Nigel Greenwood
Encyclopedia
Nigel Greenwood is a former professional footballer who played in the English Football League
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youth system Nigel made his debut as a seventeen year old in a league game away at Lincoln City, a game they lost 4–0. With Preston enduring difficulties both on and off the pitch Greenwood found himself being used no less than 17 times that season scoring 5 goals as the Deepdale
club were relegated to the league's basement division for the first time in their history. The following 1985–86 season PNE were installed as favourites for promotion but they endured the worst season in the club's history with Preston finishing 91st in the football league and having to endure the stigma of applying for re-election. For Greenwood however the season was a personal triumph with him scoring 10 goals from 36 games, indeed as an attacking side Preston weren't too bad with both John Thomas and Gary Brazil
both scoring goals regularly. In fact between the three of them almost 50 goals were scored, in defence however it was a different matter with the club conceding over 100 goals in all games for the second season running.
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Greenwood enjoyed three and a half seasons at Gigg Lane
scoring 28 goals in 136 games for The Shakers
, several of these against Preston who on at least 3 occasions tried to bring him back to Deepdale. On each occasion however the Bury board and management rejected Preston's offer much to Greenwood's frustration. It was only in February 1990 when Bury wanted to sign Mark Patterson that Bury allowed him to go back to Deepdale in a deal that was worth £100k plus Greenwood to Preston. This deal turned out to be John McGrath's last as Preston boss as he resigned not two weeks later.
Nigel immediately signed for Halifax Town for the start of the 1992–93 season but in 28 games he scored just 5 goals as The Shaymen were relegated from The Football League. In Nigel's senior career he had played 252 first team games and scored 53 goals but he was now looking to take his career to another stage in Non-League football.
of the Northern Premier League
where his brother and non-League legend Tony was manager, becoming his assistant. Since then he has held a similar position at Accrington Stanley when Tony became manager there at the beginning of the 1996–97 season but they returned to Bamber Bridge two years later before in 2003 taking up the vacant job at Fleetwood Town
where they guided the club to three promotions before leaving midway through 2008–09.
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
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Preston North End
A tall slim striker and a product of the Preston North EndPreston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
youth system Nigel made his debut as a seventeen year old in a league game away at Lincoln City, a game they lost 4–0. With Preston enduring difficulties both on and off the pitch Greenwood found himself being used no less than 17 times that season scoring 5 goals as the Deepdale
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
club were relegated to the league's basement division for the first time in their history. The following 1985–86 season PNE were installed as favourites for promotion but they endured the worst season in the club's history with Preston finishing 91st in the football league and having to endure the stigma of applying for re-election. For Greenwood however the season was a personal triumph with him scoring 10 goals from 36 games, indeed as an attacking side Preston weren't too bad with both John Thomas and Gary Brazil
Gary Brazil
Gary Nicholas Brazil is a former professional footballer and football manager in the English football league....
both scoring goals regularly. In fact between the three of them almost 50 goals were scored, in defence however it was a different matter with the club conceding over 100 goals in all games for the second season running.
Transfer
In August 1986, though Greenwood was shocked to learn that Preston were prepared to sell him. Preston didn't want to sell him and Greenwood didn't want to leave but now that John McGrath was at the helm, it was decided that funds needed to be made available to pay the signing on fees of the free transfer players he had lined up. Greenwood was considered to be worth £20k, the most saleable asset PNE had, so with the promise from McGrath that once Preston were in a viable financial position they would bring him back to Deepdale, Greenwood signed for third division BuryBury 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...
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Greenwood enjoyed three and a half seasons at Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Historically within Lancashire, it was built for Bury F.C. in 1885, and has been their home ever since.-History:...
scoring 28 goals in 136 games for The Shakers
The Shakers
The Shakers are the Shakers religious organization.The Shakers also may refer to:* The Shakers, a.k.a. Bury F.C. football club* The Shakers, Uruguayan band a.k.a. Los Shakers...
, several of these against Preston who on at least 3 occasions tried to bring him back to Deepdale. On each occasion however the Bury board and management rejected Preston's offer much to Greenwood's frustration. It was only in February 1990 when Bury wanted to sign Mark Patterson that Bury allowed him to go back to Deepdale in a deal that was worth £100k plus Greenwood to Preston. This deal turned out to be John McGrath's last as Preston boss as he resigned not two weeks later.
Back at Deepdale
Greenwood's second spell at Preston was a disappointment to say the least. With the club after three successful seasons again struggling both on and off the pitch. With Nigel struggling with injury and with the return of former favourite John Thomas to the club he found opportunities few and far between. Indeed in his two and a half years back at Preston he managed to play just 35 games scoring 5 goals before he was released in July 1992.Nigel immediately signed for Halifax Town for the start of the 1992–93 season but in 28 games he scored just 5 goals as The Shaymen were relegated from The Football League. In Nigel's senior career he had played 252 first team games and scored 53 goals but he was now looking to take his career to another stage in Non-League football.
Bamber Bridge and beyond
Nigel first signed for Bamber BridgeBamber Bridge F.C.
Bamber Bridge F.C. are an English football club based in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, Lancashire. They currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One North and are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association. They play their home games at the QED Stadium in Bamber Bridge...
of the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
where his brother and non-League legend Tony was manager, becoming his assistant. Since then he has held a similar position at Accrington Stanley when Tony became manager there at the beginning of the 1996–97 season but they returned to Bamber Bridge two years later before in 2003 taking up the vacant job at Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-History:...
where they guided the club to three promotions before leaving midway through 2008–09.