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Nick Townsend
Nick Townsend
from Wikipedia

Nicholas Peter Townsend (born 1 November 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for National League club Eastleigh. Born in England, he plays for the Antigua and Barbuda national team.

Key Information

Townsend began his career with Birmingham City, but never appeared for their first team. He spent time on loan with Conference North club Oxford City and Lincoln City of the Conference Premier before joining Championship club Barnsley, initially on loan, in 2015. In 2017, he had a brief loan spell with National League club Solihull Moors before being released by Barnsley at the end of the 2017–18 season.

Early life and career

[edit]

Townsend was born in Solihull, West Midlands, where he attended Alderbrook Secondary School.[3] He and his father had season tickets at Birmingham City, and the seven-year-old Townsend was at the 2002 play-off final at which the club were promoted to the Premier League for the first time.[4] He joined Birmingham City's youth academy as an under-nine,[3] and took up a scholarship in July 2011.[1]

He was given a squad number in January 2013 after previous third-choice goalkeeper David Lucas left the club,[5] and, with the sale of first-choice goalkeeper Jack Butland pending, he was an unused substitute as Colin Doyle started the FA Cup third round defeat against Leeds United.[6] Butland signed for Stoke City, but was loaned back until the end of the season,[7] so Townsend returned to third choice. He spent a spell on loan at Oxford City,[8] for whom he went straight into the starting eleven and played nine Conference North matches and two in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup.[9]

Professional football

[edit]

At the end of the season, Townsend signed a one-year professional contract with Birmingham City, with the option of a further year.[10] A fractured hand kept him out of the 2013–14 pre-season friendlies, but he was given a squad number and a place on the bench for the League Cup second-round match at Yeovil Town in late August after Darren Randolph sustained a broken nose and gashed hand during the previous match.[11]

Lincoln City (loans)

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After Lincoln City's regular goalkeeper, Paul Farman, was injured in February 2014, Townsend joined the Conference Premier club on a month's youth loan;[12] he was recommended by fellow Birmingham youngster Charlee Adams who was already on loan there.[13] He kept a clean sheet in the home match against Kidderminster Harriers on 15 February,[14] his performance in his second game, a 1–1 draw with Chester, earned him a spot in The Non-League Paper's Team of the Week,[3] and he kept his place for the remaining 12 matches of the season.[14]

Ahead of the 2014–15 season, Birmingham took up their option on Townsend's contract[15] and gave him squad number 30.[16] After a trial in pre-season with Mansfield Town[17] came to nothing, and no other League clubs showed any interest, Townsend reportedly told Birmingham that if he had to play at Conference level again, he would prefer to return to Lincoln City. He signed a season-long loan with that club ahead of their last pre-season fixture and according to manager Gary Simpson was being brought in as first choice.[18] He did indeed go straight into the starting eleven, and kept his place for the first 17 Conference matches of the season.[19] However, Birmingham had sacked manager Lee Clark just before Lincoln's first FA Cup tie of the season fell due, and were not prepared to let Townsend become cup-tied before a new manager was appointed. Lincoln had to recall Farman from loan at Boston United to play in the Cup,[20] and when the Conference programme resumed, Townsend found himself on the bench. By January 2015, he had made no more appearances, so Birmingham recalled him.[21]

Return to Birmingham

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He played regularly for the development squad, and captained the team that won the Birmingham Senior Cup.[4][22] After long-time backup goalkeeper Colin Doyle was released at the end of the season, Townsend signed a new two-year contract, with the option of a third year, and according to the club website, was expected to take up Doyle's role.[4] When Tomasz Kuszczak and Adam Legzdins joined the club, Townsend again dropped to third choice, and in early August, he signed for League One club Barnsley on a youth loan until 1 November.[23]

Barnsley

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Townsend was on the bench for Barnsley's opening league match of the season, but made his debut three days later in the League Cup visit to Scunthorpe United. The score was 1–1 after 90 minutes and after extra time, so went to a penalty shootout. Although Townsend did not save any of the kicks, his side won the shootout 7–6 after a Scunthorpe miss.[24] He signed a three-year contract with the club for an undisclosed fee on 1 September.[25] Townsend made his Football League debut on 12 September at home to Swindon Town, after Adam Davies was dropped as one of several changes made by manager Lee Johnson. Lack of communication between Townsend and his defender gifted Swindon the lead via an own goal, but both made up for their errors later in the game as Barnsley won 4–1. According to Barnsley News and Sport, "Townsend was erratic in his judgement in leaving his line on occasions, as witnessed by the confusion over the own goal, but made three good saves".[26][27] He kept his place until the end of October, but that was the last he played in the season.[28]

In need of first-team football, Townsend joined National League club Solihull Moors in October 2017 on an initial one-month loan.[29] He made five appearances before returning to his parent club. In February 2018, Davies was dropped after a run of 123 starts and Townsend played eight Championship matches before Davies resumed his place.[30] Townsend was released at the end of the season.[31]

Newport County

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On 4 August 2018, Townsend joined League Two side Newport County, signing a two-year contract.[32] He made his debut for Newport on 14 August 2018 in a 4–1 win against Cambridge United in the EFL Cup first round.[33] In April 2021 Townsend signed a two-year contract extension with Newport until the end of the 2022–23 season.[34] Townsend was an unused substitute for Newport in the League Two playoff final at Wembley Stadium on 31 May 2021 which Newport lost to Morecambe, 1–0 after a 107th-minute penalty.[35] In June 2023 Townsend signed a contract extension for a further two years.[36] He was selected as Newport County Player of the Year for the 2023–24 season[37] and the 2024-25 season.[38]

On 9 June 2025, the club announced he would leave when his contract expired.[39]

Eastleigh

[edit]

On 12 June 2025 Townsend signed for National League club Eastleigh.[40]

International career

[edit]

Born in England, Townsend is of Antiguan descent through a grandfather.[41] On 3 June 2022, he made his international debut for Antigua and Barbuda, playing the full match in the 1–0 win against Barbados in the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League.[42]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of 29 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Birmingham City 2012–13[43] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2013–14[14] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014–15[19] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16[28] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oxford City (loan) 2012–13[9] Conference North 9 0 2[a] 0 11 0
Lincoln City (loan) 2013–14[14] Conference Premier 14 0 14 0
2014–15[19] Conference Premier 17 0 0 0 17 0
Total 31 0 0 0 31 0
Barnsley 2015–16[28] League One 8 0 0 0 1 0 1[b] 0 10 0
2016–17[44] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017–18[45] Championship 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Total 16 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 18 0
Solihull Moors (loan) 2017–18[45] National League 5 0 5 0
Newport County 2018–19[33] League Two 3 0 1 0 2 0 4[b] 0 10 0
2019–20[46] League Two 5 0 2 0 2 0 5[b] 0 14 0
2020–21[47] League Two 38 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 42 0
2021–22[48] League Two 19 0 0 0 2 0 3[b] 0 24 0
2022–23[49] League Two 18 0 0 0 1 0 2[b] 0 21 0
2023–24[50] League Two 43 0 6 0 1 0 2[b] 0 52 0
Total 126 0 10 0 11 0 16 0 163 0
Career total 187 0 10 0 12 0 19 0 228 0
  1. ^ Appearances in Oxfordshire Senior Cup
  2. ^ a b c d e f Appearance(s) in Football League/EFL Trophy

International

[edit]
As of match played 5 June 2024[51]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Antigua and Barbuda 2022 4 0
2023 2 0
2024 2 0
Total 8 0

Honours

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Nicholas Peter Townsend (born 1 November 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a for in the National League. Born in , , Townsend progressed through the youth academy of Birmingham City from 2012 to 2016, where he gained early senior experience on loan at Lincoln City in 2014, making 31 appearances across two spells in the Conference Premier. He then joined on loan in 2015, featuring in 17 matches including and Football League Trophy games, before signing permanently with the club in 2016 and appearing in eight matches over two seasons. A brief loan to Moors in 2017 followed, where he played five games, prior to his move to Newport County in 2018 on a free transfer. At Newport County in , Townsend established himself as a key player over seven seasons, accumulating 169 league appearances, 11 matches, and 11 outings, while also contributing to 17 other competitions. He was named the club's Supporters' Player of the Year in both the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons before departing on a free transfer in July 2025 to join , where he has made 18 league appearances in the 2025–26 National League campaign as of November 2025. Internationally, Townsend qualified to represent through family ties and made his debut for the national team in 2022, earning 11 caps as of June 2025; he opted out of a call-up in November 2024 to focus on club duties.

Early life

Youth and family background

Nick Townsend was born on 1 November 1994 in , West Midlands, , to parents of English descent. He attended Alderbrook Secondary School in . His family background includes Antiguan ancestry through his paternal grandfather, who originated from the island nation, though this heritage was initially difficult to document due to gaps in birth records. Growing up in the area during his early childhood, Townsend's initial exposure to football came before his entry into professional youth systems, shaped by the local football culture in the West Midlands. He and his father, Colin, held season tickets at Birmingham City, and one of his earliest memories was attending the 2002 play-off final with his father at age seven. By the age of nine, he had begun formal training, reflecting an early passion for the sport nurtured in his hometown environment.

Entry into football

Townsend joined the Birmingham City academy at the age of nine in 2003, beginning his organized football journey at the club's Wast Hills training ground. He progressed steadily through the youth ranks, starting with the under-9s and advancing to the under-17 team, where he featured during the 2009/10, 2010/11, and 2011/12 seasons. By the 2013/14 campaign, Townsend had reached the under-18 level, serving as a in the squad as the team competed in youth leagues and cup competitions. Throughout his years, Townsend honed his skills in various youth tournaments, though specific early appearances and recognitions remain limited in public records.

Club career

Birmingham City youth and loans

Townsend signed his first contract with Birmingham City in May 2013, at the age of 18, securing a one-year deal with an option for an additional year. This agreement marked his transition from the club's youth to professional terms, though he remained part of the development squad initially. To gain senior experience, Townsend was loaned to Conference North club Oxford City in March 2013. During the spell, he made 9 appearances, conceding 13 goals while keeping 1 clean sheet, providing his initial exposure to competitive adult football. Later that year, in 2014, he joined Conference Premier side Lincoln City on an initial one-month youth loan, which was extended into a season-long arrangement starting August 2014 and lasting until January 2015. At Lincoln, Townsend featured in 31 matches, conceding 41 goals and achieving 10 clean sheets; notable performances included a shutout in the home fixture against Harriers. These loans helped establish his reliability as a young , though he saw no first-team action for Birmingham beyond occasional bench appearances, such as in their replay against United in January 2014. In May 2015, shortly before departing the club, Townsend agreed to a new two-year contract with Birmingham City, including an option for a further year that extended potential coverage to 2018. Despite the extension, he made no competitive appearances for the first team during his tenure, focusing instead on further development opportunities away from St Andrew's.

Barnsley

In August 2015, Nick Townsend joined on a season-long youth loan from Birmingham City, making his professional debut for the club in a 2–0 win over Fleetwood Town on 11 August. His performances during the initial loan period led to a permanent transfer on 1 September 2015, when he signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Townsend featured in during the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons, primarily as a backup to first-choice Adam Davies, with whom he competed for playing time alongside backup goalkeepers such as Jack Walton. He made eight league appearances in 2015–16, contributing to 's third-place finish and subsequent playoff semi-final run, where they lost to . In 2016–17, Townsend appeared in a handful of matches as secured fourth place and won promotion to the via the playoffs, defeating 3–1 in the final at . In October 2017, Townsend joined club Solihull Moors on a one-month loan, making 5 appearances. Following promotion, Townsend saw increased opportunities in the 2017–18 season, registering eight league appearances early in the campaign before a broken finger injury sustained in a training-ground altercation with teammate Dimitri Cavaré sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Overall, he made 18 appearances across all competitions during his time at , conceding 25 goals. Townsend's contract expired at the end of the 2017–18 season, and he was released by in June 2018 after the club suffered relegation back to League One.

Newport County

Townsend joined Newport County on a two-year in August 2018, arriving from as a 23-year-old with prior EFL experience. He quickly established himself as a key squad member, competing with Joe Day for the goalkeeper position during his initial seasons in . Over the next few years, Townsend signed multiple extensions, committing to a two-year deal in April 2021 that ran until summer 2023, followed by another two-year extension in June 2023 that kept him at the club until the end of the 2024/25 season. Townsend became the first-choice from the 2021/22 season onward, making 209 appearances across all competitions during his seven-year stint, contributing to the team's defensive efforts in League Two. He was an unused substitute in the 2021 League Two play-off final 0–1 defeat to at . That season also marked the club's historic run to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, with the team achieving victories over sides Swansea City and before losing 1–1 (4–5 on penalties) to Newcastle United. Townsend's tenure included further notable moments, such as the 2023/24 FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester United, where Newport held the champions to a 2–4 defeat at after taking a two-goal lead. In the 2024/25 League Two season, he earned the club's Player of the Month award for February after keeping four clean sheets in six matches, underscoring his personal impact amid a challenging campaign for the team. Overall, he recorded 53 clean sheets during his time at Newport, reflecting his reliability as the Exiles' primary shot-stopper. Townsend departed Newport County in June 2025 upon the expiration of his contract, opting to pursue a new opportunity despite being offered a renewal by the club. He left as a fans' favorite, having won the Supporters' Player of the Year award for the previous two seasons and capping a professional EFL spell that solidified his reputation for longevity and steady performances in League Two.

Eastleigh

In June 2025, Nick Townsend signed with National League club Eastleigh following the expiration of his contract at Newport County. The move marked his transition to non-league football, where he was brought in to provide experienced goalkeeping stability under manager Kelvin Davis. As of November 2025, Townsend has established himself as Eastleigh's first-choice goalkeeper during the 2025-26 season, making 18 league appearances and logging 1,620 minutes. He has conceded 25 goals, averaging 1.39 per game, while securing 3 clean sheets that have contributed to key results, including a 2-1 victory over Southend United in September. Notably, Townsend saved a penalty from Manny Duku in a September match against Tamworth, though Eastleigh lost 1-0. Townsend has adapted well to the demands of National League football, emphasizing his distribution skills and shot-stopping to support Eastleigh's defensive organization. His performances have been instrumental in stabilizing the backline amid a challenging start to the season, with the team relying on his experience from EFL levels to mentor younger defenders. While specific leadership roles have not been formally assigned, Townsend's vocal presence in goal has been highlighted as a positive influence in building team resilience. Townsend remains under contract with through at least the end of the 2025-26 season, positioning him as a long-term asset for the club's ambitions in the National League. His ongoing contributions suggest potential for further development in non-league, with early form indicating a successful integration into the Spitfires' setup.

International career

Antigua and Barbuda debut and caps

Townsend became eligible to represent through his paternal grandfather's heritage from the Caribbean nation, despite being born in , . The process to confirm his eligibility proved challenging, requiring four years of effort to gather necessary documentation after initial hurdles with missing names on his grandfather's ; this culminated in professional DNA testing under scientific conditions, costing several hundred pounds, and ultimately securing an Antiguan passport. His first call-up came swiftly in 2022, facilitated by a connection with the Antiguan Football Association through an international agent, allowing him to integrate into the squad with just a day of preparation alongside teammates before taking the field. Townsend made his senior international debut on 3 June , starting in a 1–0 victory over during the qualifiers. As of October 2024, Townsend has accumulated 11 caps for in official competitions, earned across qualifiers for major tournaments. While his club form, particularly during his time at Newport County, contributed to his selections, he has occasionally prioritized domestic commitments by declining call-ups to maintain his starting position, including in 2024. He has not earned additional caps since, focusing on his club career at as of 2025.

Notable international matches

Townsend made his international debut for on 3 June 2022 in a 1–0 away victory over during the , securing a clean sheet in the process. Three days later, on 6 June 2022, he started in a 1–0 home win against , again keeping a clean sheet against a regionally stronger side ranked higher in standings. These back-to-back shutouts marked an impressive start, contributing to 's promotion from League B Group A, where Townsend played all matches as the primary , helping stabilize a defense that had historically conceded heavily in regional competitions. In the , Townsend featured in four matches, including a 0–1 away defeat to on 24 March 2023 and a 1–2 home loss to on 26 March 2023. His most challenging outing came on 16 June 2023 in the Gold Cup preliminary round, where suffered a 0–5 home loss to , though Townsend made several key saves to prevent an even larger margin. These games underscored his role in defensive resilience amid 's mid-table positioning in League B, where the team relied on his shot-stopping to compete against more established opponents. In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Townsend was pivotal in key ties. On 5 June 2024, he earned a 1–1 draw against with multiple crucial saves, including a late stop to deny a winner, helping secure Antigua and Barbuda's progression from . He followed with a clean sheet in a 1–0 away win over on 8 June 2024, his second against a lower-ranked side and a key factor in the team's second-round advancement. However, October 2024 brought heavy 0–5 defeats to the in both home and away legs during the , highlighting defensive vulnerabilities despite Townsend's efforts in goal.

Career statistics

Club appearances and goals

Nick Townsend, as a , has not scored any goals in his club career but has recorded numerous appearances, clean sheets, and goals conceded across various leagues. His statistics reflect a progression from loan spells in to established roles in the and National League. The following table summarizes his club career totals by club, encompassing league and cup competitions, as of November 15, 2025.
ClubYears ActiveAppearancesGoals ConcededClean Sheets
Oxford City (loan)20139131
Lincoln City (loan)2014–2015314110
2015–201818252
Solihull Moors (loan)2017590
Newport County2018–202520929453
2025–present19283
Career Total2013–202529141069
These figures include all competitive matches but exclude youth and pre-season games. Townsend's most extensive stint was at Newport County, where he contributed to several promotion pushes and playoff campaigns. No assists are recorded in his professional statistics, consistent with his position.

International appearances

Nick Townsend made his international debut for on 3 June 2022 in a 1–0 victory over during the B, where he kept a clean sheet. Since then, he has accumulated 11 caps as the primary , primarily in competitions such as the Nations League, Gold Cup qualifiers, and qualifiers, with a progression of 4 caps in 2022, 3 in 2023, and 4 in 2024. He has recorded 4 clean sheets and conceded 24 goals, with no goals scored in his international career. No additional appearances in 2025 as of November 15, 2025. No penalties saved are documented in his appearances. The following table summarizes his international appearances by year and competition:
YearCompetitionAppearancesClean SheetsGoals Conceded
2022425
2023, Gold Cup Qualifiers317
2024World Cup Qualifiers , 4112
Total-11424
As of November 15, 2025, Townsend's cumulative international totals stand at 11 appearances, 4 clean sheets, and 24 goals conceded, with all matches played in full 90-minute stints.

Honours and achievements

Club honours

During his time at , Townsend was part of the squad that secured promotion to the by winning the 2016 League One play-offs, defeating 3-1 in the final at . At Newport County, he contributed to the team's qualification for the 2021 League Two play-offs, serving as an unused substitute in the final against at , where Newport lost 1-0 despite reaching the decisive match. Townsend received several personal accolades during his seven-year stint at Newport County, including the Supporters' Player of the Year award for the 2024-25 season, as voted by fans. For the 2023-24 season, he was awarded Away Player of the Year and Player of the Year. He also won the club's Players' Player of the Season and Supporters' Player of the Season honors for 2024-25, recognizing his key role in maintaining League Two status. Additionally, he was named PFA League Two Fans' Player of the Month for February 2025, following a series of strong performances that included multiple clean sheets. Since joining in June 2025, Townsend has helped the team maintain a mid-table position in the National League, sitting 12th as of November 15, 2025, with no major trophies or promotions achieved to date.

International honours

During his international career with , Nick Townsend contributed to several team milestones in regional competitions, though the national team has yet to secure major titles. In the B, achieved their best group stage finish under Townsend's involvement by placing third in Group A with three wins and nine points, including victories against (1–0) and (1–0). This performance secured their qualification for the preliminary round of the , representing the team's first entry into the tournament's qualifying phase after replacing following Nicaragua's expulsion for fielding an ineligible player. Townsend earned personal recognition for his goalkeeping in the inaugural June 2022 window, where he started both group matches, recorded two clean sheets, and earned selection to the official League B Best XI. He continued to deliver standout performances in subsequent fixtures, notably making eight saves in a 1–0 victory over in March 2023, which helped maintain the team's competitive standing. These efforts underscored his role in Antigua and Barbuda's advances in competitions during his tenure, despite a challenging 2023–24 Nations League campaign where the team finished with four points in Group D. In the 2023 Gold Cup preliminaries, Townsend featured in the single match against Guadeloupe, a 0–5 defeat that ended the team's debut run at the tournament's entry stage, but the qualification itself marked a historic step forward for Antiguan football on the continental level. No individual awards beyond the Nations League Best XI selection have been recorded for Townsend at the international level.

References

  1. https://www.[transfermarkt](/page/Transfermarkt).us/nick-townsend/leistungsdaten/spieler/256221
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