Nathan Ellington

Nathan Levi Fontaine Ellington (born 2 July 1981 in Bradford, West Yorkshire) is an England professional football (soccer). Nathan Ellington is a striker and currently plays for Football League Championship side Watford F.C..

Playing career

Non-league and Bristol Rovers

Ellington began Nathan Ellington career with non-league Tooting and Mitcham United F.C, making 1 first team appearance at 16 years of age. Nathan Ellington played regularly for the youth team there, but was frustrated by a lack of first team chances, so Nathan Ellington moved to Walton & Hersham F.C., before moving to Bristol Rovers F.C. in February 1999 for £150,000. Nathan Ellington made Nathan Ellington professional debut on 23 February 1999, coming on as a second-half substitute for Jamie Cureton in a 1–0 home defeat to Gillingham F.C.. Nathan Ellington came off the bench to score Nathan Ellington first goal on 6 March 1999, helping Nathan Ellington team to a 2–0 win over York City F.C.. Nathan Ellington found a growing reputation with the side, and Nathan Ellington highest point for Rovers was scoring a hat-trick in a 3–1 win against Premiership team Derby County F.C. in the FA Cup, on 6 January 2002. This was the first time a team from the Football League Division Three 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. Nathan Ellington was named in the PFA Division Three team of the year for 2001-02 in English football.

Wigan Athletic

On 28 March 2002 - transfer deadline day - Ellington signed for Paul Jewell's Wigan Athletic F.C. for a then club record fee of £1.2 million. Nathan Ellington made an instant impact, scoring on Nathan Ellington debut in a 2–1 win at Chesterfield F.C. on 6 April 2002. Nathan Ellington also scored on Nathan Ellington home debut a week later as Wigan beat Northampton Town F.C. 3–0. Nathan Ellington only hat-trick for Wigan came against West Bromwich Albion F.C. in a 3–1 League Cup victory on 2 October 2002, Nathan Ellington second career hat-trick against Premiership opposition. Nathan Ellington notably scored the last ever goal in Wimbledon F.C's final game at Selhurst Park before their rebranding and relocation to Milton Keynes Dons F.C., during Wigan's 2–4 victory in September, 2003. Nathan Ellington was named Division One player of the month for February 2004. Ellington was a major factor in the club's promotion to the Premiership in the 2004-05 in English football, the first time they had reached the top flight in their history. Nathan Ellington was the leading scorer in the Football League Championship and formed a formidable partnership with Jason Roberts (footballer), with whom Nathan Ellington had previously played at Bristol Rovers. Both players were named in the PFA Championship team of the season. Ellington became one of the more desirable properties in English football, and joined West Bromwich Albion F.C. on 16 August 2005 for £3,000,001. With the player unable to agree a new contract with Wigan, Albion used a clause in Nathan Ellington existing contract that allowed Nathan Ellington to leave for any fee over £3m.

West Bromwich Albion

Ellington made Nathan Ellington West Brom (and Premier League) debut in a 4–0 away defeat at Chelsea F.C. on 24 August 2005, replacing Jonathan Greening in the second half. Nathan Ellington scored twice in a 4–1 League Cup win against Bradford City A.F.C. on 20 September 2005, Nathan Ellington first goals for the club. Nathan Ellington generally struggled in Nathan Ellington first ever season in the Premier League, as Nathan Ellington season was damaged by a series of niggling injuries and a shoulder problem, but Nathan Ellington still managed to score eight goals. Ellington's first Premiership goals came in the 4–0 win against Everton F.C.; Nathan Ellington scored a goal in either half by a penalty and a long range shot. Nathan Ellington became quite unpopular with the West Brom fans towards the end of the same season because of Nathan Ellington complaint of a "bruised toe", and Nathan Ellington refusal to have painkilling injections to help Nathan Ellington through such a minor complaint. Nathan Ellington almost redeemed himself near the end of the season though, when Nathan Ellington 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. In June 2006, West Bromwich Albion rejected an undisclosed offer for Ellington from Nathan Ellington former club Wigan Athletic, insisting that the player was "not for sale".

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. Wigan Athletic again expressed an interest in re-signing the player, 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 Nathan Ellington dipping, swerving half volley against Cardiff City, scored in a 1–0 win on 20 February 2007. One week after that goal, Nathan Ellington received the first red card of Nathan Ellington career, for a dangerous tackle on Middlesbrough F.C.'s Stuart Parnaby. Albion subsequently lost the 5th round FA Cup replay on penalties. Ellington featured regularly towards the end of the season, helping Albion reach the play-offs, but in the play-off games Nathan Ellington was used only as a substitute. Albion lost 1–0 to Derby County in the 2007 Football League Championship playoff final at Wembley.

Ellington's only goal for Albion in 2007-08 in English football came in a 2–0 win away at Peterborough United F.C. in the League Cup on 28 August 2007. It proved to be Nathan Ellington last game for the club, as Nathan Ellington signed for Watford the following day. In all Nathan Ellington scored 20 goals in 81 appearances for West Bromwich Albion.

Watford

On 29 August 2007, Ellington joined Watford F.C. 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. Nathan Ellington made Nathan Ellington Watford debut three days later, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 win over Ipswich Town F.C., hitting the post a few minutes after entering the field. Ellington initially found it difficult to command a place in the Watford starting line-up due to the excellent form of Darius Henderson and Marlon King, and Nathan Ellington his first goal for Watford didn't come until Nathan Ellington scored in a 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic F.C. on 19 January 2008, and went on to score a further 2 goals in 3 games, but then didn't score again until 5 April against Coventry City F.C., Nathan Ellington last of the season. Ellington made 34 league appearances, 18 of them starts, scoring 4 goals.

Derby County

Derby County F.C. signed Ellington on 30 May 2008 on a season long loan, with a view to Nathan Ellington joining the Rams permanently on a free transfer at the end of 2008-09 in English football, in a move that re-united the player with manager Paul Jewell. Ellington had a successful pre-season with the Rams, scoring three times in seven matches. Nathan Ellington made Nathan Ellington debut for the club against Doncaster Rovers F.C. on 9 August 2008, and scored Nathan Ellington first three goals for the club with a hattrick against Lincoln City F.C. in the Football League Cup on 12 August 2008. Nathan Ellington scored Nathan Ellington first league goal for the club in the 2-1 victory away to Norwich City F.C.. Ellington scored a penalty in the ninety-third minute against Stoke City F.C. in the quarter-finals of the competition, which sent Derby into the semi-finals for the first time in 40 years. Nathan Ellington final goals in a Derby shirt came against Charlton Athletic on 15 December, scoring a brace to level the game at 2-2. Ellington made only 5 more appearances before the end of the season, just 2 of them coming under new Derby manager Nigel Clough, and both of them substitute appearances. After scoring 3 league goals in 27 games, Clough decided not to take up the option of signing Ellington, and Nathan Ellington returned to Watford.

Personal life

In 2004, upon marrying a Bosnia-Herzegovina woman, Ellington converted to Islam. In the past few years Nathan Ellington has visited Nathan Ellington wife's country of origin and since then Ellington has expressed interest in playing for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team. Nathan Ellington is nicknamed The Duke after legendary jazz musician Duke Ellington. Ellington is from a sporting family; Nathan Ellington older brother Lee Ellington is also a footballer.

Honours

- Football League Second Division champion, 2002-03 in English football Football League Second Division
- Football League Championship runner-up, 2004-05 in English football Football League Championship