Blake: Nathan Alexander (Nathan)

2004-2005 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Forward

Born: Cardiff: 27-01-1972

Debut v Crewe Alexandra (h): 01-01-2005

5’11” 13st 12lb (2005)

Blake started with Newport County, as a trainee, but joined the Chelsea Academy in 1988. He returned to his hometown team on 20th August 1990. Blake was part of the Cardiff City Division Three Championship team in 1992-93 and he scored thirty-five League goals in one hundred and thirty-one appearances, of which eighteen were as a substitute. He also scored four goals in ten F.A. Cup appearances, made six starts and had two games from the bench in the League Cup and scored once in fifteen other games, of which two were as a substitute. He was sold to Sheffield United for £300,000, on 21st February 1994. His strike rate there improved significantly to almost a goal every other game and he was worth £1.5 million by the time Bolton Wanderers signed him in December 1995, after he had scored thirty-four League goals in sixty-nine appearances of which fourteen were from the bench. He scored another goal in three starts and one game as a substitute in the League Cup as well as starting one F.A. Cup game and one other fixture. Bolton won the First Division Championship in 1996-97 and Blake was instrumental in their success. He managed thirty-eight goals in one hundred and seven League games, five being from the bench, for the Trotters and additionally he scored twice in six F.A. Cup ties and eight times in ten starts and one game from the bench in the League Cup. On 30th October 1998 Blackburn Rovers bought him for £4.25 million. His fortunes started to wane as injuries took their toll, and, after scoring thirteen League goals in thirty-seven starts and eighteen games from the bench, and two goals in the F.A. Cup in five starts, and three as a substitute, and one goal in three starts in the League Cup, he was transferred to Wolverhampton Wanderers 13th September 2001 for £1.4 million, and stayed there until 30th July 2004, when he was given a free transfer to Leicester City, on a one year contract. At Molineux he scored twenty-five goals in eighty League games, which included five as a substitute. He also scored once in three starts in the League Cup and played twice in the F.A. Cup without scoring. At Leicester, he only made four starts in the League, but had ten games from the bench without scoring. His only goal for the Foxes came in his only start in the League Cup. He was loaned to Leeds United on 1st January 2004, and made his debut in the 0-2 loss to Crewe Alexandra at Elland Road on 1st January 2005. He scored in his next game in a 2-1 win at Coventry City, but unfortunately his appearances came to an end after rupturing a hamstring in his third game, a 3-0 defeat at Birmingham City in the F.A. Cup on 8th January 2005. It meant he would be out for two months he returned to Leicester and never played for either club again, and was released by the Foxes on 9th May 2005. Worse was to follow as in August 2005 he tested positive for taking a recreational drug and was suspended by the F.A. for six months. After his suspension, he had a trial with Stoke City but decided he could not commit himself to play full-time. He took a short-term deal with Non-League Newport County which ended in October 2006 and now runs his own property management business in Wales. Blake was capped by Wales at Youth level, gained five Under-Twenty-One Caps, played once for Wales "B" and scored four goals in twenty-nine full Wales International games. He made his debut for Wales on 9th March 1994 against Norway. He scored his first goal for his country in a 2-3 away loss to Moldova on 12th October 1995. He also scored against Turkey in a 4-6 away loss on 20th August 1997, Norway in a 1-1 home draw on 7th October 2000 and Poland in a 1-2 home loss on 2nd June 2001. He announced his retirement from International football in September 2004, ten months after playing his final match in a 0-1 home loss to Russia on 19th November2003.