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FEATURED PLAYER NATHEN ABBEY

Posted on: Wed 17 Nov 2004


Nathan Abbey (24) was born in Islington on 11th July 1977, the heart of Arsenal Country, and he remains a committed Gooner to this day. Joined Luton Town as a Trainee at the time giant American keeper Ian Feuer was between the sticks for The Hatters with Kelvin Davis his deputy.

Nathan got his first opportunity in a League Cup match at home to Colchester on 26th August 1998, the then 21 year old played in the First Round, Second Leg match at home to Colchester United, a 1-1 draw, alongside players such as David Oldfield, Mitchell Thomas Steve Davis and Tony Thorpe. Ian Hathaway (formerly with Mansfield Town) scored the visitors' goal, but it wasn't enough, Luton went through 2-1 on aggregate to play West Brom in Round Two, but Andy Dibble played in that match.

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The following season, Davis was the Luton first choice, but Nathan was include in the Autowindscreens match at home to Walsall, a game which featured ex Saltergate hero Sean Dyche for Luton, but a nervous game by the inexperienced keeper didn't help in a 3-0 win by The Saddlers.

His League bow came a few weeks later, a 2-1 win at Burnley and he played in the final match of that season, another away win, 1-0 at Millwall.

Davis left for Wimbledon so Nathan started as first choice keeper for season 1999-2000, and Luton, under Lennie Lawrence, started their Division Two campaign brightly, hitting 3rd spot by the end of September, they were in 7th a month later but by the time Christmas came, and a 1-1 Boxing Day draw at Kenilworth Road with Chesterfield (David Reeves beat Nathan that day) the Hatters were in mid table and Nathan's formed dipped a little.

Was rested by the Manager after 32 League games, a 4-1 home loss to Bristol Rovers prompted Lawrence to recruit Ben Roberts on loan (he of the Old Trafford Alice Band) and he kept his place, though Nathan reappeared as sub in the last game of the season.

He was out of contract that summer, but new boss Ricky Hill signed him on again for a year, though ex Bournemouth keeper Mark Ovendale started the season as first choice. The two men traded spells in the team as Luton struggled, they were eventually relegated, Nathan had three spells, totalling 20 games, in the first team.

 A free agent this summer, he had a trial spell at Chesterfield before seeking a contract elsewhere, eventually signing for The Spireites just before the start of the season and that fateful opening day against Colchester United.

Since then his confidence has grown and a good display against Peterborough was followed with the clean sheet at Wycombe and again at Northampton. 

Though without doubt his best game for the Spireites was at the McAlpine Stadium or against Reading away where he made several outstanding saves. 

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