With the signing of Frank Nouble capturing the imagination of the Yellow Army ahead of the final nine games of the season, here we take an in-depth look at the striker’s career so far.
Having represented a whole host of clubs throughout England, Wales and China over the past fourteen years, there’s not much that United’s deadline-day signing, Frank Nouble hasn’t already seen or done in that time.
- Coming Through The Ranks
- The Loan Ranger
- International Recognition
Having progressed through the ranks at Premier League giants Chelsea, Frank’s thirst for first-team opportunities saw him turn down a professional deal with the Stamford Bridge club, with Premier League rivals West Ham eventually winning the race for the highly-rated 17 year-old back in the summer of 2009, with an undisclosed fee eventually sealing the deal.
Thrust straight into action for Gianfranco Zola’s side, just a month later Nouble was making his debut as a late substitute for Carlton Cole in their opening day victory at Wolves, and he continued to be a useful asset from the bench thereafter, prior to being named in the starting XI for the first time in an FA Cup tie against Arsenal at Upton Park in January 2010.
Three more starts in the Premier League followed in the New Year, before the young forward went out on loan for the remainder of the campaign, initially in The Championship with West Brom, before moving on to League One side Swindon Town, where his presence helped secure The Robins a place in the end-of-season Play-Offs. Although the season ended in disappointment for Town, courtesy of a Wembley final defeat at the hands of Millwall, Frank’s career was very much on the up.
Already capped by England at Under-17 and Under-19 level, his stock rose even further during the following summer, as he was part of the young Three Lions side that made it through to the semi-finals of the U19 European Championships in France, notching two goals in their opening match – a 3-2 win over Austria. One interesting footnote for Gulls fans about that particular game, was that the third goal was scored by Torquay defender-to-be Thomas Cruise, making it surely the only occasion that two future TUAFC players would score for England in the same match, at any level.
Back on the domestic scene, 2010/11 would see the Lewisham-born striker turn out for no less than four sides during the course of the campaign, with a handful of appearances for his parent club bolstered by further senior experience gained during temporary stints at Swansea, Barnsley and Charlton. It would be as a Swan that Nouble would celebrate getting on the scoresheet for the first time, with his strike in the 3-2 success at Watford proving to be the winner for Brendan Rogers’ side. His first goal in senior football was all the more memorable as it occurred barely a minute after Frank had entered the fray as a substitute, and was his first touch of the game.
With opportunities at West Ham increasingly limited, Frank once again went out on his travels in search of regular first team football, with a successful spell at League Two side Gillingham seeing him become a regular goalscorer for the first time. That temporary stint with Andy Hessenthaler’s side saw Nouble make his first – and up until now – solitary appearance at Plainmoor, as his partnership with former Gulls favourite Jo Kuffour saw both players get on the scoresheet in a 5-2 win in Devon. A brief return to The Hammers – now desperate to get out of The Championship following relegation – would then precede a return to divisional rivals Barnsley.
- Moving On Permanently
- Eastern Promise In China
- Returning To England
Having spent a large chunk of his career out on loan, the summer of 2012 heralded a permanent move to Wolverhampton Wanderers – three years after making his debut for The Hammers against them.
The move to Molineux proved to be a largely frustrating one for the player, with action limited to five appearances and one goal, and so therefore the opportunity to sign for fellow second-tier side Ipswich Town was one that Frank was understandably eager to accept. A first-team regular during his first two seasons at Portman Road was evidence enough of the move paying off, and when chances did become a little more restricted in 2014/15, League One big boys Coventry City was to prove his next port of call, with another successful temporary stint paving the way for a permanent move soon after.
Having forged a reputation as a popular and reliable physical presence up-front for a number of EFL clubs, June 2015 saw his career take an interesting, and unexpected twist, as he headed east to sign for Chinese League One outfit Tianjin Songjiang.
Named as one of the Club’s three foreign players, Nouble embraced the culture of a club boasting a passionate fanbase and playing in the impressive 60,000-capacity Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium. 15 games and 3 goals appeared to set the scene for a successful loan move to league rivals Mongol Zhongyou, however after failing to make an appearance during twelve months in Inner Mongolia, the call of one of his many previous clubs, Gillingham, signalled a return to English shores in October 2016.
13 appearances and 3 goals were somewhat surprisingly not enough to earn a longer stay in Kent, as Frank saw out the remainder of 2016/17 at Southend. Better times were not far away though.
- Creating Memories In South Wales
- Making A Home In Essex
- A First Taste Of Life In Devon
Signing for League Two side Newport County in time for the new campaign, the striker took to life in South Wales instantly, with an opening day strike in the 3-3 draw at Stevenage making him an instant hit with Exiles’ supporters. Highlights during a memorable season saw Nouble register a career-first hat-trick in a 4-1 demolition of Chesterfield, and an amazing FA Cup run that saw Frank rub shoulders with some of the game’s big names once more, as he helped the side to a 2-1 win over Leeds United, as well as earning a replay at Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur in the next round.
After his most productive season with ten goals – and offering so much more than that – Frank was hot property again.
A return to Essex with Colchester United was eventually decided upon, and Nouble continued his rich vein of form thereafter, with the U’s following up their 2018/19’s Play-Off near-miss with a 6th-place finish the following term.
It was, of course, the season that never was for many teams, as the Covid pandemic forced suspension, cancellation and – upon resumption – Behind-Closed-Doors football. His season eventually finished in June 2020 at St James Park with a 3-1 defeat at United’s near-neighbours Exeter City, and it was somewhat ironic therefore, that Devon would prove to be his next destination, as Frank moved up a division on his own merit by signing for Plymouth Argyle. Once again, a goal on his debut made Nouble an instant hero – this time by notching the winner in a 3-2 EFL Cup win over Championship side QPR.
Although he remained a regular in the side, the offer of a return to Colchester – where he would reunited with current Torquay midfielder Tom Lapslie – was too much to turn down, and he duly returned to his former stomping ground. Remaining there for the next two years, it was almost as though he had never been away, although the remit now was primarily to stay in League Two, rather than harbour too many ambitions on getting out of it in an upward direction.
Apart from a period away in the shape of an eight-game loan spell at Leyton Orient last year, Frank remained a regular member of the matchday squad until a change of management, and as so often follows, a change in direction, saw him depart the Colchester Community Stadium for one final time earlier this month.
Despite having enjoyed so much success already in his career, Noble’s love of the game, and hunger for regular game time remains undiminished, and the Yellow Army are now dearly hoping that his arrival at Plainmoor will provide the stage for him to add another highlight into both his own, and his new Club’s history.
Welcome aboard, Frank.
