Nicholas Jeremy "Nicky" Eaden (born 12 December 1972) is an English association football defender currently assistant manager of Peterborough United. He played 550 matches in the Football League.

[edit] Playing career

Born in Sheffield in South Yorkshire, Eaden started his career at local Barnsley F.C., contributing to their promotion to the Premiership before joining Birmingham City. Eaden also had a successful spell with Wigan Athletic, winning promotion from the then Division Two and then into the Premiership. Whilst at Birmingham he played in the 2001 Football League Cup Final.

Despite being successful with most of his previous clubs, he was not a favourite with Forest fans and caretaker managers Frank Barlow and Ian McParland did not include Nicky Eaden in the first matchday squad in the 2006–07 season after an indifferent debut season in the East Midlands, although he had been promoted with every club he had been at prior to joining Forest.

On 31 August 31 2006 he joined League Two side Lincoln City on loan, initially for a month,^[1][2] which was later extended to the maximum 93-day total.^[3] He then returned to Forest, but was again loaned to Lincoln in January 2007, this time for the rest of the season.^[4]

Released by Forest, Eaden signed for Halesowen Town of the Southern League, making just one appearance.^[5] In September 2007 Eaden signed for Solihull Moors of the Conference North;^[6] after only one appearance he left Solihull and signed for fellow Conference North side Kettering Town, making his debut in the 1–1 draw at Nuneaton Borough on 20 October 2007.^[7]

Eaden, initially a player-coach at Kettering, became manager Mark Cooper's assistant during the 2008–09 season.^[8] In November 2009, Cooper was appointed manager of Championship club Peterborough United, and Eaden accompanied him, again as assistant manager.^[9]

[edit] Honours

with Barnsley

• Division One (level 2) runners-up: 1996–97
• Division One (level 2) playoff finalists: 1999–2000

with Birmingham City

• League Cup finalists: 2001
• Division One (level 2) playoff winners: 2001–02

with Wigan Athletic

• Division Two (level 3) winners: 2002–03
• Championship (level 2) runners-up: 2004–05

with Kettering Town

• Conference North (level 6) Champions: 2007–08

[edit] Notes

A. ^  The Kettering Town appearances and goals only cover the 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons in the Conference National, not the 2007–08 season in the Conference North, which Soccerbase does not include.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Nicky Eaden career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile at Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database