Irving Nattrass (born 20 December 1952) is an English former footballer who played primarily as a right back for Newcastle and Middlesbrough.
Born in Fishburn, England, Nattrass attended Ferryhill Grammar School and signed with Newcastle at age 16 on an apprenticeship.
As a youth player Nattrass lacked confidence and made slow progress within the club, even going so far as to look for employment elsewhere as a mechanic. However, he soon found his stride and went on to sign professionally for the club in July 1970, aged 17. A year later Nattrass went on to make his debut against Derby.
The then Newcastle manager Joe Harvey once commented "Nattrass is my Paul Madeley and I can't pay him a bigger compliment than that". Madeley was a Leeds and England player who was dubbed the "Rolls-Royce" of footballers.
Hampered by injuries and disagreements with the Newcastle board he eventually moved to Middlesbrough for the sum of £375,000. Nattrass made his league debut for them against Arsenal on 15 September 1979.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsNewcastle United1970–71First Division40000000401971–72First Division2412020002811972–73First Division2532000002731973–74First Division1420020001621974–75First Division3302060004101975–76First Division3937081005441976–77First Division4023032004641977–78First Division3834010404731978–79Second Division212310000243Total238162312234028720Middlesbrough1979–80First Division1300010001401980–81First Division3115020003811981–82First Division2702020003101982–83Second Division2915020003611983–84Second Division4203020004701984–85Second Division3002020003401985–86Second Division190100000200Total1912180110002202Career total429184113334050722
Honours Newcastle United Football League Cup runner-up: 1975–76
Individual Newcastle United Player of the Year: 1977–78
References
External links Sporting Heroes Irving Nattrass record and photo Evening Chronicle Interview with Irving Nattrass Toonarama Irving Nattrass Biography Image