Michael Nelson (footballer)

This article is about the football player. For people with a similar name, see Mike Nelson.

Michael Nelson

Personal information
Full name	Michael John Nelson
Date of birth	23 March 1980 (1980-03-23) (age 31)
Place of birth	Gateshead, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position	Centre Back
Club information
Current club	Scunthorpe United
Number	5
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997–1998	Leek Town	?	(?)
1998–2000	Spennymoor United	28	(2)
2000–2001	Bishop Auckland	?	(?)
2001–2003	Bury	71	(8)
2003–2009	Hartlepool United	259	(14)
2009–2011	Norwich City	36	(5)
2011–	Scunthorpe United	21	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:27, 6 August 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

Michael John Nelson (born 23 March 1980 in Gateshead) is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a defender for Championship side Scunthorpe United.

Early career

Nelson started his playing career as a semi-professional, playing for non league teams such as Spennymoor 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.

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 Swailes. 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".^[1] 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 Lee 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.^[2]

Norwich City

In June 2009, Nelson agreed to join League One newcomers Norwich City on a two year deal once his contract at Hartlepool expired at the end of the month.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

He left the Canaries on deadline day in January 2011 for an undisclosed fee, joining Scunthorpe United, just an hour from the deadline.

Honours

Club

Hartlepool United

• League Two Runners Up: 2006–07

Norwich City

• League One Champions: 2009–10

Individual

• Bury Player of the Year: 2002–03
• PFA League Two Team of the Year: 2007

References

1. ^ "Nelson's different class". Manchester Evening News. 8 May 2003. http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/sport/football/bury/s/58/58059_nelsons_different_class.html. Retrieved 18 April 2010. 
2. ^ "Ronaldo secures PFA awards double". BBC Sport. 22 April 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6582201.stm. Retrieved 18 April 2010. 
3. ^ "Nelson set to join". Norwich City F.C. 19 June 2009. http://www.canaries.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0,,10355~1696213,00.html. Retrieved 18 April 2010. 
4. ^ "Hartlepool vs Norwich". Norwich City F.C. 29 August 2009. http://www.canaries.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10355~47377,00.html. Retrieved 18 April 2010. 
5. ^ "Charlton 0–1 Norwich". BBC Sport. 17 April 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8617895.stm. Retrieved 18 April 2010. 

External links

• Nelson's Official Norwich City F.C. profile
• Michael Nelson profile at Vital Hartlepool
• Michael Nelson profile at In The Mad Crowd
• Michael Nelson career stats at Soccerbase

Persondata
Name	Nelson, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	23 March 1980
Place of birth	Gateshead, England
Date of death
Place of death