Colin Nish
Encyclopedia
Colin Nish is a Scottish
footballer who currently plays as a striker for Hartlepool United
.
and was a fan of his local side Hibernian
as a child.
, where he made his debut in the 1998–99 season. He had two subsequent loan spells with Alloa
and one at Clyde
.
in 2003 after being released by Dunfermline. He initially signed a six month deal which ran until Christmas 2003, at which point he agreed a new 18 month contract. He initially struggled at Kilmarnock where fans were often critical of him after a poor start. This included missing an open goal in a league match against Hearts
from six yards out with the goalkeeper Craig Gordon
stranded. After the departure of Kris Boyd
, however, he began to find form for the club.
transfer in the summer. Nish signed a pre-contract with boyhood heroes Hibernian
and the next day the clubs agreed a deal to immediately transfer Nish. He made his debut for Hibs on 9 February 2008 in a 1–1 draw away to Dundee United
. He then scored his first goal for Hibs ten minutes into his home debut against Gretna
.
Towards the end of the 2009–10 season, Nish described the Hibs supporters as "moaners" following an Edinburgh derby
defeat. He soon apologised for those remarks, calling for unity between players and fans ahead of an important match against Motherwell
. Nish scored a hat-trick
in the first half of that game, yet Hibs only managed a 6–6 draw
in the highest scoring SPL
game in league history. Nish then scored both goals in a 2–0 win at Tannadice
that secured a UEFA Europa League place for Hibs.
Early in the 2010–11 season, however, Nish was again a target for stick from the Hibs support, with manager Colin Calderwood
expressing his sympathy for the player. Nish was allowed to train with Chinese Super League
club Tianjin Teda during January 2011, but Nish decided to stay with Hibs. The signings of Akpo Sodje
and Ricardo Vaz Tê
pushed Nish out of the Hibs first team, and he was advised in April 2011 that his contract would not be renewed.
in Hartlepool's Carling Cup
first round penalty shootout loss to Sheffield United. Nish scored his first goal for Hartlepool in a 1-1 draw with Walsall
on 13 August 2011. Pools manager Mick Wadsworth
likened Nish to Emile Heskey
. Nish scored two goals in a 3-0 victory against Bury
in September.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer who currently plays as a striker for Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
.
Early life
Nish grew up in MusselburghMusselburgh
Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:...
and was a fan of his local side Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
as a child.
Dunfermline Athletic
Nish started his career with DunfermlineDunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
, where he made his debut in the 1998–99 season. He had two subsequent loan spells with Alloa
Alloa Athletic F.C.
Alloa Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Third Division....
and one at Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
.
Kilmarnock
Nish joined KilmarnockKilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
in 2003 after being released by Dunfermline. He initially signed a six month deal which ran until Christmas 2003, at which point he agreed a new 18 month contract. He initially struggled at Kilmarnock where fans were often critical of him after a poor start. This included missing an open goal in a league match against Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
from six yards out with the goalkeeper Craig Gordon
Craig Gordon
Craig Sinclair Gordon is a Scottish footballer, currently playing as a goalkeeper for both Sunderland and the Scotland national team. He was a nominee for STV's Scotland's Greatest Ever Football Team in 2010....
stranded. After the departure of Kris Boyd
Kris Boyd
Kris Boyd is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Turkish side Eskişehirspor.Boyd grew up in the Ayrshire village of Tarbolton and started his senior career with Kilmarnock. He transferred to Rangers in January 2006, and was Rangers' top goalscorer in each of his...
, however, he began to find form for the club.
Hibernian
In October 2007 Nish rejected Kilmarnock's offer of a new contract which meant that he was able to talk to other clubs from January 2008 with a view to a BosmanBosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
transfer in the summer. Nish signed a pre-contract with boyhood heroes Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
and the next day the clubs agreed a deal to immediately transfer Nish. He made his debut for Hibs on 9 February 2008 in a 1–1 draw away to Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
. He then scored his first goal for Hibs ten minutes into his home debut against Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
.
Towards the end of the 2009–10 season, Nish described the Hibs supporters as "moaners" following an Edinburgh derby
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
defeat. He soon apologised for those remarks, calling for unity between players and fans ahead of an important match against Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
. Nish scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in the first half of that game, yet Hibs only managed a 6–6 draw
Motherwell v Hibernian (5 May 2010)
-Post-match reaction:"I was quite calm throughout. I was very pleased with the response from the players when they went behind. I said to them that the worst thing in any sport is a losing lead...
in the highest scoring SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
game in league history. Nish then scored both goals in a 2–0 win at Tannadice
Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park, usually referred to as Tannadice, is a football stadium located on Tannadice Street in the Scottish city of Dundee. The stadium is home of Dundee United F.C. and has a capacity of 14,209.-Early days :...
that secured a UEFA Europa League place for Hibs.
Early in the 2010–11 season, however, Nish was again a target for stick from the Hibs support, with manager Colin Calderwood
Colin Calderwood
Colin Calderwood is a Scottish football player and coach. In November 2011 he was appointed as Chris Hughton's assistant manager at Birmingham City....
expressing his sympathy for the player. Nish was allowed to train with Chinese Super League
Chinese Super League
The Chinese Football Association Super League , commonly known as Chinese Super League or CSL, currently known as the Pirelli Chinese Football Association Super League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest tier of professional association football in China, operating under the auspices of the...
club Tianjin Teda during January 2011, but Nish decided to stay with Hibs. The signings of Akpo Sodje
Akpo Sodje
Idoro Akpoeyere Ujoma "Akpo" Sodje is an English footballer of Nigerian heritage, currently playing for Scottish club Hibernian...
and Ricardo Vaz Tê
Ricardo Vaz Té
Ricardo Jorge Vaz Tê is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Barnsley. Vaz Tê previously played for English clubs Bolton Wanderers and Hull City, Greek club Panionios and Scottish club Hibernian.- Early life :...
pushed Nish out of the Hibs first team, and he was advised in April 2011 that his contract would not be renewed.
Hartlepool United
Nish signed for Hartlepool United, on a free transfer, on 27 June 2011. He missed a penaltyPenalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in Hartlepool's Carling Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
first round penalty shootout loss to Sheffield United. Nish scored his first goal for Hartlepool in a 1-1 draw with Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
on 13 August 2011. Pools manager Mick Wadsworth
Mick Wadsworth
Michael "Mick" Wadsworth is an English football coach and former player, who is currently the Manager at Football League One club Hartlepool United.-Playing career:...
likened Nish to Emile Heskey
Emile Heskey
Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa as a striker.Born in Leicester, Heskey started his career with hometown club Leicester City after progressing through their youth system, making his first team debut in 1995...
. Nish scored two goals in a 3-0 victory against Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in September.