John Nutter

Early career

Nutter began his career on the books at Blackburn Rovers' youth academy, joining the club's YTS programme in 1998 at the age of 16, before later becoming a first-year scholar. During his time at Blackburn, he was part of the side that won the Under 17s Academy Cup as they beat Manchester City in the final. He was released by Blackburn in 2000, and was subsequently signed by Wycombe Wanderers in the early part of 2001. Nutter made one first-team appearance for the club, making his Football League debut in the club's 3–2 away defeat to Peterborough United on 24 February 2001. He was also part of the squad that travelled to the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool at Villa Park, although did not feature. His time at Wycombe was hampered by an ankle injury, which resulted in "limited opportunities". He subsequently left Wycombe at the end of the 2000–01 season.

In May 2001, Nutter joined Aldershot Town, then of the Isthmian League Premier Division. He made his debut in Aldershot's 3–1 home victory over Enfield on 18 August 2001, and scored his first goal for the club shortly after in a 2–1 away win over Heybridge Swifts. Nutter made 19 appearances for Aldershot during the 2001–02 season, scoring twice. He also made eight appearances for divisional rivals St Albans City during a two-month loan spell. Nutter remained at Aldershot the following season, making sporadic appearances throughout the campaign. He spent a month on loan at Conference National side Gravesend & Northfleet in November 2002, making four appearances. During the campaign, he scored three times in 21 appearances for Aldershot, in a season that saw the club earn promotion to the Conference National after winning the Isthmian League Premier Division. Nutter featured regularly during Aldershot's return to the highest tier of non-League football, making 28 appearances in all competitions and netting once in a 4–2 away victory over Bishop's Stortford in the FA Trophy in January 2004. Aldershot narrowly missed out on back-to-back promotions, losing on penalties in the play-off final to Shrewsbury Town. Although Nutter did not play in the final, he did feature in both legs of the semi-final as Aldershot defeated Hereford United on penalties. During his three years at Aldershot, Nutter made 68 appearances in league, FA Cup and FA Trophy fixtures, scoring six times.

Grays Athletic

Ahead of the 2004–05 season, in July 2004, Nutter signed for Conference South side Grays Athletic, managed by Mark Stimson. He made his Grays debut on the opening day of the season, playing the first 57 minutes in a 1–1 away draw against Hayes on 14 August 2004. Three days later, he scored his only goal of the season as Grays beat Redbridge comfortably at the New Recreation Ground. In Nutter's first season with Grays, the club secured the Conference South title in comprehensive fashion, winning the division by 23 points. During the same season, Grays also won the FA Trophy, beating Hucknall Town on penalties in the final at Villa Park, with Nutter playing the whole match. As a result of Grays' promotion, the 2005–06 season gave Nutter another opportunity to play in the Conference National. He was almost ever-present during yet another successful season for the Essex club, with Grays finishing third in the league. His only goal of the season came in the Conference play-off semi-final second leg, as Grays eventually lost to Halifax Town 5–4 on aggregate. Shortly after the play-off defeat, Nutter was part of the side that secured back-to-back FA Trophy titles courtesy of a 2–0 win against Woking at Upton Park. It was to be Nutter's last game for the club. On securing successive FA Trophy victories with Grays, Nutter stated — "The FA Trophy wins for Grays Athletic were great, a fantastic achievement for the club, we had some terrific players at the time".

Stevenage Borough

With his Grays contract expiring in May 2006, Nutter opted to sign for Conference National side Stevenage Borough at the end of the month. He joined on a free transfer and on a two-year contract. The move reunited him with Stimson, who made Nutter his first signing following his switch from Grays to Stevenage. Nutter revealed that he had rejected the offer of a contract extension at Grays, as well as an offer from Peterborough United. He made his Stevenage debut against Altrincham on 12 August 2006, playing the whole match in a 2–1 away defeat. Nutter scored his first goal for Stevenage in a 3–2 home win against Woking on 3 October 2006, a late penalty to restore parity in the match, before Stevenage went on to score a winner in injury-time. He went on to score further penalties in home victories against Gravesend & Northfleet and Cambridge United, and also scored against Burton Albion with a long-range drive in a 2–1 win. He added to his most fruitful season in front of goal by scoring twice in April 2007, both from the penalty spot, against Forest Green Rovers and Rushden & Diamonds respectively. He was ever-present during his first season with the club, playing in all 46 leagues matches, as well as making a further ten appearances in cup competitions, scoring six times. Nutter was part of the squad that reached the FA Trophy final in May 2007, the first competitive match at the new Wembley Stadium. He played the whole match in Stevenage's 3–2 win over Kidderminster Harriers, a game in which Stevenage trailed by two goals, meaning he had won the FA Trophy for three successive years.

Nutter scored his first goal of the 2007–08 season in Stevenage's 3–0 home victory over Weymouth in August 2007, scoring a free kick that found the top corner of the goal. He was part of the defence that broke a club record and equalled a Conference National record when Stevenage went eight games without conceding a goal, spanning from August to October 2007. Following the departure of manager Mark Stimson to Gillingham in November 2007, it was revealed that Stevenage rejected several offers for Nutter from Gillingham. He remained at Stevenage for a further three weeks; his last game for the club a 3–2 home loss to Halifax Town. He scored eight times in 73 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Gillingham

Later that month, Nutter joined Gillingham, along with Stevenage midfielder Adam Miller, for a combined fee of £65,000. The move was initially on loan until January 2008, when the deal was made permanent. He made his debut for Gillingham in a 1–1 home draw with Southend United on 26 December 2007, playing the whole match. Nutter went on to make 25 appearances for the club during the second half of the 2007–08 campaign, a season that witnessed Gillingham suffer relegation to League Two. He scored one goal during the campaign, netting in a 1–1 draw against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium in April 2008. The 2008–09 campaign brought about Nutter's first full season at Gillingham. He had been joined by former Stevenage players Barry Fuller, Alan Julian, and Stuart Lewis, as well as Dennis Oli, who he played alongside at Grays. Nutter made 54 appearances during the campaign, a season in which Gillingham earned promotion back to League One following a 1–0 win over Shrewsbury Town in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium in May 2009. Although he failed to find the scoresheet during the successful campaign, he did provide the assist for eleven goals. The promotion meant that it was the third of Nutter's career, having also tasted league success at Aldershot and Grays.

Nutter started in the club's first game of the 2009–10 season; as Gillingham marked their return to the third tier of English football with a 5–0 victory over Swindon Town at Priestfield. He scored his only goal of the campaign, the second of his Gillingham career, in a 3–1 win over bottom-placed Stockport County in December 2009, marking his 100th appearance for the club with an "angled volley" that beat Owain Fôn Williams in the Stockport goal. Gillingham were relegated at the end of the season, finishing in 21st place. A 3–0 away loss to one of Nutter's former employers, Wycombe Wanderers, cemented their fate. Nutter made 41 appearances during the campaign. Stimson left the club by mutual consent days after the Wycombe match, and was replaced by Andy Hessenthaler. This meant that Nutter would be playing under a manager other than Stimson for the first time in six years (aside from a three-week spell under Peter Taylor at Stevenage). Nutter's contract was extended for a further year in June 2010 after he had "played sufficient games last season to trigger a new deal". During the campaign, Nutter received the first red card of his career in a 2–0 home defeat to Dover Athletic in the FA Cup, earning the dismissal for a "professional foul". He made 37 appearances during the 2010–11 season, scoring once, as Gillingham narrowly missed out on a play-off position. In May 2011, Nutter left Gillingham when his contract expired at the end of the month. During his three-and-a-half-year spell with the Kent side, he made 157 appearances and scored three goals.

Lincoln City

Nutter joined Conference National side Lincoln City on a free transfer in July 2011. Signing a two-year deal with Lincoln, Nutter stated — "I think it will benefit me to have a fresh start, play in front of new people and show what I can do. I feel I'm better than this level but I've got to show that and we have to show that as a team". His Lincoln debut came on the opening day of the 2011–12 season, playing the whole match as Lincoln twice squandered a lead to draw 2–2 with Southport at Haig Avenue. He scored his first goal for the club in November 2011, netting Lincoln's third with a shot from outside the area in a 3–0 home win over Ebbsfleet United. Nutter would add to his goal tally once more during the campaign when he scored a 20-yard free-kick in an important 2–0 win against relegation rivals Newport County on 24 March 2012. Nutter played in all 51 of Lincoln's matches during the season, with the club struggling to adapt during their first season back in non-league, finishing just above the relegation places.

He was made club captain ahead of the 2012–13 season, and continued to play regularly during the early months of the new campaign. He opened his goalscoring account courtesy of free-kick in a 3–3 home draw against Stockport County in October 2012. Shortly after, Nutter admitted that his family struggled relocating to Lincolnshire, and a move down south was a much more suitable location given his personal circumstances. He scored three times in 66 appearances for Lincoln. On his time at Lincoln, Nutter stated — "Lincoln is a really nice, friendly club with very patient and loyal supporters. But with my personal circumstances, it was time to move on – I wish them well".

Woking

In November 2012, he joined fellow Conference National side Woking on a two-month loan deal. He made his first appearance for Woking two days after signing, playing the whole match in a 2–1 loss to Alfreton Town at Kingfield, and went on to make a further four appearances during the loan agreement. He briefly returned to Lincoln, before it was agreed that he would leave the club by mutual consent at the end of 2012. Nutter subsequently signed for Woking on a permanent basis on 6 January 2013.

In August 2014, Nutter signed for Woking on non-contract terms due to his new job as a teacher at Papplewick School in Ascot. He thanked the team for their understanding, especially given the recent death of his mother.

International career

Nutter has played for the England C team, who represent England at non-league level. He has also made several appearances for the England futsal side.

Style of play

Nutter predominantly played as a left-sided full-back, although he did play on the left wing in the early stages of his career. He was left-footed. Gillingham manager Mark Stimson described him as "an attacking full-back with plenty of technical ability", and stated that Nutter would "offer plenty of width down the left hand side", in-turn being "a constant attacking threat". He expressed a passion to pass the ball along the floor, and always prefers to pass the ball out as opposed to hitting it long. Talking about his time at Stevenage, Nutter stated he would like to be remembered as a player "who tried to play football the right way, passing the ball, technically good to watch and an honest player".

He also provided an attacking outlet from set-pieces. Throughout his career, Nutter scored from several long-range free-kicks, and also regularly took corner kicks. During his time at Stevenage, he was the club's penalty taker, and scored six out of seven penalties.

Personal life

Nutter is married to Hayley and as of 2011 had two sons, Walter and Benedict. He has a brother and a sister. His brother, Tom, has played football for Burnham and Beaconsfield SYCOB, and won a number of awards during a four-year stint in America playing for West Texas A&M University. He has stated that his closest friend in football is Adam Miller, who he played alongside at Stevenage and Gillingham.

Honours

Career statistics