Nathan Delfouneso is on the move again, being unveiled as Hednesford Town’s latest signing.
Hednesford currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One West, however are threatened with relegation and club currently sit in 19th place. The signing of Delfouneso is a rather big one for the level, and he certainly brings experience with him.
In total, the now 33-year-old has 347 appearances across the EFL as well a further 31 in the Premier League. He would turn out for the likes of Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers during his professional career, however he will be most well-known for his time with Blackpool who he would enjoy his best, and most consistent, years with.
Delfouneso would play for the Tangerines in each of the Championship, League One and League Two and would rack up 54 goal contributions in 239 games for the now-League One side. Although he may never have reached the lofty heights that were expected of him during his early years with Aston Villa, the forward has still had a successful career.
In his youth, Delfouneso was rated extremely highly, and would appear for England youth teams up until the under-21 level. He would make 17 appearances for the u21s, scoring four times yet would never quite break into the senior side.
Recent years have seen the former Tangerine struggle for consistency and as a result he has moved around a fair bit whilst struggling for form. Most recently, Delfouneso has applied his trade for non-league sides AFC Fylde and Chorley but would struggle to hold down a starting spot. The move to Hednesford seems very much like the last roll of the dice.
A statement on Hednesford Town’s official website reads:
Hednesford Town Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Nathan Delfouneso, a seasoned striker with an impressive football journey.
Since graduating from Aston Villa’s academy, Nathan has played for the likes of Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers, racking up over 200 Football League appearances. He was also a regular England youth international, playing a total of 54 matches and scoring 19 goals at U16, U17, U19 and U21 levels.
Delfouneso’s arrival at Keys Park adds depth and firepower to our squad, and we eagerly anticipate his contributions in the upcoming games.
Writer’s View
Delfouneso will be remembered potentially as a player who never reached the heights that was maybe first thought of, however you cannot knock the long and still successful career that he has had. It’s a huge signing for the level as he bring an abundance of quality and experience which could lift Hednesford away from trouble.
He had an excellent career with Blackpool and stuck with the club through difficulty. Although his playing career might be coming to an end in the not so distant future, Delfouneso is likely to still be involved in the game based on his experiences as a player.
