William John Robert Nightingale (born 2 August 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or right-back for Scottish Premiership side Ross County, on loan from EFL League Two club AFC Wimbledon.
![]() Nightingale in 2018 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | William John Robert Nightingale[1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 2 August 1995||
Place of birth | Wandsworth, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3] | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team |
Ross County (on loan from AFC Wimbledon) | ||
Number | 35 | ||
Youth career | |||
2004–2014 | AFC Wimbledon | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2014– | AFC Wimbledon | 175 | (7) |
2023– | → Ross County (loan) | 23 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:00, 12 August 2024 |
Career
editNightingale was born in Wandsworth, Greater London.[4] He joined the AFC Wimbledon Academy at the age of nine, progressing through the ranks before making the step up to the first team at the age of 18.[5] His first association with the first team came as an unused substitute in a 2–0 home loss to Torquay United on 11 January 2014.[6] Nightingale was offered his first professional contract with AFC Wimbledon in May 2014.[7]
Nightingale made his first-team debut on 17 January 2015 at the age of 19, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute in a 3–1 home defeat to Carlisle United.[8] He was rewarded by being named in the starting line-up for the following match, a 2–1 home win against Accrington Stanley on 24 January 2015.[8] He was named as the man of the match and was commended by manager Neal Ardley for his performance.[9] He scored his first career goal on 7 April 2018 with a fourth-minute header in a 1–1 draw against Scunthorpe United.[10][11]
He was named the club's Player of the Season for the 2018–19 campaign,[12] which saw Wimbledon achieve survival despite being ten points adrift of safety in February.[13] On 22 May 2019, he signed a new contract with AFC Wimbledon of an undisclosed length.[14]
On 14 August 2021 during a 3–3 draw against Bolton Wanderers, Nightingale scored the first Wimbledon goal in front of fans at the newly built Plough Lane stadium.[15]
Nightingale moved on loan to Scottish Premiership club Ross County in July 2023.[16] In June 2024, Ross County announced a season-long loan extension for Nightingale, ensuring he stayed at the club for a second consecutive season.[17]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 12 August 2024
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
AFC Wimbledon | 2014–15[8] | League Two | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
2015–16[18] | League Two | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
2016–17[19] | League One | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
2017–18[20] | League One | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 21 | 1 | |
2018–19[21] | League One | 39 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 46 | 0 | |
2019–20[22] | League One | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
2020–21[23] | League One | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | 38 | 2 | |
2021–22[24] | League One | 35 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 1 | 38 | 4 | |
2022–23[25] | League Two | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 25 | 1 | |
Total | 175 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 204 | 8 | ||
Ross County (loan) | 2023–24[26] | Scottish Premiership | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
2024-25[27] | Scottish Premiership | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
Career total | 198 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 234 | 8 |
- ^ Appearance in Football League Trophy
- ^ a b c d e f g Appearances in EFL Trophy
Honours
editAFC Wimbledon
Individual
- AFC Wimbledon Player of the Year: 2018–19[12]
References
edit- ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018" (PDF). English Football League. p. 43. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "Will Nightingale". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "Will Nightingale". AFC Wimbleon. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "Will Nightingale". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "AFC Wimbledon player profiles: Will Nightingale". AFC Wimbledon. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015.
- ^ "AFC W'bledon: Results/matches: 2014/15". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "Four Dons earn pro deals". AFC Wimbledon. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Will Nightingale in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ Slavin, Chris (24 January 2015). "Will earns special praise". AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ Slavin, Chris (7 April 2018). "Much-improved Dons display ends in frustration". AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "AFC Wimbledon 1–1 Scunthorpe United". BBC Sport. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Player of the Year Will quick to focus on completing survival bid". AFC Wimbledon. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ^ "AFC Wimbledon stay up on goal difference thanks to goalless draw at Bradford - Evening Express". Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Will commits his future to Wimbledon by signing new deal". AFC Wimbledon. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ^ "AFC Wimbledon 3–3 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "Ross County add defender Nightingale". BBC Sport. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Will Nightingale joins on loan from AFC Wimbledon". RCFC. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Will Nightingale in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Will Nightingale in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Will Nightingale in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Will Nightingale in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- ^ "Games played by Will Nightingale in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^ "Games played by Will Nightingale in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Will Nightingale in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Will Nightingale in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Will Nightingale in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Will Nightingale | Football Stats | Ross County | Age 29 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
External links
edit- Profile at the AFC Wimbledon website
- Will Nightingale at Soccerbase