A World Record That Began in The NWCFL
Mon 18th August 2014 | General | By Ian Templeman
Fleetwood Town defender Nathan Pond, who began his career with the club when they were in the NWCFL in 2003, has been officially recognised by the Guinness World Records.
The Club’s longest serving player, who has won six promotions in ten seasons during his 11 year Highbury career, made his debut for the club in March 2003 in a NWCFL First Division game at St Helens Town's old Hoghton Road ground.
Just over 11 years later, on Saturday 9th August he played in his seventh different division for Town when he captained the team in their first ever League One game against Crewe Alexandra.
This achievement has now been officially recognised by Guinness as a world record under the title of ‘the most football (soccer) divisions played in for one club by an individual.’
The 29-year-old has now played for Fleetwood in the following seven divisions:
North West Counties League First Division
Northern Premier League Division One
Northern Premier League Premier Division
Conference North
Conference Premier
Football League Two
Football League One
Nathan’s journey started as a raw 18-year old in the NWCFL under then manager Tony Greenwood. Current Chairman Andy Pilley arrived a year later, and the club's journey up the pyramid began when they won the NWCFL First Division title in 2005.
Speaking about the achievement on the Fleetwood Town website, Pond said: “It’s a bit of a weird feeling and it hasn’t really sunk in. I’ve had a few text messages and tweets about it.
“I didn’t expect we would go this far, we have kept on climbing up the football ladder. It is a surreal feeling to be in the Guinness World Records.
Current Fleetwood Town Vice-Chairman Phil Jones, who was at the club when Nathan made his NWCFL debut in 2003, said: "Everybody at our club is delighted that Nathan’s incredible footballing story has been recognised by Guinness as an official world record.
"It is nothing short of remarkable that a player who was playing in Step 5 of the non-league pyramid as recently as 2005 is still a regular first team player for the same club In League One just nine years later.
"Nathan is a fantastic player but as a person, he’s no different than he was when he first arrived at the club as an 18 year old in 2003. He is a Fleetwood Town legend and everybody here thinks the world of him".
Phil added: "l saw the Squires Gate v Nelson game recently and I still maintain a keen interest in NWCFL football. Those of us that have been at the club throughout our rise to where we are now, including our chairman Andy Pilley, have never forgotten where we came from and the fantastic times we enjoyed during those years.
"Indeed, after our play-off win at Wembley in May, I believe Andy said publicly when asked which of our six promotions meant the most to him, he said the first, because the North West Counties championship win was the catalyst for everything since, and it was by far the hardest division to get out of - one promotion place and no play offs!"
Nathan is pictured above - photo courtesy of the Fleetwood Town website.
A World Record That Began in The NWCFL
Mon 18th August 2014 | General
By Ian Templeman
Fleetwood Town defender Nathan Pond, who began his career with the club when they were in the NWCFL in 2003, has been officially recognised by the Guinness World Records.
The Club’s longest serving player, who has won six promotions in ten seasons during his 11 year Highbury career, made his debut for the club in March 2003 in a NWCFL First Division game at St Helens Town's old Hoghton Road ground.
Just over 11 years later, on Saturday 9th August he played in his seventh different division for Town when he captained the team in their first ever League One game against Crewe Alexandra.
This achievement has now been officially recognised by Guinness as a world record under the title of ‘the most football (soccer) divisions played in for one club by an individual.’
The 29-year-old has now played for Fleetwood in the following seven divisions:
North West Counties League First Division
Northern Premier League Division One
Northern Premier League Premier Division
Conference North
Conference Premier
Football League Two
Football League One
Nathan’s journey started as a raw 18-year old in the NWCFL under then manager Tony Greenwood. Current Chairman Andy Pilley arrived a year later, and the club's journey up the pyramid began when they won the NWCFL First Division title in 2005.
Speaking about the achievement on the Fleetwood Town website, Pond said: “It’s a bit of a weird feeling and it hasn’t really sunk in. I’ve had a few text messages and tweets about it.
“I didn’t expect we would go this far, we have kept on climbing up the football ladder. It is a surreal feeling to be in the Guinness World Records.
Current Fleetwood Town Vice-Chairman Phil Jones, who was at the club when Nathan made his NWCFL debut in 2003, said: "Everybody at our club is delighted that Nathan’s incredible footballing story has been recognised by Guinness as an official world record.
"It is nothing short of remarkable that a player who was playing in Step 5 of the non-league pyramid as recently as 2005 is still a regular first team player for the same club In League One just nine years later.
"Nathan is a fantastic player but as a person, he’s no different than he was when he first arrived at the club as an 18 year old in 2003. He is a Fleetwood Town legend and everybody here thinks the world of him".
Phil added: "l saw the Squires Gate v Nelson game recently and I still maintain a keen interest in NWCFL football. Those of us that have been at the club throughout our rise to where we are now, including our chairman Andy Pilley, have never forgotten where we came from and the fantastic times we enjoyed during those years.
"Indeed, after our play-off win at Wembley in May, I believe Andy said publicly when asked which of our six promotions meant the most to him, he said the first, because the North West Counties championship win was the catalyst for everything since, and it was by far the hardest division to get out of - one promotion place and no play offs!"
Nathan is pictured above - photo courtesy of the Fleetwood Town website.
