Lee Nicholls
![]() Nicholls lining up for Bristol Rovers in 2015 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Lee Anthony Nicholls[1] | ||
Date of birth | 5 October 1992 | ||
Place of birth | Huyton, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Huddersfield Town | ||
Number | 1 | ||
Youth career | |||
2009–2010 | Wigan Athletic | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2010–2016 | Wigan Athletic | 9 | (0) |
2010 | → Hartlepool United (loan) | 0 | (0) |
2011 | → Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 0 | (0) |
2011 | → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | 0 | (0) |
2012 | → Accrington Stanley (loan) | 9 | (0) |
2012–2013 | → Northampton Town (loan) | 46 | (0) |
2015–2016 | → Bristol Rovers (loan) | 15 | (0) |
2016–2021 | Milton Keynes Dons | 131 | (0) |
2021– | Huddersfield Town | 100 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2011 | England U19 | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 March 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:59, 8 February 2011 (UTC) |
Lee Anthony Nicholls (born 5 October 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League One club Huddersfield Town.
Early life
[edit]Lee Nicholls was born in Huyton, Merseyside.
Club career
[edit]Wigan Athletic
[edit]Nicholls signed scholarship forms with Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2009. After a series of impressive performances for the reserve team, he appeared for the first-team as a substitute for the first time on 2 January 2010 in a 4–1 FA Cup third round victory over Hull City.[3]
Later in the month, he signed a two-and-a-half-year professional contract with the club.[4] In January 2012, Nicholls extended his contract at Wigan until 2014.[5] In between loan spells, Nicholls made his league debut on 27 October 2013 in a goalless draw away to Charlton Athletic.[6]
Loan spells
[edit]Between November 2010 and May 2011, Nicholls was sent out on loan to Hartlepool United, Shrewsbury Town and Sheffield Wednesday, but failed to make a single appearance.[7] On 24 February 2012, he joined Accrington Stanley on an initial one-month loan deal. Nicholls later made nine appearances for the club.[8]
On 6 August 2012, Nicholls signed on loan for League Two side Northampton Town until the end of October 2012, and later re-signed on 6 November 2012 until the end of the 2012–13 season.[9]
On 5 May 2013, Nicholls competed for Northampton Town in the League Two play-off semi-final second leg against Cheltenham Town. In total, Nicholls made 51 appearances for Northampton Town, achieving 20 clean sheets before returning to Wigan.[10] On 11 September 2015, Nicholls joined League Two side Bristol Rovers on a three-month loan.[11][12]
Milton Keynes Dons F.C
[edit]On 3 August 2016, following the expiry of his contract with Wigan, Nicholls joined League One club Milton Keynes Dons, signing a two-year deal.[13] Nicholls made his debut for the club on 9 August 2016, featuring in a 2–3 EFL Cup first round victory over Newport County.[14] In his first season for the club, Nicholls' made a total of sixteen appearances in all competitions, achieving two clean sheets.[15]
Following the departure of first choice goalkeeper David Martin, Nicholls took over the number one shirt for the 2017–18 season.[16] On 29 December 2017, Nicholls signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until June 2020.[17] On 6 May 2021, the club announced Nicholls was one of four players to be released at the end of the 2020–21 season, ending his almost five-year association with MK Dons in which he made over 150 appearances.[18]
Huddersfield Town
[edit]On 26 May 2021, Nicholls signed for EFL Championship club Huddersfield Town on a two-year deal following the expiry of his contract with Milton Keynes Dons on 1 July 2021.[19] He made his debut on 1 August 2021, keeping a clean sheet in a goalless EFL Cup first round draw with Sheffield Wednesday, with Huddersfield progressing to the next round following Nicholls' two penalty shoot-out saves.[20]
He went on to have a successful debut season with the club, achieving 19 clean sheets and playing a key role in Huddersfield reaching the 2022 EFL Championship play-off final.[21] Nicholls was later named in both the EFL Championship Team of the Season[22] and Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year.[23]
International career
[edit]In 2010, Nicholls was named in the England U19 squad that reached the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-19 Championships,[24] but did not make an appearance in the tournament. He made his debut for the team in February 2011 in a 1–0 defeat against Germany.[25]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of 7 May 2022.
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Wigan Athletic | 2010–11[26] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
2011–12[27] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
2012–13[28] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
2013–14[29] | Championship | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
2014–15[30] | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
2015–16[31] | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
Total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
Hartlepool United (loan) | 2010–11[26] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 2010–11[26] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | 2010–11[26] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
Accrington Stanley (loan) | 2011–12[27] | League Two | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |
Northampton Town (loan) | 2012–13[28] | League Two | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[b][c] | 0 | 51 | 0 |
Bristol Rovers (loan) | 2015–16[31] | League Two | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 18 | 0 |
Milton Keynes Dons | 2016–17[32] | League One | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | 16 | 0 |
2017–18[33] | League One | 41 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 0 | |
2018–19[34] | League Two | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
2019–20[35] | League One | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
2020–21[36] | League One | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
Total | 131 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 157 | 0 | ||
Huddersfield Town | 2021–22[21] | Championship | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 45 | 0 | |
Career total | 254 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 291 | 0 |
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League.
- ^ a b c Appearances in Football League Trophy.
- ^ 3 appearances in Football League Two play-offs.
Honours
[edit]Bristol Rovers
- Football League Two third-place promotion: 2015–16[37]
Milton Keynes Dons
- EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2018–19[38]
Individual
- Huddersfield Town: Hargreaves Memorial Trophy (Player of the Season) 2021–22
- Huddersfield Town: Blue & White Player of the Season 2021–22
- EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2021–22[22]
- PFA Team of the Year: 2021–22 Championship[23]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "Lee Nicholls". Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ "On the Bench ... With Lee Nicholls, a Keeper Tipped for the Top at Wigan". FanHouse UK. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ "Keeper earns his stripes". 27 January 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ "New Deal For Lee Nicholls". Wigan Athletic F.C. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ "Charlton Athletic 0-0 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. 27 October 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "Lee Nicholls". Soccerbase. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "Goalkeeper Nicholls joins Accrington Stanley on loan". Lancashire Telegraph. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "Northampton Town sign keeper Lee Nicholls for season". BBC Sport. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "Lee Nicholls: Bristol Rovers sign Wigan Athletic keeper on loan". BBC Sport. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ^ "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "Dons grab goalkeepr Nicholls". Milton Keynes Dons Official Site. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ "Report: Newport County 2-3 Dons". Milton Keynes Dons Official Site. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "MK Dons 2017/18 squad numbers revealed". Milton Keynes Dons. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "Nicholls commits future to the Dons". Milton Keynes Dons. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ "Quartet set to depart". Milton Keynes Dons. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "Signing: Lee Nicholls agrees to join Town!". Huddersfield Town. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ "Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Huddersfield Town: Terriers through after EFL Cup penalties". BBC. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Football Manager EFL Team of the Season line-ups announced". efl.com. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ a b "PFA Championship Team of the Year". Professional Footballers' Association. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ "Nicholls makes England cut". 15 July 2010. Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ "Denis proves England's menace". The Football Association. 8 February 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ^ "Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2016). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2016–2017. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-4722-3395-0.
- ^ "League Two: 2018/19: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
"MK Dons: Squad details: 2018/19". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
External links
[edit]- Lee Nicholls at Soccerbase
- Profile at TheFA.com
- 1992 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Huyton
- English men's footballers
- England men's youth international footballers
- Men's association football goalkeepers
- Wigan Athletic F.C. players
- Hartlepool United F.C. players
- Shrewsbury Town F.C. players
- Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players
- Accrington Stanley F.C. players
- Bristol Rovers F.C. players
- Northampton Town F.C. players
- English Football League players
- Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players
- Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players