Fleetwood Town’s FA Cup first round tie at Walsall was a match of mixed fortunes for long-serving defender, Nathan Pond. A 2-0 defeat in his twentieth FA Cup game for Fleetwood took some of the gloss off reaching a remarkable milestone. It was the thirty-year old’s 400th game for a side that he first played for as far back as March 2003 and he joins a select band of five others who have represented the town that many times. Fleetwood’s remarkable story over the last twelve years is also Nathan Pond’s story. His first game was at St Helens Town in the North West Counties league. After a 3-0 defeat, the battle-hardened centre half alongside him was moved to question manager Tony Greenwood about where on earth he had found the gangly, inexperienced teenager. And that was a polite way of putting it. After three successive defeats, Pond was moved into midfield and the rest, as they say, is history. The young colt has become a classic racehorse. He has experienced promotion on six occasions and scored at seven different levels. Now he is a League One player. His achievements have earned him a Guinness Book of Records place.
Nathan Pond’s durability marks him out. After considerable success in his new role, the iron fist to Jamie Milligan’s velvet glove, he moved back into defence. He has met fierce competition for the shirt head-on and managed the move from part-time to full-time status. Injuries and suspensions have held back the appearance total but determination, pride and hard work have regained the shirt every time. He remains one of the fittest and hardworking members of the Fleetwood squad. There are lessons here for all aspiring young players.
Pond was left tantalisingly short of the 400 mark by an injury which kept him out for fourteen games. He returned at home to Chesterfield on 31 October, wearing the captain’s armband. He was faultless, losing the ball on just one occasion only to regain it immediately. His determination to play is perhaps a legacy of part-time days when players were only paid when they played. He was once given the ‘hair dryer’ treatment after a game with accusations of laziness from the management. His reply? That he had been up since four in the morning delivering bread. An apology followed.
Never an extrovert in the Jamie Vardy mould, Pond nevertheless has a dry wit which can bring the house down. He can feel uncomfortable talking about himself. Actions speak louder than words for the ultimate professional.
Pond now lies twenty-two games short of a club record and when asked what should happen if he breaks it, the defender replies with a typical one-line reaction, ‘Then they’ll have to name a stand after me!’
Respect from fans is hard-earned and Pond has done his bit to win over the Cod Army. After a particularly poor team performance at Bacup Borough he took the trouble to go over to the small group of supporters who had made the trip, apologised and thanked them for coming.
The word ‘legend’ is bandied around all too often in today’s game. No one can dispute Nathan Pond’s right to that tag.
