8th tier club Anstey Nomads confirm the surprise signing of much loved 40 year old ex-Premier League and EFL player David Nugent.
They currently sit 11th pace in the Northern Premier League – Midlands Division with 17 points from 11 games played, 3 points from the playoff places, and 4 points above the drop zone.
On Friday, less than 24 hours before Saturday’s fixture, @TheNomadsFc tweeted: “David Nugent joins Anstey Nomads! 👏🏻
“The former Leicester City and England international joins as a player-coach and is available for Saturdays fixture vs Loughborough Students!
“Joins us tomorrow of a 3:00PM KO at Cropston Road! Welcome Nugent 🤝 #UpTheNomads #LCFC”
He stepped onto the Anstey Nomads pitch back in May 2025, when he was taking part in an all stars fixture for Leicester City.
David Nugent joins Anstey Nomads! 👏🏻
The former Leicester City and England international joins as a player-coach and is available for Saturdays fixture vs Loughborough Students!
Joins us tomorrow of a 3:00PM KO at Cropston Road!
Welcome Nugent 🤝#UpTheNomads #LCFC pic.twitter.com/ahJG0WbxyF
— Anstey Nomads (@TheNomadsFc) October 17, 2025
NUGENT’S CAREER:
Youth career
Liverpool
–2002 – Bury
Senior
2002–2005 – Bury – 102 games (20 goals)
2005–2007 – Preston North End – 107 games (37 goals)
2007–2011 – Portsmouth – 93 games (20 goals)
2009–2010 → Burnley (loan) – 30 games (6 goals)
2011–2015 – Leicester City – 180 games (59 goals)
2015–2017 – Middlesbrough – 45 games (9 goals)
2017–2019 – Derby County – 95 games (17 goals)
2019–2021 – Preston North End – 25 games (1 goal)
2021 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) – 21 games (2 goals)
Total 698 games (171 goals)
International career
2005–2007 – England U21 – 14 games (4 goals)
2007 – England – 1 game (1 goals)
Honours
Portsmouth
FA Cup: 2007–08
Leicester City
Championship: 2013–14
Middlesbrough
Championship runner-up: 2015–16
Tranmere Rovers
EFL Trophy runner-up: 2020–21
Individual
The Football League Young Player of the Year: 2005–06
Championship Player of the Month: March 2005, January 2006
Two years ago, he reflected on his career while on the “Leicester’s The Players Podcast”,
Nugent, who played a key role in Leicester’s 2014 promotion and their 2015 Premier League survival, said since retiring, he enjoyed being a stay-at-home dad, focusing on family time with his daughter, who is involved in sports like gymnastics, football, and tennis.
He also does occasional media work with Leicester and Radio Leicester but preferred keeping weekends free.
Nugent shared his journey into football, starting at age six or seven with local Sunday League teams, getting scouted by Liverpool’s School of Excellence at seven, and playing multiple games weekly.
Released by Liverpool at 14, he returned to Sunday League before joining Bury at 15, making his professional debut at 16 in League One.
His career progressed through Preston (where he earned an England cap), Portsmouth, Burnley, and back to Leicester, where he was the top scorer in the 2013-14 season.
He reflects on the heartbreak of the 2013 playoff loss to Watford, which fuelled the team’s determination to win the Championship the next year.
David also spoke of his England debut under Steve McClaren, scoring against Andorra.
Here’s how fans reacted as the 8th tier club confirm the surprise signing of 40 year old ex-Premier League and EFL player David Nugent…
@LestahGeorge: you love to see it
@NomadsDrummer: O go on then
@JackRaff: You absolutely love to see it! Perfect day if you’re a City fan tomorrow. Trip down to Anstey in the afternoon to see the man himself back in action, then back to the City for the David Nugent derby at King Power Stadium in the late game. What a Saturday that would be!
@richscottmedia: David Nugent is becoming a player-coach at Anstey Nomads. I feel old. Remember BBC Lancashire speaking to him on the phone the day his move to Portsmouth from Preston went through, and you could tell from his voice that he was gutted to be leaving Deepdale.
@Barsby_ST: Massive! UTN ❤️
@LCFCshitposting: Finally some good news
@Luke_Gurney_: That was hard to keep quiet 😅 #UpTheNomads
@Beeeeezzzzzzz: Nuuuuuuuge! Defences will be shitting it.
@YouYeltz: Haha, that’s nuts. What a signing 😂
Gazz Baines: Naomi Lowe nomads season ticket then!
Steve Hunt: Absolutely brilliant! Goo on Nuuuuuggee!!
Gav Stretton: Daviddd Nugenttt de de de der 🎵
Drew Orchard: What a signing that is
Billy O’keeffe: What a great signing!! X
Lee Parsons: Was a great player for Leicester
Anstey Town: Dual sign? 🤣
Lee Parsons: Was a great player for Leicester
Martin Spencer: That’s a great signing.
sambaileysinger: This is class!!!
gothic_boy7: Let’s go David 🔥 @nugeypups
sb16_id: @nugeypups love it lad ❤️👏
Ian Grogan: Wow what a coup this is ! Could turn out to be a defining moment in the Nomads season.
Mick Butcher: Good luck Nuge
David Grogan: Its a great appointment one of Citys best strikers we had.The gaffer will be happy as he is also a Everton fan.
Paul Tomlinson: Christ how old is he ???
Julieandgeordie Cummings: Should get a few more supporters 💙
Mick Butler: Should add a few more fans thru the gates.
Chris Bailey: Should of got a game with city even at his age
