*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Phil Nash
Appearances: 21+2 Goals: 1
Date / Year of birth: 28th November 1951
Position: Left-back
Season of first appearance: 1977/78
Season of last appearance: 1977/78
Also played for: Canterbury City, Gillingham (0), Brett Sports, Folkestone, Ashford Town, Folkestone Town, Whitstable Town, Herne Bay, Ramsgate and Snowdown Colliery Welfare
5' 4" tall tough tackling defender born in Aylesham, Kent who started his career in Canterbury's youth sides under manager Alf Bentley in the mid 1960's. Phil then played in Gillingham's youth team before moving on to Canterbury-based Brett Sports.
In the summer of 1970 he joined Folkestone and Phil made one first team appearance during the early part of 1970/71 before rejoining Canterbury in January 1971.
He soon broke into City's first team and played alongside the likes of Pat Hilton, Ray Ellam, Gordon Walton, Laurie Thomson and the Wickens brothers - all former or future Margate / Thanet United players. Phil stayed at City for over six years, making 139 Southern League appearances and scoring three goals, before joining Margate in September 1977. Margate manager Dennis Hunt said he was "a gutsy little performer".
Phil made his debut at left-back in a 1-1 draw at Folkestone & Shepway on 24.9.77 and he went on to make 23 appearances (two as sub) during the remainder of the 1977/78 season, scoring once - in a 2-0 home win over Folkestone & Shepway on 18.2.78. Phil was in and out of the side for much of the campaign as Margate won the Southern League 1st Division (South) title. At the end of the season he left the club and joined Ashford.
Phil went on to make 77 Southern League appearances without scoring for Ashford during the 1978/79 and 1979/80 campaigns.
In June 1980 he returned to Folkestone and then had spells with Whitstable and Herne Bay.
Phil left Herne Bay to rejoin Canterbury during the 1984/85 campaign and he became City's player-coach. Towards the end of the 1986/87 season Phil took over from Carl Gilbert as Canterbury's player-manager but he resigned in November 1987 after a traumatic spell in charge. By that time he had made a career total of 172 Southern League appearances (25 as sub) and scored six goals for City.
After leaving Kingsmead Phil rejoined Herne Bay to play under John Wickens and his next move took him back to Whitstable.
In the summer of 1988 Phil returned to Herne Bay for a third spell, this time as player-manager. He was replaced after only five weeks but initially stayed on as a player.
In January 1989 Phil left Herne Bay and returned to Thanet to play for Ramsgate aged 37.
After a couple of years with the Rams Phil joined Snowdown before finally retiring aged 42.
After his playing career had finished Phil moved to America and in 2002 he was coaching there, as was his close friend Pat Hilton.
Phil was still coaching in 2012, mainly in Tupelo but also in other parts of North East Mississippi.
Phil also wrote an article for this site which you can see here.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KSS | |
|
1977/78 (MFC) |
21 (47) |
2 |
1 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION (S) (1ST OF 20) |
1QR |
1R |
1R |
1R |
GR |
| Margate promoted to Southern League Premier Division. | |||||||||