Nicky Southall

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Nicky Southall
Personal information
Full name	Nicky Southall
Date of birth	29 January 1972
Place of birth	Middlesbrough, England
Height	5 ft 10"
Nickname	Trigger
Position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Nottingham Forest F.C.
Number	7
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1991-1995 1995-1997 1997-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2002-2005 2005-	Hartlepool United F.C. Grimsby Town F.C. Gillingham F.C. Bolton Wanderers F.C. Norwich City F.C. (loan) Gillingham F.C. Nottingham Forest F.C.	138 (30) 80 (8) 205 (21) 24 (1) 9(0) 99(2) 57(13)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 October 2006.

Leslie Nicholas "Nicky" Southall (born 28 January 1972 in Middlesbrough), is a professional football player who has played in all tiers of English league football. He changed his name because he felt embarrassed by the name "Leslie" if he was to become a famous footballer. He attended Coulby Newham Secondary School, but because of industrial action by teachers the school did not run a football team while he was a pupil. He is 5 ft 10" and weighs 12.12 stone. He currently plays for Nottingham Forest. He started his career as a left-winger, but has been used by different clubs as a striker, right-back, central defender, right-winger, central midfielder and even goalkeeper.

Southall was spotted playing Sunday football for Nunthorpe Boys and was offered a trial at Newcastle United. After realising he'd have little chance of breaking into the Newcastle team he left and joined Darlington on schoolboy terms, believing he'd have a better chance of getting a break into the team.

Darlington let him go but he soon kick-started his career with Hartlepool where he was a regular in the first team for 4 seasons. Every one of his 130 appearances for Hartlepool was as a member of the starting line-up, and he scored 28 goals.

He was transferred to Grimsby for £40,000 and played 55 times, scoring 9 goals. On his home debut he had to play in goal after the Grimsby keeper was sent off – allegedly, the other players forced him in because he had the same surname as legendary Everton keeper Neville Southall.

Grimsby manager Bryan Laws signed the Italian Ivano Bonetti as Southall's replacement just months after Southall himself had arrived at Blundell Park, forcing Southall out of the first-team altogether for much of the mid-season. He often failed to even make the bench and at one point was even asked to do co-commentary for the local media stations.

After Bonetti had a major falling out with Laws, Southall was given a chance to re-establish himself in the first-team. After scoring an own-goal against Stoke City during Grimsby's relegation run-in the 96/97 season, Southall was frozen out of the first team in the 97/98 season.

He then moved on a free transfer to Gillingham, where he became a popular figure. He made almost 200 appearances for the Gills and scored 29 goals, including a 30-yard screamer against Sheffield Wednesday to knock them out of the FA Cup in a major upset.

After his spell at Gillingham he moved to the Premiership with Bolton Wanderers. He made just over 20 appearances for them and scored once, against Newcastle United. Desperate for first-team football, he went on loan to Norwich City for a brief spell as he looked to secure a permanent move away from Premiership.

He caused a stir at Gillingham by making a welcome return there on a free transfer. He made a further 90 appearances but failed to recapture the form which had once made him a cult hero there previously.

Gillingham were relegated to League One at the end of the 2004-05 season after being held to a draw by Nottingham Forest. He was out-of-contract and Gillingham did not retain his services, but Nottingham Forest offered the 33-year old a three year contract shortly after.

He said he never thought he would be playing at the City Ground for Nottingham Forest but that he was thrilled to be playing for them. He now hopes he can help Forest out of the third tier of English football.

In the 2005/06 season, he came second in the Player of the Season vote, behind Ian Breckin, with 18% of the votes. Breckin was the Player of the Season with 48%, and Nathan Tyson was third with 14%. He finished the season with 8 goals as Forest narrowly missed out on a play-off place. He is one of the most liked players at the club.

He went on the best goalscoring form in his career in late October - early November when he bagged 5 goals in 4 matches.

At the end of the 06/07 season he will be out of contract, Forest fans, however, are keen to see his contract renewed.

[edit] Other facts

• He is one of the few current footballers who have played in every division of English league football:

• Premiership with Bolton Wanderers.
• Championship with Gillingham and Norwich City.
• League One with Nottingham Forest and Gillingham
• League Two with Grimsby Town and Hartlepool United

• He has three children, all born in Gillingham.

• He is nicknamed "Trigger" after the character in Only Fools and Horses.

Nottingham Forest F.C. - Current Squad
1 Smith | 3 Padula | 4 Gary Holt | 5 Morgan | 6 Breckin | 7 Southall | 8 Commons | 9 Tyson | 10 Dobie | 11 Grant Holt | 14 Lester | 15 Harris | 16 Clingan | 17 Perch | 20 Pedersen | 21 Curtis | 22 Cullip | 23 Agogo | 24 Beaumont | 27 Hughes | 29 Bennett | 34 Gamble | 37 McGugan | Manager: Calderwood