Now well on the way to completing his second century of appearances for us, it is hard to believe that NATHAN DAVIES will not be celebrating his 22nd birthday until after the end of this season.
Last season he cleaned up at the awards evening by picking up every first team award except the main Player of the Year trophy and the top scorer’s prize which both went to Garry Shephard.
But Nathan is not the sort to worry about awards. He just goes about his business with a high level of consistency, doing the job required of him by the management team. This often involves playing a holding role in midfield where he is required to regain possession after an attack has broken down to set the side going forward again.
Not surprisingly perhaps goals are thus a comparatively rare commodity for him though when ‘N Davies’ was reported as the scorer of both goals in our win at Moor Green last season, fans not at the Moorlands doubtless thought it was his near namesake Neil who had bagged the pair, only to find the scorer was indeed ‘Davies’ not ‘Davis’.
Indeed when Nathan netted his first of the 2002-03 season against Hastings, the side did not manage another goal for a further eight hours playing time!
Having made his debut as a 16 year-old in two
Gwent Senior Cup matches, Nathan quickly made an impression in league games when he was given a chance four seasons ago. He played particularly well in our 1-1 draw at champions Boston United in May 2000 when he was the best player on the park against a side bound for much better things.
It was also at Boston's York Street ground that Nathan played for the Wales semi-professional international side who were only denied a victory over England in May 2002 by an injury-time equaliser. Nathan kept his place in the starting line-up for the remaining home internationals in which Wales beat Scotland 2-1 at Kettering, and Ireland 5-2 back at the Boston venue that obviously suits him.
The victory over Ireland earned Wales the home international title and the scoring honours went to his former colleague Mark Dickeson whose hat-trick Nathan describes as one of the best he has seen!
Nathan said: “I really enjoy playing for Peter and GIyn who have established a really good team spirit here. The training sessions are enjoyable and everybody goes out knowing what is required of them. They have brought in some good players in Duncan Roberts, Terry Evans, Gary Lloyd, Scott Morgan, Gareth Phillips and Steve Williams who all fit in well on and off the field."
Nathan said: "I am being encouraged to give more leadership and information to the players around me and I think I communicate information more than I used to."
Family support has always been good for Nathan whose parents Neil and Sue, and grandmother Marie are regular fans at home and away whether or not Nathan is playing. Neil was a prominent player in the Welsh League with Panteg in the 1980s, and Nathan's sister Claire is doing well with her own footballing career, having played with the Welsh under-18 squad in Portugal and Estonia.
Nathan has been working as a postman - always a popular day job for Exiles players - for the past three years, but he has still not given up hope of a full- time football career. He was linked with Norwich City in his early teens, and played in a youth game for Chelsea against Gillingham.
He said: "I was told that Chelsea wanted to sign me for two years, one as a YTS player and one as a pro, but when they found I was on contract here they would not pay a fee and just wanted me to go there as a trainee for a year. I decided to stay."
On reflection that may have proven a good thing because with 15 first team midfield players now registered with the Stamford Bridge outfit, Nathan might have struggled for a game occasionally!
A few clubs were watching Nathan around that time, including Cardiff City and Bradford City. He played in trial games for both without offers being forthcoming and has continued to give a hundred per cent when he has played for County.
He said: "Obviously I would like to play at a higher level, but I am happy at Newport and hope to win promotion here."