Nathan Pond


Nathan Louis Pond is a professional footballer who last played as a defender or defensive midfielder for club Salford City. He previously played for Fleetwood Town over a fifteen-year period, whilst also having spells with Lancaster City, Kendal Town and Grimsby Town. Internationally, he represents Montserrat, earning his first caps in 2019.
Having played in seven divisions for Fleetwood through the course of six promotions, Pond was recognised by Guinness as holding the world record for appearing in the most different divisions with a single football club.

Career

Club career

Pond began his career with Northern Premier League side Lancaster City in 2003. Later that year he transferred to Fleetwood Town.
Pond was the club's current longest-serving player, having played a club record of 423 matches since 2003. including six promotions, most notably the club's promotion to the Football League in 2012.
He joined Kendal Town on a month's loan in December 2010, making two appearances for the club. The loan was part of an agreement, due to the sale of Danny Rowe to Fleetwood.
On 10 August 2012 Pond joined Grimsby Town on an initial one-month loan. Having made his first appearance on 11 August 2012 against Southport at centre back,
during the following game on 14 August 2012 he scored a 69th-minute opening goal in the 1–2 home defeat against Stockport, a right-footed overhead kick in off the crossbar. After playing three times for Grimsby, Pond extended his loan stay until January 2013. On 8 September 2012 he scored his second goal for Grimsby in a 1–0 victory against Forest Green Rovers, a glancing header from a Frankie Artus free-kick.
Following a successful loan spell, Grimsby looked into extending Pond's loan beyond January or possibly securing him on a permanent deal but on 1 January 2013 they admitted it was unlikely because Fleetwood were interested in taking the player back to look at him. Pond's final appearance for Grimsby in his loan spell brought his fifth goal of the season against Hereford United, two minutes into the game. Pond commented before his final game that the loan spell had been successful for both himself and the club and that he would relish the prospect of returning to Grimsby on a permanent deal in the January transfer window if he was unable to win back his place in the Fleetwood team.
He passed Jack Ainscough's record of 421 appearances for Fleetwood in the penultimate game of the 2015–16 season, ending the season on 423 appearances.
Fleetwood exercised a one-year contract extension for him at the end of the 2017–18 season.
In May 2018 he joined Salford City. He was released on 16 May 2020.

International career

Pond was called up for Montserrat in October 2019 and made his debut on 13 October, playing 90 minutes against El Salvador. He scored his first goal in a 1–0 victory against St Lucia to ensure Montserrat progress to 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.19 November 2019Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
1–0
1–0
2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League B

Honours

Fleetwood Town
Salford City