Nathan Ellington | From Hero to Zero in One Move

[@DCD-b5b]

Favourite ever Wigan player, engrossed to every word he said on this podcast. No ones ever replaced the buzz I used to get watching the Duke play. Was absolutely heartbroken when he left and it's amazing to hear after all these years to the reasons he left, never made sence at the time. Best goal... Away at West Ham... Best header you will ever see, flew through the air, what a leap. Fantastic podcast this brings back so many memories. Thankyou for every memory Nathan 🔵🟢⚪ #wafc

[@johncoop8401]

Probably got pissed off running out in front of two thousand fans?

[@DronedLove]

Great episode. There's no loyalty in football, always amazing to hear how many managers/chairman will screw players over whenever they can so no issues with a player looking out for themselves.

[@lloyddossantos1800]

Thanks again, Under The Cosh Always a great listen.

[@dubiouscaesar3709]

Can't believe he never played in the premier League for Wigan, him and Roberts looked like they were going to tear it up together.

[@mancbaggie]

JR was brilliant with him for Wigan. Really struggled for us at WBA. Alecan messed about with the team but NE looked overweight on arrival and never shedded it

[@Rodders0223]

​@@mancbaggieYes he seems a sound guy and he had a good career but he's not really being truthful to himself. For someone who barely bagged a goal past 26 he was 'absolutely on fire' in training a lot. Half a dozen clubs and a ton of managers were not playing you so there's a reason. My adiding memory of Ellington was someone who was going to absolutely rip it up but then just looked so badly out of shape after Wigan. Not malicious and probably not lazy but just too relaxed probably.

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

one of my favourite ones yet - really interesting look at Ellington's life and career. Great to see his world perspectives too. Also was a beast for me on Football Manager 2005.

[@matthewobrien5348]

“What was the thread count on those gloves” hahhahahahaha In bits lol that’s class from Browny 😂😂😂

[@rossyg6644]

As an Albion fan I can honestly say we were so happy that we got the duke..at the same time, something didn't seem quite right. Fantastic player maybe we needed a stronger manager at the time

[@paularmstrong6435]

What a nice geezer..wish him well whatever he does in his future

[@George-bi8sj]

I loved watching Dukey at the Gas. One of my all time favourite players!

[@markflower8885]

What a lovely guy Nathan (Duke) comes across as .

[@damianwalker5207]

And comes across as very intelligent as well.

[@ZiggyMarlon-gf6qv]

He is neither lovely nor intelligent irl.

[@AndyElesWon]

I remember going to watch Leeds away at Wigan the season they went up to the premier. Beat us 3-0 and we couldn't handle Ellington and Roberts, great partnership. Another brilliant episode lads 👏

[@JD-84]

Absolutely loved the duke at Wigan, remember him scoring on his debut for us at chesterfield ❤

[@Rodders0223]

Man retired at 26 and went on to have another 10 years of paychecks. Respect.

[@babygravey]

Havnt watched the episode yet but John must be proud "no dough no go"😂

[@bentarbuck6161]

As a wigan fan Ellington and roberts in the prem is one of our biggest what ifs. It was always spun as him abandoning us and using the promotion to get a big move. Interesting to hear his side of things. Absolute club icon for us

[@wawawswfc4957]

Brilliant as per usual lads ....well worth the patreon....

[@andymanser2523]

Duke at Rovers was great times. I was at every home game and Derby away that season. He was a great player.

[@Ocg85]

Interesting to hear Nathan's story, I'm an ITFC fan and I remember it was seen as he just wasn't good enough at the time. Good to hear the whole Jewell put all his effort into Chopra story as from a supporter pov he was seemingly not bothered about playing for us. Needless to say we never heard anything from the club about players availability etc back then

[@peterhickey1097]

Can’t look at him as a ‘zero’ as them championship years was unbelievable. But every Wigan fan looks back and thinks what might have been. The Duke will always be a legend in my eyes

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

you never really had a 20 or even 15 goal a season striker after that from memory. I know you were in the Premier League but it seemed like the vibe from that Championship season never really returned despite some obvious premier league high points culminating in the FA Cup triumph. Huge shame.

[@peterhickey1097]

@ difficult to keep a vibe when you’re winning every week then scraping wins and losing the majority of the time. I like to think we’re a reasonable bunch, we accepted where we was in that division and had some big wins like Arsenal 3-2 at home, Chelsea 3-1, United 1-0 and had a winning record against City and Everton

[@JustJakeLOL]

best strike ive everr seen at the JJB, would of loved a few more seasons with the juke, unreal tech

[@matthewobrien5348]

Hahah big Jon “great place is Brighton…..lovely pier” hahahahahha great delivery that 👏 😂

[@bigtguitars7312]

The Duke Stretford Paddock legend and he used to be a footballer

[@thetinnedtomato8339]

The hat-trick he mentions for Bristol Rovers against Leyton Orient was the best hat-trick I've ever seen. It was on KZbin at one point.

[@thetinnedtomato8339]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/epzSg4tugaeWh7M

[@Ironsmiler]

I remember watching Scunny at home to Bristol Rovers in the 3rd tier, and a young Jason Robert was just ridiculous at that level. My and old man just kept looking at each other incredulous thinking where the hell he had sprung from.

[@MegalomaniacMo2]

Quality pod lads, can't believe Whelan being cheeky like that, but then it bits he saved being shrewd that probably helped spend even more money bank rolling Wigan, he got them to the promise land. Still sneaky, great lad the Duke, even named a Nissan after him 🚗

[@ashwilson5401]

I enjoyed watching this Wigan team with Ellington and Robert’s. Glad they got promoted

[@starkie70]

tnx for the streams guys..love it..take care ..stay safe all ✌

[@josephh4999]

Another Barbados mention on a pod while I’m listening in Barbados! Love it.

[@itellyouwhy6957]

We know it's you Mr Whealen!

[@johnhollis3979]

I really wish he had turned around on the M6. That partnership would have been phenomenal in the prem

[@darrenhall9770]

What a great guy.

[@tomwilson6671]

As a Wigan fan Duke was my first hero and will always be a legend in my eyes (I still have his shirt up on my wall as a grown adult). Most Wigan fans regret the fact he and Jason never played in the Prem together, as much as it hurts to admit I'm quite glad it ended how it did. Means we can remember the partnership at its best and convince ourselves they'd have smashed the Prem rather than potentially have had it tarnished by Duke being in and out of the team (Henri Camara was an upgrade if we're honest) or underperforming like he did at West Brom and everywhere else he went to after Wigan. Re his point of view on his departure: interesting that Whelan being on holiday 'delayed his contract talks' but didn't stop us signing several players that summer, so probably some selective memory there. He admits himself his shoulder was a problem for him but can't see why that would be an issue for the club offering him a bumper deal. "Played for nothing for two years" also feels quite out of touch given how much he still would have been on! Ultimately, signing for WBA when they already had five senior strikers even after Wigan offered what he wanted was a bad decision, fair play to him for acknowledging that. Enjoyed the penalty chat too, his technique was class! Thanks for bring us this interview and for all the memories, Nathan

[@samfootie]

I was a season ticket holder when Ellington came to West Brom. The problem was 2-fold, Robson was a poor manager. He played 4-4-2 with 4 'experienced' midfielders who didn't really have the energy to support the front 2. An also Ellington missed a huge chance at Birmingham away, in the last minute. He hit the bar and we dropped 2 massive points. The other strikers were hold up players who were slow - like he mentioned, and they were his first choice as Robson was so ancient. I felt Ellington never wanted to run the channels either. He had a real laid back style. Although to be fair to him here, he seems like a smart and well spoken guy. Not sure about his religion move though. But the way he speaks about it actually is fair enough.

[@christophermcloughlin5699]

He was lazy very lazy

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

what happened with Earnshaw? Was he just not properly cut out for the Premier League? He was brilliant with us at Forest which made me wonder what on Earth happened at West Brom

[@samfootie]

@@Matthew-bu7fg Earnshaw was good against the lesser teams or coming off the bench, when teams were tired. But against the top 10 teams he was quite ineffective. Mainly due to having such lack of physical presence and couldn't really dribble.

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

@@samfootie thats fair tbf, he certainly wasn't a giant!

[@Tomanart]

Brilliant video, so enjoyable to watch

[@doubled180]

Well that was a pick me up after Wes Brown. Seems like a top bloke!

[@zipomangaliso7273]

Really enjoyed this one, one of those players who you completely forgot about !

[@barriegeorge4681]

"Come on Duke, sounds like you're talking to an Alsatian" should have said Marlene's Great Dane from Only Fools And Horses.

[@jamiesmith4209]

I actually liked him down the Albion, just a shame he didn’t reach his full potential only wanted to do it when he fancied it

[@SammyHardman8]

One of the best strikers the championship ever had

[@FloydNello]

Fondly remembered by all Gasheads of a certain age, what a player.

[@damianwalker5207]

What a front line (and back up) you had, Roberts, Duke, Jaimie Cureton and Bobby Zamora imagine that now for any team.

[@garethgaskell3646]

Fucking Wigan Legend! The biggest what if had he stayed with wigan in the first premiership season with Jason Roberts!

[@Borosmogs]

Good interview but I couldn’t help bursting out laughing at Ellington giving his stats for WBA, said and I quote ‘I think I played 11 games (06/07), scored 19 goals and 11 assists’ (time stamp 1:09:40 ish.) A quick fact checking - 34 league games 10 goals 😂😂 A wild difference

[@dukesunitedshow]

I realised I made a mistake there it was 19 games 11 goals 9 assists. I count games as starts and if I want to really need to, I’ll count all mins and divide by 90 to get the real amount of games. Sorry. It’s not great as a striker coming on for couple mins and counting that as a full 90 mins

[@DanielLudlam-f1w]

Fooking yessssssss boys the duke of ellington❤ utc is the dog danglers!!!!!!!!

[@wiganjames2209]

Never loved a wigan player like Ellington, broke my heart coming home from school as a 5 year old seeing him in a West Brom shirt looking at my brand new Ellington shirt I’d just got 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@VaderGhost124]

Signed in the last day of the Jan transfer window for Wigan and then there was only 2 or 3 games left. Man’s memory is goosed

[@christophermcloughlin5699]

He did only play 3 games after he signed transfer window was first week in April then not January. Agree though alot of the things he says don't add up like the amount of goals he scored each season haha

[@VaderGhost124]

@@christophermcloughlin5699 jeeze didn’t realise 2002 was pre the transfer window change. Feels like it’s been around for ever. Although he did say it was December when he moved. 😵‍💫.

[@christophermcloughlin5699]

@@VaderGhost124 i no he said he got 19 goals for West Brom in championship he got 10 hahaha

[@kb5509]

​@@christophermcloughlin5699he got the number wrong way round, it was 11 in 19

[@michaelkelly1515]

@@christophermcloughlin5699think he signed for us in the spring. Litterally right at the end of the season. March/April time. It was when they brought the transfer window in for prem clubs but there wasn’t one for lower league clubs throughout the season, just a strange one meaning you couldn’t sign anyone in the last month (or 2, poor memory sorry)

[@Explorations84]

I remember being in the away end at Bristol Rovers and Ellington came on as a sub he looked like the potential that came after for sure. Wigan lost 1-0 however we went on to sign him later he was great to watch. There was Yorke & Cole then there was Ellington & Roberts.

[@pejpm]

How is it possible that 4 grown adults have never heard of Duke Ellington?

[@donkconler1293]

Imagine walking out against Jose’s boys on the first day with Roberts and Ellington…

[@redrev674]

Used to watch him playing for Walton and Hersham

[@GrahamB77]

Great episode! Seems like a really sound lad.

[@TheOliFoster]

The Duke is on fire 🔥

[@davidharrison2031]

Nathan Ellington what a striker him and Andy Liddell wigans best ever.

[@SeanB84-ws9tg]

Lovely fella

[@jamesbeaveridge3646]

As a wigan fan i just wish we could have seen Ellington and Roberts up front with teale and Mcculloch out wide. I believe we would have got European football that season

[@MirageMusicUk]

Me as a music teacher in the opening 5 minutes like "Philistines" 😂 Duke Ellington was brilliant, so was Nathan on his day, shame we never got to see him and Roberts tear it up in the prem Get Rory Delap and Ade Akinbiyi in, no more Wes Browns please 😂

[@Joel14_G]

Great episode keep it going lads

[@IWTBF]

4:24 I presumed it was after the Duke of wellington

[@bren67]

great listen, seems a good egg the duke!

[@21macca21]

Loved playing PES 5 with my mate n we was Wigan in master league … Ellington n Roberts 👏👏

[@kiecway]

As a Wigan fan Roberts was 100x the player he was, made him look way better than he actually was

[@mdg1867]

Seems a lovely bloke. Enjoyed that one

[@Bobbibouchersmumwasright]

Local boy .. know his brother well .. ❤️

[@KingKong-ee8hc]

The Duke was top class footballer

[@MrMamooshka]

Top bloke.

[@markwilson4052]

I worked with the wife of his manager at Walton & Hersham. I’m A West Brom fan and it didn’t work out at Albion

[@Lewis88-wr6sm]

Wigan really screwed up messing him about with the new contract 🤦🏻‍♂️😂 absolutely outrageous!

[@WestMountWizard27]

The Premier League would have been shook up with Roberts & Ellington together. Wish Whelan would of just give him what he wanted.

[@ScouseFarm]

What a well grounded lad. Just shows how much skullduggery goes on behind the scenes. Wigan Chairman and Manager don't come out of this looking well. Maybe that's why they're now in League 1 going nowhere.

[@tomwilson6671]

Paul Jewell left Wigan in 2007 and Dave Whelan stepped down in 2015, they're definitely not the reason Wigan are now in League One! They were the reason they got out of League One and into the Prem in the first place...

[@nigelwatson2750]

Interesting guy.

[@damianwalker5207]

Something not mentioned there, he was the best header of a ball I have seen for a player who wasn't a 'bigun' ( i have to say David Speedie was as good., I remember our championship winning season our first away game of the season at West Ham we murdered them and Ellington scored a majestic header from a brilliant Gary Teale run and cross. I knew at that point we would go up.

[@LeftWinger9]

04-05 end of that season is where it went bad for him. Shame because he was a natural goalscorer. Seems a nice bloke though.

[@WillLawrenceUK]

As a Watford fan... I dont know how I feel about him. The transfer fee nearly bankrupted us.

[@silewis9396]

That wasn't his fault was it

[@WillLawrenceUK]

@@silewis9396 of course not… I’m just saying facts.

[@patrickquilter469]

It's not the Cantona technique it's the John Fashanu technique, the first to take them that way

[@MrHank66]

Can't believe you don't know who Duke Ellington wa

[@Samm-e6d]

Bristol? Which one? It’s like me saying I’m a fan of Sheffield

[@MitchthePunk2113]

At West Brom - I don't buy him getting into the England squad especially with the Owens, Rooney's, Defoe's etc who were in the team. I did like the interview, but i do feel like its everybody elses fault but mine.

[@dukesunitedshow]

If I had the chance to play regular but failed the. I would blame myself. But when you just sit around on the bench even though you are top scorer you wonder why. Then years pass and managers are not willing to pay the money and take a chance on someone like myself. As the years went by it became more and more difficult to get a move into a situation which was going to allow me to flourish at the level I was playing at. Also I did state that I went though ups and downs with confidence due to this too.

[@MGG__25]

I loved him as a player for Wigan, gutted he never got the chance with us in the Prem but not surprised at all with the negotiation tactics from Whelan & Jewell. Wasted opportunities all around. What a shame.

[@Jamcotton]

It got halved from 16 to 10 😂

[@dukesunitedshow]

Hahaha, pretty much halved when you take off the appearances and 40% tax

[@TheMadmadmark]

Great listen. Contract issue's ruined a whole career, and to think a player of his class got dissed just because of his religion

[@bobbyhillman4934]

"They halved my wages from 16 to 10"

[@robt4390]

If he had the re-negotiation (following promotion) written into his contract at Wigan, which then wasn’t met (by Whelan doing a “Whelan”) - following the second promotion - wouldn’t that give him grounds to leave on a free (presumably to a more established EPL Club than the Baggies), just after his goals had fired Wigan to the Premiership? Why didn’t he use the eleventh hour offer from Wigan (which was likely just so Whelan could tell the fans “we offered him £15k p/w, but left for £16k p/w”) to leverage a better position for himself at WBA (along the lines of “x number of league starts” and “if fit, guaranteed bench at least”). Who was this guy’s agent?

[@I.Wallivs]

first thing that came to mind were the gloves

[@colinaitken3605]

Had 4 goes at watching this, only at 16 mins. Give that charisma off Londons burning a run for his money...

[@MrMamooshka]

If that manager had said "leave your religion outside" to a member of any other faith, there would have been headlines and recriminations the day of this interview. But because he's a Muslim, nobody even bats an eyelid.

[@ChangeBegins9661]

Apart from the last 10 minutes of bullshine that was another excellent podcast lads 👏🏻

[@Truecolours10696]

Very good striker who should have been an established prem player.

[@ZiggyMarlon-gf6qv]

I went to Chestnut Grove School with Nathan. He was a vile person. A bully that would target the weakest kid and bully them for months. Many kids were scared of him and probably still have nightmares. Of all the people least deserving of success, it's Nathan. I hope he feels some regret for what he did, but if I know Nathan, which I do, I know it's all an act. It's fake. He'll say whatever makes money.

[@Truecolours10696]

Hopefully hes matured and im sure he does regret his behaviour esp as he has children of his own. We all did bad things in the past but the main thing we learned from them.

[@Billy-ng4ih]

Probably just didn't like you.

[@ZiggyMarlon-gf6qv]

@@Billy-ng4ih I had no problems with him except once when he tried to bully me. I hit back though so he moved on to weaker targets. Others weren't so brave and took many punches over the 5 years we went to that school. Not a nice kid. I hope he realises that now.

[@Billy-ng4ih]

@@ZiggyMarlon-gf6qv You seem rather stirred up by someone you never had a problem with. Something tells me you suffered more than most at big Nate's hands.

[@ZiggyMarlon-gf6qv]

@@Billy-ng4ih Lmao 👏

[@ArthurVloggs]

He seems like a sound guy, but he knows deep down Jesus is the way the life truth the omega the alpha the beginning and the End

[@christophermcloughlin5699]

He was quality at Wigan but i can see why he didnt achieve much after that because he was one of the laziest footballers iv seen. Never wanted to run the channels etc. He blames all the clubs and managers after Wigan but some of it has to be down to him

[@Scottflinton]

I worked for Dave Whelan for 23 years, tight as a ducks arse, never rewarded performance

[@Explorations84]

Real anecdotes from real people however those with blinkers on only think of the rise of WAFC. What the outside doesn't know is that he's not well liked in Wigan and there's a very long queue of people who would tell you so. Football is so tribal they can't see the smaller everyday details of working class people on minimum wages getting shafted by a glorified Victorian mill owner. When I saw the Ruby Wax episode - my mind was made up for good. I know alot of former employees with some wonderful stories however not a good light on Whelan.

[@Scottflinton]

@@Explorations84 absolutely, that Ruby Wax episode epitomised him to a tee, he treated some of his most loyal soldiers like shite

[@MartinRock-ex4hf]

Signed for wigan with 3 games left of season wtf??

[@donkconler1293]

Up the tics

[@TheWorldClassStamp]

Paul Jewell picking him up 3 times, like the Paddy Kenny / Neil Warnock love affair 😍

[@danking9570]

Robbed a living when he came to Watford.

[@troyperkins8158]

One season in the Prem and scored 5 goals at that level… was a top player at League 1 and Championship but not as good as he thinks he is - bullshit story about being close to an England call up 😂

[@StevenTerry-z7s]

Swearing is seriously on the back burner this episode

[@lawrenceparker969]

Typical footballer, it's everyone else's fault! 😅

[@craigsommerville4058]

Sorry but I can't like you Nathan but love the show

[@craigsommerville4058]

the world isn't against you dude

[@sefuchambers3924]

Why is his agent so bad to be on his wage for 3years playing so well is a disgrace. Shame on Wigan

[@MarshallMahers25]

I used to play with his brother Jay he was a Muslim not sure if his brother is and i knew from him how he became the Duke

[@Dean-p6b]

Is that a beard warmer he's wearing??🙄

[@silewis9396]

Yes

[@alexbennett1981]

Never heard so many excuses. He was bloody awful at Watford.