Kevin Nicholls

Football player infobox
playername = Kevin Nicholls

|
fullname = Kevin John Richard Nicholls
height = 5 ft 10 in
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|1|2|df=y
cityofbirth = Newham
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Luton Town
clubnumber = 8
position = Central Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1995–1999
1999
1999–2001
2001–2006
2006–2007
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Charlton Athletic
→ Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)
Wigan Athletic
Luton Town
Leeds United
Preston North End
Luton Town
caps(goals) = 012 0(1)
004 0(1)
028 0(1)
175 (30)
013 0(0)
018 0(0)
004 0(0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 17:38, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Kevin Nicholls (born 2 January 1979, Newham, England). is a professional footballer who is once more currently playing for Luton Town after reaching an agreement with Preston North End to release him from his contract. He signed for Preston on 3 July 2007 after an unsuccessful spell at Leeds United A.F.C., where he invoked the wrath of manager Dennis Wise by announcing that his move to Leeds from Luton Town had been a mistake.

Nicholls made 19 League & Cup appearances for Preston in the early part of the 2007/08 season, but since the change of management he fell out of favour making only two appearances as a substitute since November. A knee Cartlidge injury in March ended his season prematurely.

Career

Kevin began his playing career at Charlton Athletic making his debut in the 1996-97 season. After a serious knee injury ruled him out most of the 1997-98 season he failed to break into the team in 1998-99 season and was loaned to Brighton & Hove Albion who promptly sent him back after four games.

Wigan Athletic

After a short period back at Charlton Nicholls was transferred to Wigan Athletic for £250,000 (rising to £650,000)based on appearances). Many Charlton fans hold Nicholls in high regard, and see him as a player who but for injury and their step up to the premier league could have made a real difference to their history. In the 1999-2000 season he was once again victim of injury only playing 8 games and after he appeared in 26 games in the 2000-01 season. He scored his only goal for Wigan in the 2-1 defeat against Reading in the play-off semi-final.

Luton Town

In the summer of 2001, Joe Kinnear signed him for Luton for a fee rising to £150,000. Kevin was a pivotal player in Luton's promotion season of 2001-02 becoming the team captain. At Luton, Nicholls managed for several seasons to avoid the injuries that dogged him at previous clubs and became the "heart and soul of the team" according to Kinnear. Unfortunately the 2003-04 season was not so good as he was again injured and missed 5 months. After the injury Kevin returned to his preferred central midfield position and contributed to Luton's very respectable 10th place finish.

In the 2004-2005 season Kevin was voted Player of the Year by the supporters as Luton won the League One championship. It was Kevin who lifted the championship trophy following their 4-2 victory against Brentford in April. He scored 14 goals, most of which came, crucially at times, from the penalty spot.

Nicholls was a vital part of the Luton side that not only finished 10th in the Championship in their first season, but in the match against Liverpool in the FA Cup, a game in which the Hatters went into a 3-1 lead courtesy of Nicholls, once again, well struck penalty. The Hatters eventually fell short of the quality to see out the game, losing 5-3, but many of the players, such as Nicholls, who had spent the majority of their careers in the lower leagues, were now in the public eye.

Leeds United

On 27 July 2006, Nicholls signed for Leeds United for £700,000. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/5207876.stm BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | Nicholls joins Leeds from Luton ] ] In his first training session with Leeds, he damaged his knee ligaments but hoped to be back within 3 months.BBC Football (02/08/2006). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/5228814.stm "Leeds get boost on Nicholls front"] BBC.co.uk (accessed 13th September 2006)] Nicholls' quick rehabilitation allowed him to make his debut for the club as a substitute in Leeds' match against Sunderland on 13 September 2006, one and a half months before he was due back.Leeds United (13/09/2006). [http://www.leedsunited.com/page/NewsroomDetail/0,,10273~897094,00.html "Leeds Vs Sunderland"] LeedsUnited.com (accessed 13th September 2006)]

Nicholls picked up another injury on 30 September 2006 against West Brom, which kept him out until December. On 26 October 2006, he was made the new captain of Leeds United Football Club by new manager Dennis Wise, with Shaun Derry being appointed his deputy.Sky Sports (26/10/2006). [http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=424717&CPID=10&clid=2&lid=2&title=Wise+makes+Nicholls+captain "Nicholls made Leeds captain"] SkySports.com (accessed 26 October 2006)]

Nicholls returned from injury on 16 December 2006, starting in the 1-0 loss against Ipswich Town. This was his first game as captain of Leeds and it ended with a red card in the dying minutes. Manager, Wise, decided not to appeal against the decision, so Nicholls missed Leeds' following three matches over the Christmas period.BBC Football (18/12/2006). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/6189813.stm "Leeds accept Nicholls' dismissal"] BBC.co.uk (accessed 19 December 2006)] Nicholls returned to the side once his suspension had been served in the 2-1 victory over Coventry City in what some Leeds fans described as an acceptable performance.

On 3 March, 2007 Nicholls was dropped for Leeds' home match against Sheffield Wednesday. In his post-match interview, Dennis Wise said that Nicholls had asked to leave the club and return to his former club Luton TownSky Sports (03/03/2007). [http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=451978&plid=3540&clid=2&cpid=10 "Nicholls request stuns Wise"] SkySports.com (accessed 22 June 2007)] . However, Wise stated that he would not allow Nicholls to return to Luton unless the original fee of £700,000 is paid back to Leeds. It was also stated that Nicholls had been stripped of his captaincy. He has now become somewhat of a hate figure amongst Leeds fans.Super Leeds (30/04/2008). [http://superleeds.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/disgraced-ex-skipped-suffers-injury-blow/ "Disgraced ex-skipper suffers injury blow"] superleeds.wordpress.com (accessed 01 April 2008)]

Preston North End

On 29 June 2007, it was revealed that he had left Leeds and had signed a deal to move to Preston North End for a fee of £750,000BBC Sport (29/06/2007). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/preston/6240552.stm "Leeds star agrees Preston switch"] BBC.co.uk (accessed 30 June 2007)] . Nicholls officially moved to Preston on 3 July due to Leeds' administration forcing them to delay all trading until that date.

Nicholls' spell at Preston was unsuccessful. Although he was a regular under Paul Simpson in the first few months of the season, he featured little following the arrival of Alan Irvine, falling behind Paul McKenna, Darren Carter and new signing Richard Chaplow in the pecking order. He left Preston North end on 2nd August 2008 after an agreement was reached to dissolve his contract. On the 2 August 2008 it was announced that Preston North End and Nicholls had come to an agreement to release him from his current contract.

Luton Town return

On 2 August 2008 Nicholls signed a 3 year contract with Luton Town at halftime during a pre season friendly between Luton and Brighton.Kevin said, "I know we have a mountain to climb. However, this club has a long history and has a special place in my heart. I am absolutely confident that with the other players planned to come in next week, we will be very competitive for the entire season. To be honest staying up is not good enough for me - we can, and will, do far better than that this season. I am delighted to be back, to be part of what the fans have started." Following his return to the club, Nicholls will return as club captain, taking over from Keith Keane. Nicholls has said he will always support Luton Town FC and loves the club. [http://www.lutononsunday.com/lutononsunday/| Luton on Sunday] (21/08/2008). [http://new2.lutononsunday.com/lutononsunday-sport-lutontownfc/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=340754 "Nicholls: I left the Championship for my love of Luton"] lutononsunday.com (accessed 21 August 2008)]

International career

He was capped once and then sent off for the England U-20 team.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.pnefc.net/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10362~9970,00.html Kevin Nicholls player profile] at pnefc.net
* [http://www.lutontown.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10372~9970,00.html Kevin Nicholls player profile] at lutontown.co.uk
*soccerbase|id=9745|name=Kevin Nicholls