Napier to Nuttall

Born in Lurgan, Northern Ireland on 23rd September 1946.
Robert John 'John' Napier was a centre half and manager, who currently teaches soccer in San Diego, California. With a career as both player and coach, Napier has also been a player agent and a television and radio sports analyst.
He began his career in September 1963 playing for the Bolton Wanderers, winning youth International caps at U17, 18 and 19, having earlier also been capped at Schoolboy level at u15 and 16. He won two under-23 caps and won his only full international cap against West Germany in May 1966.
Napier made 69 first team appearances, scoring 2 goals for Bolton before, in 1967, he was transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion for a £25,000 fee and went on to play 218 games including two seasons as ever-present.
Along with Norman Gall, Napier formed the bedrock of Albion’s defence in the late 1960s, winning the club’s first Player of the Season award in 1968/69.
In 1972, he was transferred to Bradford City for a record-equalling £10,000 fee. He played 107 games for Bradford City spending six seasons at Valley Parade interspersed with loan spells in the USA at Baltimore Comets.
Following his release by Bradford City and temporary return from the States, Napier was invited to join Mossley under the management of Bob Murphy in September 1975.
Partnering his former Bradford City team mate and former Leeds United and Huddersfielkd Town defender Roy Ellam in the heart of the Mossley defence.
He made his Mossley debut in a 4-0 win over Macclesfield Town on 23rd August 1975. Napier went on to play in all but one of the Lilywhites next 24 games, scoring his only Mossley goal in a 2-1 win over Gateshead in November 1975. However by the end of the month he had returned to Bradford City as an assistant coach, making his final Mossley appearance in a 2-1 NPL Cup win over Stafford Rangers on 24th November 1975.
He went on to serve as manager at Bradford City from February 1978 to October 1978.
Napier returned to the USA and rejoining the Comets after they became San Diego Jaws in 1979 he took a coaching position at Pepperdine University, and continued to coach soccer in the USA.
In 2006 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from ASC San Diego for 25 years service to youth soccer.
John has lived in San Diego, California for over 30 years. He has owned and operated the very successful John Napier Soccer camps since his arrival in California.
He also served as an Olympic Development Coach in California.

Name	Season	Apps	Gls	Career	Biography	Image
John Napier	1975/76	24	1	Bolton Wanderers (69-2) - Northern Ireland u23 (2-0) - Northern Ireland (1-0) Brighton & Hove Albion (218-5) Bradford City (106-3) - Baltimore Comets (USA) (loan) (22-1) Mossley (24-1) - San Diego Jaws (USA) (loan) (22-1) Bradford City (1-0) Bradford City (Manager)	Born in Lurgan, Northern Ireland on 23rd September 1946. Robert John 'John' Napier was a centre half and manager, who currently teaches soccer in San Diego, California. With a career as both player and coach, Napier has also been a player agent and a television and radio sports analyst. He began his career in September 1963 playing for the Bolton Wanderers, winning youth International caps at U17, 18 and 19, having earlier also been capped at Schoolboy level at u15 and 16. He won two under-23 caps and won his only full international cap against West Germany in May 1966. Napier made 69 first team appearances, scoring 2 goals for Bolton before, in 1967, he was transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion for a £25,000 fee and went on to play 218 games including two seasons as ever-present. Along with Norman Gall, Napier formed the bedrock of Albion’s defence in the late 1960s, winning the club’s first Player of the Season award in 1968/69. In 1972, he was transferred to Bradford City for a record-equalling £10,000 fee. He played 107 games for Bradford City spending six seasons at Valley Parade interspersed with loan spells in the USA at Baltimore Comets. Following his release by Bradford City and temporary return from the States, Napier was invited to join Mossley under the management of Bob Murphy in September 1975. Partnering his former Bradford City team mate and former Leeds United and Huddersfielkd Town defender Roy Ellam in the heart of the Mossley defence. He made his Mossley debut in a 4-0 win over Macclesfield Town on 23rd August 1975. Napier went on to play in all but one of the Lilywhites next 24 games, scoring his only Mossley goal in a 2-1 win over Gateshead in November 1975. However by the end of the month he had returned to Bradford City as an assistant coach, making his final Mossley appearance in a 2-1 NPL Cup win over Stafford Rangers on 24th November 1975. He went on to serve as manager at Bradford City from February 1978 to October 1978. Napier returned to the USA and rejoining the Comets after they became San Diego Jaws in 1979 he took a coaching position at Pepperdine University, and continued to coach soccer in the USA. In 2006 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from ASC San Diego for 25 years service to youth soccer. John has lived in San Diego, California for over 30 years. He has owned and operated the very successful John Napier Soccer camps since his arrival in California. He also served as an Olympic Development Coach in California.

Harold Naylor	1950/51	3	2	Oldham Athletic (1-0) Mossley (3-2) Stalybridge Celtic	Made 3 appearances and scored 2 goals for Mossley in the 1950/51 season before being signed by Oldham Athletic (1-0). Later with Stalybridge Celtic. Younger brother of long serving Oldham Athletic player Bill Naylor.

Jean-Paul Ndjebayi	2003/04	24	0	Port FC (Cameroon) Gonyela SK (Cyprus) Roda JC (Holland) Oryx de Douala (Cameroon) Mossley (24-0) Stalybridge celtic Woodley Sports Hyde United	Born in Yaoundé, Cameroon on 1st January 1982. Goalkeeper and Mossley's first ever signing from African football signed from Previously with Port FC (Cameroon), Gonyela SK (Cyprus), Roda JC (Holland). Later with Stalybridge Celtic, Woodley Sports and Hyde United.

Needham	1948/49	1	0	unknown Mossley (1-0) unknown	Made a solitary Mossley appeaerance in the 1948/49 season.

Nathan Neequaye	2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12	65	12	Curzon Ashton Newton Glossop North End Gamesley Mossley (48-8) Woodley Sports - Mossley (Reserves) (1-0) Mossley (17-4) Curzon Ashton Cheadle Town Stockport Town New Mills Tintwistle Athletic (Coach)	Born on 29th July 1983. Nathan is a quick and skilful striker re-signed for a second spell with Mossley in October 2011 from Woodley Sports where he was leading scorer in the 2010/11 season. Originally signed from local Mid Cheshire League side Gamesley in the 2008. He was formerly with Curzon Ashton and Lancashire & Cheshire League side Newton. Nathan also had a brief spell with Glossop North End. Moved to Curzon Ashton in 2012. Later with Cheadle Town, Stockport Town and New Mills. Retired 2018 and joined the management team at Tintwistle Athletic..

James Nelson	1934/35	3	0	Oldham St paul Mossley (3-0) unknown	Full back signed from local amateur team Oldham St.Paul's making 3 appearances in the 1934/35 season.

Rhys Nevins	2015/16	10	1	New Mills Maine Road New Mills Ramsbottom United Mossley (10-1) Winsford United Ashton United Atherton Collieries New Mills	Born 25th May 1988. Rhys Nevins is a former Jamaican youth international attacking player signed in August 2015, he previously had two lengthy spells at New Mills and has also played for Maine Road FC. Later with Ashton United and Atherton Collieries.

Andy Newell	1991/92 1992/93 1995/96	45	0	Witton Albion Accrington Stanley Mossley (36-0) Leek Town Altrincham Lancaster City Mossley (9-0)	Andy Newell was a former Witton Albion goalkeeper who was signed from Accrington Stanley for a £150 fee in 1991 and was voted Mossley Supporters' Player of the Year in same season, this despite not arriving at the club until November. He was transferred to Leek Town in November 1992 after losing his place to Rod Bates and then had a brief spell with Altrincham. He was re-signed via Lancaster City in November 1995 again competing with Bates for the Lilywhites number one shirt. He retired from playing at the end of 1995/96 season. Newell later became a NWCL referee, a Football League Assistant Referee and then became an Evo-stik League Referees Assessor.

Jack Newnes	1928/29 1929/30	67	7	Brymbo Institute Bolton Wanderers Nelson (113-7) - Wales (1-0) Southport (38-2) Mossley (67-7) Manchester North End Winsford United Glossop Altrincham Manchester North End (Coach)	Born in Trefnant, Wales on 6th June 1895. Died in Salford on 3rd February 1969. John 'Jack' Newnes was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a half-back. He played amateur football while working as a collier and a steel worker prior to entering professional football with Bolton Wanderers in 1922. He went on to play almost 150 matches in the Football League for Bolton, Nelson and Southport, before moving into non-league football in 1928. Newnes spent several years in the non-league game and represented a number of clubs around Manchester. He won one cap for the Wales national football team in 1926. Before becoming a professional footballer, he worked in the steel industry and as a coal miner. During the First World War, Newnes served in the British Army with the Royal Welch Fusiliers. Following his retirement from football, he resided in the Manchester area and was employed as a salesman in a fruit and vegetable market. Newnes played amateur football for Whitchurch as a youth, and represented Brymbo Institute between 1919 and 1922. He was 26 years old when he entered the professional game with Football League First Division side Bolton Wanderers in May 1922. Newnes was initially restricted to reserve team matches, and made his League debut for the club in the 4–2 win against Nottingham Forest on 2 January 1923. He went on to make seven first-team appearances for Bolton during the remainder of the 1922–23 season. In September 1923, Newnes moved to newly promoted Football League Second Division club Nelson for an undisclosed transfer fee, although it was announced that it was the largest fee ever paid by the club at the time. He played his first game for Nelson in the 0–0 draw with Southampton at Seedhill on 11 September 1923. A noted taker of penalty kicks, Newnes scored his first goal for the Blues from the penalty mark in the 2–0 defeat of Stoke later the same month. Generally a right-half or centre-half, Newnes featured as an inside forward for a three-match spell in April 1924. He played a total of 39 competitive matches for Nelson during the 1923–24 season, but despite scoring three goals (two of them penalties) he could not prevent the team being relegated to the Third Division North. Newnes retained his place in the starting line-up at the outset of the 1924–25 campaign and scored in the first home match of the new season, a 4–0 win over Ashington. Three games later, he netted a penalty in the 7–1 defeat of Durham City. Newnes played in all but two first-team matches during the season, including the 2–0 win against Hartlepools United on 21 March 1925, in which he played at right-back in the absence of William Harper. Nelson finished second in the division behind Darlington, thus narrowly missing out on an immediate return to the second tier. Newnes remained at the club for one more season, and by the time he left Nelson in October 1926 he had made 113 league appearances and scored 7 goals. Upon leaving Nelson, Newnes joined fellow Third Division North outfit Southport and spent almost two seasons with the Sandgrounders, playing 38 league matches for the club. Newnes moved into non-league football when he signed for Cheshire League side Mossley in July 1928. He scored 7 goals in 67 league games for Mossley before departing in February 1930. He subsequently spent a year with Manchester North End, followed by spells with Winsford United and Glossop. Newnes joined Altrincham in 1933 and stayed with the club for two seasons before returning to Manchester North End as a player-coach in September 1935. At the age of 40, he retired from football in 1936. Newnes' performances for Nelson in the 1925–26 season earned him a call-up to the Wales national football team for the match against Ireland on 13 February 1926. He made his international debut in the match, but could not prevent the team falling to a 0–3 defeat and was never selected for his country again. In representing Wales, Newnes became the only player ever to be capped at senior international level while at Nelson.

Mark Newstead	1994/95	20	0	Whitkirk Wanderers Mossley (20-0) Whitkirk Wanderers	Defender signed by Richard Dawson from Yorkshire amateur club Whitkirk Wanderers in August 1994 making 20 appearances in the 1994/95 season before returning to Whitkirk..

Harold Newton	1930/31	48	13	Horwich RMI Mossley (48-13) unknown	Inside forward who was signed from Horwich RMI scoring 13 goals in 48 Mossley appearances in the 1930/31 season..

Norman Nichols	1957/58	3	0	Radcliffe Borough Mossley (3-0) Radcliffe Borough	Wing half who made 3 Mossley appearances in the 1957/58 season after signing from Radcliffe Borough. Later returned to Radcliffe Borough.

Nicholson	1950/51	8	2	Mirlees Mossley (8-2) unknown	Amateur inside forward signed from Mirlees FC of the Mid-Cheshire League scoring 2 goals in 8 Mossley appearances in the 1950/51 season.

Jimmy Nicholson	1976/77	31	1	Manchester United (58-5) - Northern Ireland u23 (2-0) Huddersfield Town (281-25) - Northern Ireland (41-6) Bury (83-0) Mossley (31-1) Stalybridge Celtic	Born in Belfast on 27th February 1943. James Joseph "Jimmy" Nicholson is a former Northern Irish footballer who, as a midfielder played most of his career at Huddersfield Town and earned more than 40 caps for the Northern Ireland national team. He joined Manchester United in September 1958 as a 15 year old during the Matt Busby era. His progress was quite rapid and Jimmy Nicholson made his Manchester United debut on 24 August 1960 at Goodison Park against Everton. United and the 19 year old Nicholson suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Merseysiders. He scored his first goal for Manchester United a week later on 31 August 1960. Once again the opposition was Everton and the venue was Old Trafford. This time it was United who won 4-0 with Nicholson scoring the first goal. Nicholson made 31 appearances for United in the 1960/61 season scoring a total of five goals. This proved to be the high point of his career with Man Utd. As Matt Busby made significant signings and other new talent emerged through the Old Trafford youth system Nicholson became a peripheral figure at the club. His first team appearances became sporadic. Jimmy Nicholson's last start for Manchester United was at the Hawthorns against West Bromwich Albion on 15 December 1962. United were beaten by WBA 3-0. During Nicholson's career with Manchester United he made a total of 68 appearances scoring 6 goals, the last of which came on 6 January 1962 against Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Nicholson transferred to Huddersfield Town for the 1964/65 season for a transfer fee of £7,500. – going on to become a hero in West Yorkshire over the next nine years. Captaining Town to the 1969-70 second division title. After a slow start to his Terriers career “Jimmy Nick” soon came in to his own at Leeds Road and went on to make just under 320 appearances for the club scoring 29 goals. He remains Huddersfield Town’s most-capped player on the international stage, the Northern Ireland midfielder, who often drew comparisons to George Best, featured for his country on over 40 occasions and left Town for Bury 1973 as one of the West Yorkshire side’s greatest ever players. He made 83 appearances for Bury but was released at the end of the 1975/76 season. Nicholson represented Northern Ireland at each level earning three caps for the Schoolboys, as well as playing twice for Northern Ireland U23 and four caps for Northern Ireland B. At full international level he made 41 appearances for Northern Ireland, scoring 6 goals over an 11-year international career from 1960 to 1971, making him the most capped player internationally for Huddersfield Town. He was a big name signing for Mossley in the close season of 1976, but at 33 considered past his best when Bob Murphy snapped him up in August 1976 along with striker George Buchan (brother of Manchester United legend Martin) who had also been released by The Shakers. Nicholson struggled to get through games often giving outstanding first half displays only to fade in the second half and was often substituted before the end of games. New manager Howard Wilkinson released him upon his arrival at Seel Park in December 1976 and Nicholson joined Stalybridge Celtic, then still in the Cheshire League having played 30 games for Mossley and scoring his only goal in a 5-2 FA Cup win over Chorley. Jimmy Nicholson retired from football at the end of the 1976/77 season.

William Nicholson	1924/25	44	5	Miles Platting Mossley (44-5) unknown	Winger signed from Manchester amateur team Miles Platting FC scoring 5 goals in 44 Mossley appearances in the 1924/25 season.

Nickson	1949/50	2	1	Walkden Town Mossley (2-1) Walkden Town	Amateur centre forward signed from Manchester League team Walkden Town scoring one goal in his 2 Mossley appearances in March 1950.

Keith 'Nobby' Nield	1988/89 1990/91	2	0	ICI Blackley Ashton United Mossley (1-0) Ashton United Flixton Mossley (1-0) Atherton LR Flixton Ramsboyttom United (Asstnt Manager)	Goalkeeper signed from Ashton United making one appearance in each of the 2 seasons that he was registered with the club during which time he also played for Flixton, Later played for Atherton LR before becoming assistant manager of Ramsbottom United.

Lewis Nightingale	2012/13 2013/14	41	8	Huddersfield town Bradford Park Avenue Farsley Harrogate Railway Athletic Curzon Ashton Goole Mossley (41-8) Farsley Darlington - Farsley Celtic (loan) Everton (youth coach) Bamber Bridge Trafford Bradford City (Head of Coaching)	Born on 8th December 1990. Lewis is an attacking midfielder who progressed through the Huddersfield Town academy before being offered a two-year scholarship in 2007 and a pro contract in 2009. At the start of the 2010/11 season he joined Bradford Park Avenue before moving onto Farsley, Harrogate RA, Curzon Ashton and Goole prior to linking up with Mossley in December 2012. Departed to Farsley in the close season of 2014. Later with Darlington, Farsley Celtic, Bamber Bridge and Trafford.

Mike Nisbett	1987/88	5	0	Maine Road Mossley (5-0) - Mossley (Reserves) (1-1) Maine Road	Forward signed from Maine Road who made 5 Mossley appearances in the 1987/88 season before rteurning to Maine Road. Brother of then Mossley team-mate Walter Nisbett.

Walter Nisbett	1984/85 1987/88	36	8	Mirrlees Blackstone Ashton United Prestwich Heys Mersey Lights Mossley (5-0) Barrow Mossley (31-8) Hyde United	Influential midfielder signed from Manchester amateur team Mersey Lights FC in November 1984 making 5 appearances during Tony Steenson's brief reign as Mossley manager in November 1984 before transferring to Barrow the following month. He was re-signed for Mossley from Barrow by John Sainty in August 1987 and made 31 appearances scoring 8 goals before being transferred to Hyde United along with Joe Connor in a wholly unpopular exchange deal done by Sainty's successor Keith Hicks that brought Graham Bell and Tony Valentine to Seel Park in January 1988.

Derek Nixon	1952/53	14	5	Lancashire Steel Mossley (14-5) unknown	Amateur inside forward who was signed from Lancashire Steel FC scoring 5 goals in 14 Mossley appearances in the 1952/53 season.

William Nixon	1924/25	5	0	Altrincham Bolton Wandeerers Mossley (5-0) unknown	William B Nixon was a centre half who made 5 Mossley appearances after signing from Bolton Wanderers in the 1924/25 season.

John Noble	1945/46 1947/48 1958/59 1960/61	18	10	unknown Mossley (9-9) Stockport County (1-0) Mossley (6-0) unknown Mossley (3-1)	Centre forward who scored 9 goals in 9 Mossley appearances in the first post WWII season of 1945/46 after leaving the Army. He was transferred to Stockport County in November 1945 but made only one first team appearance for County before re-signing for Mossley in 1947 making a further 6 goalless appearances. He was involved in possibly Mossley's strangest ever goal when his shot was deflected into the net by a stray dog in a 6-3 win over Droyslden in November 1945. He helped Mossley out on 3 occasions in later years scoring one goal in 3 appearances between 1958 and 1961.

Kurtis Noble	2009/10	4	0	Huddersfield Town Bay Athletic Ashton United Ossett Albion Ossett Town Guiseley Mossley (4-0) Glasshoughton Welfare Ossett Albion.	Born on 29th September 1986. Fast and tricky forward signed in August 2009 making 4 appearances. Previously with Huddersfield Town, Bay Athletic, Ashton United, Ossett Albion, Ossett Town and Guiseley. Released in October 2009 and later played for Glasshoughton Welfare and Ossett Albion.

Thomas Noble	1919/20	9	0	unknown Mossley (9-0) unknown	Full back who made 9 Mossley appearances in the first Cheshire Leagues eason of 1919/20.

Kieran Nolan	2018/19 2019/20	37	0	Bolton Wanderers Ramsbottom United Salford City Northwich Victoria Runcorn Linnets Mossley (28-0) Atherton Collieries Mossley (9-0) Runcorn Town Bury AFC Abbey Hey	Born 24th January 1997 Kieran Nolan was signed in November 2018 from Runcorn Linnets. He made 40 appearances in Runcorn's NWCFL title campaign of 2017/18 out of a total of 68 appearances for the club. had joined Runcorn in January 2017 after leaving Northwich Victoria, where he had been captain. Kieran had previously played for Ramsbotom United and Salford City and was earlier at Bolton Wanderers from 2013 before being released from the Under 18s squad in May 2015. He departed to Atherton Collieries in the closed season of 2019 but re-signed in October 2019. Departed for Runcorn Town in February 2020.

Peter Nolan	1996/97	18	0	Marine Prescot Cables Mossley (18-0) Clitheroe Wrexham (Scout)	Former Marine right back signed from Prescot Cables in August 1996 making 18 Mossley appearances before transferring to Clitheroe in February 1997. Later became a football talent scout for Wrexham among others.

Harry Noon	2011/12	18	4	Woodley Sports New Mills Mossley (18-4) New Mills Winsford United Heidelberg United (Australia) Altona Magic (Australia) Northcote City (Australia)	Born on 15th May 1993. Harry Noone is a striker signed by Gareth McClelland in the closed season of 2011 from New Mills and previously with Woodley Sports. Graduated through the youth set up at Woodley. Returned to New Mills in 2012/13. Later with Winsford United and then Heidelberg United in the Victoria State League in Australia.

Andy Noone	1992/93 1993/94	30	1	Manchester United Bury Mossley (30-1) Cheadle Town Atherton LR Beaconsfield SYCOB Salford City	Andrew Noone was in the Manchester United squad for their 1992 FA Youth Cup run and was a centre-forward, though for a short time he played in defence. A Salford lad, he had joined United aged nine and signed an apprenticeship at 16. He didn't play for United's first team and was released to find another club. Noone played for Bury, Mossley, Atherton Laburnum Rovers, Beaconsfield and Salford City before retiring at the age of 31. Joined Mossley from Bury in March 1993 making 30 Mossley appearances and scoring one goal before departing in the closed season of 1994.

Guy Norcott	1988/89	39	0	Everton Marine Mossley (39-0) South Carolina University (USA) Charleston Battery (Canada) Atlanta Silverbacks (USA) Carolina Chanticleers (USA)	Former Everton reserve central defender signed by Bryan Griffiths from Marine in November 1988. Left to take soccer scholarship at South Carolina University (USA) at the end of the 1988/89 season. Later with Charleston Battery (Canada) and Atlanta Silverbacks (USA). He played soccer at CCU from 1989 to 1992. The three-year captain started 75 games for the Carolina Chanticleers and helped win 57 victories during that time. He was named the 1990 Big South Conference Player of the Year and led the 'Chants' to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen in 1992.

Harold Norton	1919/20	4	0	unknown Mossley (4-0) unknown	Made 4 Mossley appearances in the first Cheshire League season of 1919/20.

Ronald Nugent	1926/27	1	0	unknown Mossley (1-0) unknown	Made a solitary Mossley appearance in the 1926/27 season.

Nuttall	1951/52	20	0	unknown Mossley (20-0) unknown	Left back who made 20 Mossley appearances in the 1951/52 season.

John Nuttall	1922/23	1	0	Salford Central Mossley (1-0) unknown	Half back who made a solitary Mossley appearance in the 1922/23 season after signing from Salford Central FC.

Lewis Nuttall	2014/15	6	1	Burnley Wrexham Mossley (6-1) Elpida Xylofagou (Cyprus)	Lewis Nuttall is young left sided forward signed from Wrexham in November 2014 having previously been with Burnley's Academy. Made 6 Mossley appearancesx scoring one goal before departing to Elpida Xylofagau FC in Cyprus.