464 Norman Nielson

Biography

Six foot three inch tall centre half Norman Nielson signed for Hull City in April 1957, after special dispensation was given to make the move as it occurred after the transfer deadline, and he started two games at centre half in April 1957. At the start of the 1957/58 season he was handed the centre half shirt by manager Bob Brocklebank and by the end of the calendar year he had missed only four matches. In January 1958 he drifted out of the City first team in favour of local man Paul Feasey and left the Tigers in July 1958.

Norman Frederick Nielson was born in Johannesburg in South Africa and was playing football for Pretoria side Arcadia Shepherds when he was spotted by Charlton Athletic manager Jimmy Seed during a summer tour. Nielson joined Charlton in July 1949 and made his First Division debut for Charlton at left back in September 1949. That proved to be his only senior appearance in two seasons at The Valley.

In the 1951 close season Nielson joined First Division rivals Derby County and was introduced to the Rams’ first team at centre half in December 1951 after a solitary outing at right back in September. Derby exploited Nielson’s size by playing him both at centre half and, occasionally, at centre forward. He was a semi-regular starter in the 1952/53 season as Derby were relegated to the Second Division, at the start of the following season in the lower league Nielson was selected at centre forward and scored eight goals in nine starts. Reverting to centre half in November 1953, Nielson remained in the first team until March 1954. He ,ade 60 senior appearances for Derby and scored nine goals.

In May 1954 Nielson moved to Second Division side Bury, who paid a £7,000 transfer fee for the big defender. For nearly three seasons Nielson was the centrepiece of Bury’s defence but by April 1955 it was apparent that Bury were heading for relegation to the Third Division and Nielson was allowed to leave having made 107 appearances and scored five goals.

Nielson left Hull City in July 1958 and joined Southern League side Corby Town. A year later he joined Gresley Rovers, in November 1959 he was on the move again and joined Hinckley United. In July 1960 he signed for Midland League side Long Eaton United, a club he served for six years until he accepted the role of steward at Long Eaton Labour Club in May 1966. In the 1966/67 season Nielson played for Central Alliance League side Wilmorton and Alwaston before hanging up his boots in 1967. He remained living in the Derby area for the rest of his life, dying in Derby on New Year’s Day 2002.

Details

Nationality: South Africa
Date/Place of Birth: 6 November 1928, Johannesburg (South Africa)
Hull City First Game: 13 April 1957, Mansfield Town H (Division Three North), 28 years, 158 days old
Hull City Final Game: 18 January 1958, Rochdale H (Division Three North), 29 years, 73 days old

Clubs

Arcadia Shepherds, Charlton Athletic (1949-1951), Derby County (1951-1954), Bury (1954-1957), Hull City (1957-1958), Corby Town (1958-1959), Gresley Rovers (1959), Hinckley United (1959-1960), Long Eaton United (1960-1966), Wilmorton and Alwaston (1966-1967)

Hull City Record

Career: 28 apps, 0 goals

Norman Nielson
SeasonLGE
App
LGE
Gls
FAC
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FAC
Gls
FLC
App
FLC
Gls
EUR
App
EUR
Gls
OTH
App
OTH
Gls
1956/5720--------
1957/5823030------

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