Ben Clark (footballer)
Benjamin "Ben" Clark is a professional footballer who plays for Conference National side Gateshead.-Manchester United:...
during the 2006–07 campaign, playing a major part in the 18 game unbeaten run along with Dimitrios Konstantopoulos in goal. The season also saw him take the captain's armband in the absence on Michael Barron
Michael Barron
Michael “Mickey” Barron was a professional footballer after his retirement in 2008.Micky Barron started his career at Middlesbrough. Despite spending 4 years at the club, Barron only made 3 appearances and found his chances of breaking into the first team limited...
.
Nelson was named in the PFA League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Team of the Year for the 2006–07 season.
Norwich City
In June 2009, Nelson agreed to join League OneFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
newcomers Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
on a two year deal once his contract at Hartlepool expired at the end of the month. He made his debut in the 7–1 opening-day thrashing at the hands of Colchester, and did not play for the first team again until the game against his former club Hartlepool later in August, in which he scored his first goal for Norwich. Nelson established himself as a regular starter following an injury to teammate Jens Berthel Askou
Jens Berthel Askou
Jens Berthel Askou is a Danish professional footballer, who plays as a defender for Danish 1st Division side Vejle Boldklub Kolding. Askou played for a number of Danish clubs before moving abroad, first to Turkish club Kasımpaşa and then to Norwich City in England...
in December. On 17 April 2010, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory at Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
which secured Norwich's return to the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
at the first attempt.
He left the Canaries on deadline day in January 2011 for an undisclosed fee, joining Scunthorpe United, just an hour from the deadline.
Hartlepool United
- League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Runners Up: 2006–07
Norwich City
- League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Champions: 2009–102009–10 Football LeagueThe Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The...
Individual
- Bury Player of the Year: 2002–03
- PFAProfessional Footballers' AssociationThe Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
League Two Team of the Year: 2007