Nathan Elder

Nathan John Elder (born 5 April 1985) is an English former professional footballer who is assistant manager of Hythe Town. He played in the Football League for Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford, Shrewsbury Town and Hereford United.

Career Early years Elder was born in Hornchurch. He first played football while attending Langtons Infant School in his hometown Hornchurch, starting out as a defender.

Brighton & Hove Albion Elder joined Brighton & Hove Albion on 1 January 2007, after the "Seagulls" paid his former club Billericay Town £10,000 after being impressed with his talent during a match for Isthmian League Billericay against non-League rivals Worthing. During his time there he only started three games, two in League One and one in the Football League Trophy, scoring just twice for the club in total.

Brentford On 31 January 2008, Elder joined Brentford for £35,000. In the days following the incident, Elder had no sight in his left eye and Brentford manager Andy Scott called for justice to be done. Elder recovered sufficiently to be included in the squad for the final match of the season against Luton Town, but he remained an unused substitute and would not play again for the club.

Return to non-League football On 15 January 2010, Elder joined Conference Premier club AFC Wimbledon on loan until the end of the 2009–10 season. The day after he signed, Elder scored his debut goal in AFC Wimbledon's 2–0 home win against Mansfield Town and picked up the man of the match award. He made a total of 18 appearances for the Dons and scored three goals. Shortly before he was due to return to Shrewsbury, Elder picked up an injury in a game at Tamworth. It was later discovered that he had suffered a tear of his anterior cruciate ligament and would be out for at least six months. It was announced on 24 June 2011 that he was to be released.

After being released by Shrewsbury, Elder was signed by Conference Premier side Hayes & Yeading United.

On 30 September, Elder signed on a monthlong loan deal with League Two side Hereford United before permanently signing on 6 January 2012. His first goal for the club was a glancing header in the 66th minute against Barnet, this would effectively be the winner as Hereford won the match 1–0.

On 6 July 2012, he was signed by Ebbsfleet United.

On 17 June 2013, Elder was signed by Dover Athletic on a free transfer. On 10 May 2014, Elder scored the only goal of the game in Dover's 1–0 playoff final win over former club Ebbsfleet United to seal Dover's return to the Conference Premier for the first time since 2002.

Having spent much of the previous season out on loan, including finishing the season with Tonbridge Angels, Elder joined the club permanently following his release from Dover in May 2015.

Elder joined Isthmian League South East Division club Sittingbourne as player-coach in August 2018 and was promoted into the role of assistant manager in February 2019.

In September 2019, Elder left to Sittingbourne to link up with his former Maidstone team-mate Steve Watt, as his assistant manager at Hythe Town.

Personal life Elder attended Langtons Infant School and Emerson Park Comprehensive. He stated that Andy Cole was the player he modelled himself on.

34 8 0 0

5 2 39 10 2006–07 18 6 0 0

1 0 19 6

52 14 0 0

6 2 58 16

2006–07

13 1

13 1 2007–08 9 1 2 0 0 0 3 0 14 1

22 2 2 0 0 0 3 0 27 2

2007–08 27 6 2 1 1 0 0 0 30 7

44 10 2 1 1 0 0 0 47 11 Shrewsbury Town 2009–10 League Two 19 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 22 2 AFC Wimbledon (loan) 2009–10 Conference Premier 6 0

6 0 Hereford United 2011–12 League Two 26 3 1 0

27 3 Ebbsfleet United 2012–13 Isthmian League Premier Division 7 2

7 2

2015–16

40 23 1 0

5 3 46 26 2016–17 40 15 4 2

7 1 51 18 2017–18 39 11 1 0

4 1 44 12

126 51 6 2

16 5 148 58 Sittingbourne 2018–19 Isthmian League South East Division 8 0 0 0

2 1 10 1

415 109 17 6 2 0 35 10 469 125

Honours Brentford Football League Two: 2008–09

Dover Athletic

Conference South play-offs: 2014