Nathan Valentine Q&A

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Words by Ant Taylor & Nathan Valentine - @iAmRadioAnt / @NathanVallo1993

Name: Nathan Valentine

Age: 27

Position: Centre Midfield

Current Club: Bury AFC, NWFCL First Division North

Previous Club: Witton Albion, Radcliffe FC, Frickley Athletic, Scarborough Athletic, Stalybridge Celtic & Matlock Town

Photo by Andy Whitehead (AWP Photography)

Day Job: Head of Academy, Pro:Direct Academy, Manchester.

Best mates in football: Tommy Taylor, Luke Dean, Bailey Gooda, Kev Burgess & Leon Scott.

Most memorable moment: Gaining promotion with Scarborough Athletic FC.

Footballing hero: Alessandro Del Piero

Team you support: Leeds United

Andy Whitehead (AWP Photography)

Funniest moment: KitKat Bingo! The gaffer was renowned for a couple of phrases he would use in the changing rooms. "First 10/Last 10”, “Under the left tit" etc. Me and a few of the lads would select a phrase each, when the gaffer would say it, we would have to stand up during his team talk. Fair to say, the game was only played when we won.

First goal: In men's football I think it was for AFC Liverpool in 2014 against Bacup & Rossendale Borough.

First red card: Playing for Frickley Athletic FC Vs Blyth Spartans FC, suspected elbow jumping for a header with Robbie Dale, to this day think the referee got it wrong.

Best manager you have played under: It might surprise a few but Steve Kittrick, certainly a love/hate relationship and we at times shared disagreements, but he got the best out of me and that was reflected in my performances at Scarborough Athletic FC and for a short spell before his departure at Matlock Town FC. I am really enjoying playing under my current manager Andy Welsh at Bury AFC mind.

Favourite ground you have played at: South Shields FC is one that springs to mind, our performance against them on New Year's Day 2018, was probably our best during my time there. Was great to score in front of nearly 2,000 with plenty of Scarborough fans in attendance.

Longest in the shower at any club: Tommy Taylor

Biggest joker: Jimmy Beadle, will never forget the time he had 'Seadog' tattooed to his leg in Benidorm, to be fair to him he stands by his words.

Best player you have played with: I've been blessed to have played with some great players, Michael Coulson, Kevin Burgess, David Merris all spring to mind, but Max Wright has gone onto establish himself professionally for Grimsby Town FC. Was the first young professional that I have seen come to a club and make an instant impact and be consistent with it too. I still scored more than him that season though.

Non-League club career:

2013/2014 - Began my career at Yorkshire Amateur FC in the North East Counties Division One and was awarded the Vice Captaincy at 17, signed for Harrogate Town FC making a few appearances in the West Riding County Cup.

2014/2015 - After moving to Liverpool for University, I signed for AFC Liverpool in the North West Counties Premier Division, I went onto make 47 appearances contributing to their highest ever league finish.

2015/2016 - After a short spell at Witton Albion FC, I signed for Radcliffe Borough FC in the Evostick North Division One under Danny Johnson making 44 appearances.

2016/2017 - I was then signed by Frickley Athletic FC in the Evostick Premier Division. Making 48 appearances, I was awarded the captaincy under Lee Morris.

2017/2019 - I signed for Scarborough Athletic FC under Steve Kittrick, my most enjoyable period in my career to date and a time I look back at fondly. Gaining promotion, winning the North Riding County Cup and scoring several notable goals. By far the best team spirit I have experienced to date.

2019-2020 - I signed for Stalybridge Celtic FC making 22 appearances scoring two goals. I opted to sign for Matlock Town FC in January 2020 under former manager Steve Kittrick and made an instant impact. I scored 4 goals in 3 games and was awarded February player of the month. Disappointingly, the season was null and voided due to COVID-19.

2020-2021 - I signed for Matlock Town FC again under manager Paul Phillips, after picking up a hip flexor injury in pre-season, this was my least enjoyable time under a manager to date, I decided to leave Matlock at the beginning of the season and instead join Bury AFC under Andy Welsh where I have remembered what it is like to enjoy playing football again. The season has unfortunately been cut short again due to COVID-19.