Nicky Law
Encyclopedia
Nicholas "Nicky" Law Snr (born 8 September 1961 in Greenwich
) is an English
football
manager and former player. He is the manager of Alfreton Town
, and father of footballers Nicky Jr. and Josh
.
at schoolboy level. He began his career as an apprentice at Arsenal
, turning professional in 1979; however, he failed to play a single game for the Gunners and moved north to join Barnsley
in 1981. He made his league debut away at Shrewsbury Town
on 2 February 1982. After 114 league games for the Tykes, he moved to Blackpool
in 1985.
After spells at Plymouth Argyle
, Notts County
, Scarborough
and Rotherham United
, Law then joined Chesterfield
in 1993 and captained the side in the 1995 Wembley play-off final win over Bury
.
He wound down his playing career with Hereford United
after being dogged by injury for a few seasons. By the end of his career he had amassed more than 500 league appearances.
in the spring of 2000. The change was too late to save the Spireites from relegation in 1999–2000
, but with some shrewd signings by Law, the team dominated Division Three
in 2000–01
and led the table, until the pressures of the Football League enquiry into financial irregularities started to impact on performances. Despite a nine-point deduction, Law nevertheless led Chesterfield to third place and automatic promotion to Division Two
.
He has since managed Bradford City
, Grimsby Town
and Buxton
before being appointed to his current role.
On 14 May 2007 he was appointed as manager of Alfreton Town
. In March 2008 he was set to return to Bradford as manager of Bradford Park Avenue
, until Park Avenue were forced to call off the deal and apologise to Alfreton Town.
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
manager and former player. He is the manager of Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town F.C.
Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
, and father of footballers Nicky Jr. and Josh
Josh Law
Joshua Neil "Josh" Law is an English professional footballer who played in the Football League Trophy for Chesterfield against Hartlepool United....
.
Playing career
Law played as a central defender and represented EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at schoolboy level. He began his career as an apprentice at Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, turning professional in 1979; however, he failed to play a single game for the Gunners and moved north to join Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
in 1981. He made his league debut away at Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
on 2 February 1982. After 114 league games for the Tykes, he moved to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in 1985.
After spells at Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
and Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
, Law then joined Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
in 1993 and captained the side in the 1995 Wembley play-off final win over 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...
.
He wound down his playing career with Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
after being dogged by injury for a few seasons. By the end of his career he had amassed more than 500 league appearances.
Managerial career
Law was made Football in the Community officer with Chesterfield before taking over as manager from John DuncanJohn Duncan (footballer)
John Pearson Duncan is a Scottish footballer and football manager.-Playing career:He played as a centre-forward for Dundee, Tottenham Hotspur, Derby County, Scunthorpe United and the Scottish Football League....
in the spring of 2000. The change was too late to save the Spireites from relegation in 1999–2000
1999-2000 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
, but with some shrewd signings by Law, the team dominated Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
in 2000–01
2000-01 in English football
The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
and led the table, until the pressures of the Football League enquiry into financial irregularities started to impact on performances. Despite a nine-point deduction, Law nevertheless led Chesterfield to third place and automatic promotion to Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
.
He has since managed Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
, Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
and Buxton
Buxton F.C.
Buxton Football Club are an English football club based in Buxton, Derbyshire. They were established in 1877 and joined the Combination League in 1891. They then joined the Manchester League in 1899 and won the championship in 1932. They reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the 1951-52 season....
before being appointed to his current role.
On 14 May 2007 he was appointed as manager of Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town F.C.
Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
. In March 2008 he was set to return to Bradford as manager of Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
, until Park Avenue were forced to call off the deal and apologise to Alfreton Town.
Promotions
- 2000–012000-01 in English footballThe 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
: Division Three Runner Up (promotion to Division Two) - ChesterfieldChesterfield F.C.Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... - 2005–062005-06 in English footballThe 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
: NCEL Premier Champion (promotion to Northern Premier Division One SouthNorthern Premier League Division One SouthDivision One South is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 4 of the National League System, placing it seven divisions below the Premier League...
) - BuxtonBuxton F.C.Buxton Football Club are an English football club based in Buxton, Derbyshire. They were established in 1877 and joined the Combination League in 1891. They then joined the Manchester League in 1899 and won the championship in 1932. They reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the 1951-52 season.... - 2006–072006-07 in English footballThe 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
: Northern Premier Division OneNorthern Premier League Division One SouthDivision One South is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 4 of the National League System, placing it seven divisions below the Premier League...
Champion (promotion to Northern PremierNorthern Premier League Premier DivisionThe Premier Division is the top division of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 3 of the National League System, placing it six divisions below the Premier League...
) - BuxtonBuxton F.C.Buxton Football Club are an English football club based in Buxton, Derbyshire. They were established in 1877 and joined the Combination League in 1891. They then joined the Manchester League in 1899 and won the championship in 1932. They reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the 1951-52 season.... - 2010–11: Conference NorthConference NorthThe Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
Champion (promotion to Conference NationalConference NationalConference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
) - Alfreton TownAlfreton Town F.C.Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
Cups
- 2004–05: & 2005–06: NCEL President's Cup Winner - BuxtonBuxton F.C.Buxton Football Club are an English football club based in Buxton, Derbyshire. They were established in 1877 and joined the Combination League in 1891. They then joined the Manchester League in 1899 and won the championship in 1932. They reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the 1951-52 season....
- 2006–07: Northern Premier League President's Cup Winner - BuxtonBuxton F.C.Buxton Football Club are an English football club based in Buxton, Derbyshire. They were established in 1877 and joined the Combination League in 1891. They then joined the Manchester League in 1899 and won the championship in 1932. They reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the 1951-52 season....
External links
- Law's profile at Neil Brown's statistics site
- Career Statistics on Chesterfield F.C. website
- Nicky Law page at the League Managers Association
- Law moves to Bradford article on BBC website
Sources
- Panini (1988). Panini's Football Yearbook 1988-89, Panini Publishing, ISBN 1-871178-00-2