Nathan Ellington - Player Profile

Nathan, nicknamed ‘The Duke’, and who once played table tennis for Great Britain, became the club’s record signing on transfer deadline day, 28th March 2002. Latics paid Bristol Rovers £1,200,000 for his services. The 22 years old striker signed a four-year deal, designed to keep him at the club until the summer of 2006. Nathan signed for the Blues in preference to both West Bromwich Albion and Millwall, both clubs that were chasing promotion to the Premiership. He made his Latics League debut on 6th April 2002 against Chesterfield at Saltergate in a game that resulted in a 2-1 victory for the Blues. Nathan and Andy Liddell were the goal scorers.

The following season (2002/03) saw him being a main player in the Second Division Championship campaign where he brought his club total to 45 League games played and 18 League goals scored. His season also saw him pick up the Worthington Cup ‘Top Scorer’ award and his five goals in that competition saw Latics progress to the quarter finals for the first time in their history. Doubts about his ability to step up a level were dispelled the following season when he scored18 League goals again despite playing a game less. By the end of season 2003/04 his tally for Latics was an impressive 89 League appearances with 36 League goals scored.

Nathan became a true Latics great the following season by being a member of the squad that won promotion to the Premiership for the first time in the club’s history. It was the manner in which he achieved his dream that was remarkable. Playing with an injured shoulder for most of the campaign he became not only Latics’ but the Championship’s top league goal scorer by bagging 24 goals. He also scored Latics’ last ever goal in the Championship! In total he made 129+4 League appearances, netting 60 League goals, becoming, to date, (June 2009), Latics’ second highest league goal scorer since the club relocated to the JJB Stadium.

Sadly, for Latics, he was sold on 13th August 2005 to West Bromwich Albion for £3,000,001, which was the eve of the Latics’ first ever Premiership season. The fee involved was a record amount received by the club for a player and Nathan left knowing that no player had scored more goals for the club than him since relocation. His reasons for leaving Latics were that he felt the Baggies had a better chance of Premiership survival than Latics.

He also stated that their manager Bryan Robson, was one of his heroes and thought that he would enhance his career. In the event the Midlands team were relegated whilst Latics finished the season in tenth position.