Irving Nattrass (1970-1979)

United Rolls Royce

Born	Fishburn	Co Durham	12/12/1952
Arrived	Internal	07/1970
Debut	Derby H	Div 1	27/03/1971
Departed	Middlesbrough	07/1979	£375,000
Apps/Goals	300	13	22
Ht/Wt	5' 11"	12st

United manager Joe Harvey once said that "Nattrass is my Paul Madeley and I can't pay him a bigger compliment than that".

Madeley was a Leeds and England player who was dubbed the "Rolls Royce" of footballers for his classy displays as either a midfielder or defender.

Not only did Nattrass share the Leeds' stars polish, he also matched his versatility by excelling at full-back, central defender, sweeper and midfielder

Irving had pace, poise and perception. When he was on the ball he was calm and comfortable in possession. When he didn't he was sharp in the tackle and quick on the turn. He had a decent range of passing but kept his passes simple.

Nattrass stated that his first coach and manager (Burkinshaw and Harvey) were the biggest influences on his career and there is no doubt that the admiration was mutual.

Keith Burkinshaw was tipping him to win full international honours from an early stage. "He's quick. People find it hard to go past him because he is such a good tackler, and his anticipation is exceptional".

Senior players were just as impressed with the teenager. Macdonald praised his maturity and described him as the best player in his age group in the country. Terry Hibbitt was impressed with how he kept the game simple. "He gets it and shoves it around quickly for us, he's never in trouble because he's got all the necessary strength and pace"

But his skills didn't stop there. When he married show jumper Joan Little he turned to farming in his spare time and his spouse enthused "Irving can drive the tractor, herd the sheep and even ride my horses".

When Joe Harvey was asked about him in 1973 he believed he had the world at his feet. "The next ten years can see him reaching dizzy heights. He must win the top honours in the game".

But when Irving was forced to retire through injury at the end of the 1985-86 season (aged 33) all he had to show for his time in the game was a single England U23 cap and a League Cup runners up medal.

The lack of honours is easy to explain; for starters he played for United and when he moved on in July 1979 his desire to stay in the North East took him to Middlesbrough. Other clubs such as Tottenham were interested but Irving decided to stay closer to home.

He has stated recently that he regrets having left United but to be fair to him the club was in a desperate state having only managed a mid-table finish in the Second Division. But his main reason for leaving appears to have been manager Bill McGarry whom Nattrass has described as a "horrible man".

The lack of international recognition is slightly more complicated. Playing in the North East didn't help and playing in the Second Division when his career should have been at it's peak was also a factor. Recurrent injury problems denied him opportunities and Irving himself believes that he burnt a few bridges of his own when he turned down the opportunity of going on tour with the England "B" team.

Despite his lack of international recognition there is no doubt he is one of the classiest United defenders of modern times and few would argue that we have not had a better defender at St James' since he left.

Season by Season

Pre United

Ferryhill Grammar school pupil Irving failed to make much of an impact as a schoolboy. But despite only managing one game for the district side, United scout Harry Nattrass liked what he saw and he joined on schoolboy forms as a fourteen year old.

At 16 he signed on as an apprentice but quiet and lacking in confidence his progress was slow and stuck in the fourth team he started to look for employment outside and actually fixed up a job as a mechanic. Thankfully he stayed and signed professionally in July 1970 at the age of 17.

1970/71 [1/3 - 0]

In March 1971 Nattrass (now 18) makes his debut as he replaces John Craggs in the 3-1 victory at home over Derby. Two tremendous tackles on Archie Gemmill dispel any doubts about his ability to cope. He makes his full debut in the last game of the season when he deputises for Moncur as sweeper at Coventry.

1971/72 [24/4 - 1]

Nattrass deputises for Moncur in the first game but nearly all of his games are played as a midfield ball winner. He scores his first goal in the 3-1 home victory over Spurs.

Captain Moncur was full of admiration "Definitely one for the future. He is inclined to get easily depressed with his progress. If only he rated himself as highly as the rest of the senior players do."

1972/73 [23/4 - 3]

Nattrass again takes over from Tommy Gibb as United's midfield ball winner and performs so well that he is drafted into the England U23 squad.

1973/74 [16/0 - 2]

With David Craig injured, Irving moves to right back but he suffers a terrible knee ligament injury in the "Battle with Brum" which rules him out from December. As a result he misses out on a Wembley visit although he thought he was fit enough to play.

1974/75 [41/0 - 0]

Irving is now established as first choice right back but still gets used occasionally in midfield and central defence.

1975/76 [54/0 - 4]

New manager Gordon Lee is just as impressed as Harvey and regards Nattrass as one of his key players. Irving is one of a number of players who plays in the League Cup final despite being unfit.

1976/77 [46/0 - 4]

With government pay restrictions blocking wage rises Nattrass asks for a transfer. Although Lee had gone on record that anybody not happy would be allowed to go he is adamant that Nattrass must stay.

The promise of a testimonial (which he never received) persuaded him to change his mind and Nattrass goes on to have his best season for the club

Unlucky to be thrust out in front of the media when player power threatened to cause anarchy at St James'. The senior pros who were the ringleaders (Nulty, Burns and Gowling) chose to stay in the shadows as the players passed a vote of "no confidence" in the board.

1977/78 [46/1 - 3]

Nattrass is one of many players out of contract in the summer of 1977 but he joins the rest of the "rebels" in re-signing. United never recover from a terrible start and are relegated with Nattrass having to fill in across the back four.

1978/79 [24/0 - 3]

Nattrass is once again on the verge of leaving but he settles his differences with the club and signs a "lucrative" new contract . Unfortunately an achilles tendon injury picked up in a pre-season friendly at Hull meant he missed much of the first half of the season. On his return he was almost back to his best and was used in midfield, central-defence and full-back (wearing six different shirts in all!).

Nattrass finally ends his twelve year association with United when he joins Middlesbrough for £375,000

Post United

Irving spends seven seasons at Ayresome Park where he clocks up over 200 appearances despite recurrent injury problems.