Family tradition is in safe hands

Photo: PICTURE by ANTHONY MILLER.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: Nathan Pennington (back) plays for Chadderton, as did his dad, Fred.

FOOTBALL:

IT might be something to do with sporting genes, or it could be down to parental guidance — either way, goalkeeper Nathan Pennington certainly suits the phrase “a chip off the old block”.

Nathan (19) is the son of former Chadderton FC goalkeeper Fred Pennington, whose consistent performances for the Broadway club in the late-1960s and 70s earned him an excellent reputation as one of the best between the sticks.

Now Nathan, who has made four first-team appearances this season for Paul Buckley's side in the Vodkat North-West Counties League, is out to emulate the consistency of his dad in the years ahead.

Nathan said: "I was a centre-half at primary school but I always wanted to play in the nets.
“My dad used to take me for one-to-one sessions on Clayton playing fields when I was much younger and he coached me on all aspects of goalkeeping. I have heard about his time as goalkeeper at Chadderton and if I can go on to be as good as he was then I will be happy."

Currently playing for the reserve side in the Lancashire Amateur League, Nathan's next task is to displace Dale Lathan as first-choice goalkeeper at Chadderton.

Nathan said: "Obviously I aspire to play in the first team but to be fair to Dale he has been playing very well. Nathan and I train together and we both help each other to develop our techniques."

Nathan began this season playing for Oldham Hulmeians and it was a friendly match against Chadderton that caught the eye of Buckley, who soon after invited him to play for the Broadway club.

Dad Fred (63) spent the best part of a decade at Chadderton from 1967 onwards, this period interspersed with spells at Bacup Borough, Mount Pleasant and Bright Grayson.

He was a member of the Chadderton side which played Guinness Exports in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Amateur Cup at Broadway in 1969 in front of a club record attendance of 1,679.

But Fred's best memory in that time came in the 1971-72 campaign when Chadderton won the Manchester League's Gilgryst Cup, overcoming New Mills over two-legs.

Fred said: "That match sticks out. John Regan scored from the spot in a 1-1 draw at Broadway in the first leg, but a Peter Longden goal in the away leg was enough to bring the cup back to Chadderton.

"There were some great players at Chadderton too, with the likes of Regan and Billy Elwell."

Of his prodigy, Fred added: "I give him all the encouragement I can and he has got the commitment to develop his game and play at a decent level. Whenever I watch Nathan play, I see a bit of myself in him and of course the memories come flooding back."