NATHAN ELLINGTON

'Nathan Robert Ellington' (born July 2, 1981 in Bradford, West Yorkshire) is an English professional footballer. He is a striker and currently plays for Championship side Watford.
Since 2004 he has been a practising Muslim.^[1] He is nicknamed ''The Duke'' after legendary jazz musician Duke Ellington.

Contents

Playing career

Non-league and Bristol Rovers

Wigan Athletic

West Bromwich Albion

Watford

References

External links

Playing career

Non-league and Bristol Rovers

Ellington began his career with non-league 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 by 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, 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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.^[4] He made an instant impact, scoring on his debut in a 2–1 win at Chesterfield on 6 April 2002.^[5] He also scored on his home debut a week later as Wigan beat Northampton Town 3–0.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8] Ellington became one of the more desirable properties in English football, and joined West Bromwich Albion on 16 August 2005 for £3,000,001.^[9] 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.

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.^[10] He scored twice in a 4–1 League Cup win against Bradford City on 20 September 2005, his first goals for the club.^[11] 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, but he still managed to bag eight goals for the Baggies. 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. 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.
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.^[12] Former club Wigan Athletic expressed an interest in the player,^[13] 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.^[14] 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.^[15] Ellington featured regularly towards the end of the season, helping Albion reach the playoffs, but in the playoff games he was only used as a substitute. Albion lost 1–0 to Derby County in the playoff 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 next day. In all he scored 20 goals in 81 appearances for West Bromwich Albion.

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.^[16] He made his Watford debut three days later, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 win over Ipswich Town.^[17]

References

1. Watford 2-0 Ipswich
2. Ellington rips Rams apart
3. Plymouth players rewarded
4. Wigan win race for Ellington
5. Chesterfield 1-2 Wigan
6. Wigan 3-0 Northampton
7. Ellington blows away Baggies
8. Sunderland/Wigan dominate line-up
9. Ellington blames Wigan for exit
10. Chelsea 4-0 West Brom
11. WBA vs Bradford City
12. Baggies braced for Ellington exit
13. Wigan chase West Brom's Ellington Saj Chowdhury
14. Duke bags Goal-of-the-Season gong
15. West Brom 1-1 Middlesbrough (aet) John Sinnott
16. Watford sign Ellington for £3.25m
17. Watford vs Ipswich Town

External links

★

★ Profile on the official West Bromwich Albion website