Max Nicholson (footballer)


Max Nicholson is an English former professional footballer.

Football career

Nicholson began his career as a trainee with Doncaster Rovers and was given his professional debut in 1989 by former Scotland captain Billy Bremner. After 4 years at Belle Vue he moved on to Hereford United, Torquay United and then Scunthorpe United playing in excess of 150 league games.

A skilful left sided midfielder, he never fulfilled his potential in England and moved on to play professionally in the Singapore S. League with former Scunthorpe team-mate Stuart Young for four years and was voted the Straits Times S League player of the year in 1997.
He played for Geylang United and Woodlands and acted as a witness in the match fixing scandal of 2000 as, after being attacked with a hockey stick by the notorious Wilson Raj Perumal along with fellow Woodlands player Ivica Raguz, two S League players, German goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel and Australian defender Mirko Jurilj were jailed for alleged fixing of matches. Nicholson had originally been arrested along with fellow British players from Geylang United, Billy Bone and Brian Bothwell.

No charges were brought against Nicholson, he actually played in the game where it was alleged he was to be paid not to play in.

Nicholson teamed up with Young for a third time in the National Soccer league of Australia, both playing for Wollongong Wolves, winning the national soccer league championship in his first season. He was used mainly as a sub as it was difficult to dislodge Australian international Scott Chipperfield, but achieved something of a cult status amongst Wolves fans.
In July 2002 Nicholson joined Gainsborough Trinity.