NEW GULL PROFILE

Sam Turner – @sam_turner97

Sam blogs about the latest new face at Plainmoor

A late new addition for the Gulls before the opening game of the season last Saturday was Ashley Nathaniel-George. The former Southend winger was announced shortly before kick off when he was included in Gary Johnson’s first squad of the 22/23 season. He even made his debut as well when he was brought on at half-time, and looked comfortable amongst his new colleagues. His arrival has been low key so far so let’s take a closer look at his career so far…

CAREER SUMMARY

Nathaniel-George began his footballing career in the youth system of Arsenal before he was released at the age of 14. After featuring for Watford, Wycombe Wanderers and Wealdstone he found his footing for Potters Bar in Hertfordshire in 2015. After a two year spell there he then moved to Hendon FC in London for the 2017/18 season. He scored 13 times that season and helped the club reach the play-offs of the Isthmian League Premier Division, unfortunately losing to Dulwich Hamlet on penalties in the final. Following this successful personal season he agreed a move up the divisions and into the football league with Crawley Town for the 2018/19 season. He played 46 games for the club over a 2 year spell before moving again to Southend United in the summer of 2020 for an undisclosed fee. After 2 years at Southend, with a loan move to Ebbsfleet towards the end of last season, he now joins the Gulls on a free transfer to hopefully add some width and flair to United’s attack. He also made his debut for the Antigua and Barbuda national team in June 2022.

HIGHLIGHTS

Here are some highlights from his 2021 campaign with Southend and also from his time with Hendon FC:

GEORGE STATS

Position: LW/RW

DOB: 14/06/1995

Height: 5ft 9ins

Birthplace: Brent, London

Previous clubs: Wealdstone, Potters Bar Town, Hendon FC, Crawley Town, Southend United,
Ebbsfleet (loan)

Last Season Stats: Played 3, Goals 0, Yellow/Red Cards 1/0

MOST/LEAST LIKELY TO

Most Likely To:

Be useful cover on both the left and the right hand side of midfield
Provide some trickery and flair to the side
Help to spread the play as well as provide a threat to the opposition’s full backs

Least Likely To:

Solve the need for goals in the side
Need any more surnames that sound like first names

CONCLUSION

It has been perhaps the most low key of low key signings for the Gulls this summer, definitely not a lot of fanfare from the club around it all, not even an interview that I can see (this may be rectified soon!). As for his impact then hopefully he rediscovers the goal-scoring touch from his Hendon FC days and if the already rapid rate of injuries we’re getting continues then he could end up seeing a lot more game-time than had maybe been planned this season. And hey, if nothing else it’s always nice to have a player at the club with some international experience under their belt, whatever the team!