Former Hammers’ goalkeeping prospect Nathan Trott will face Kilmarnock in the final Conference League qualifying round on Thursday.
Having signed in the summer, the Bermudan-born stopper is now first choice 'keeper for Danish capital side FC Copenhagen, who have beaten Gibraltar's Bruno's Magpies and Czech side Banik Ostrava, where Trott was ‘Man of the Match’ in the second leg penalty shootout win last week.Trott was contracted to West Ham for eight years, yet played just ten minutes of first team football and is featured in the work-in-progress book, ‘I Play in Goal for West Ham: A history of Hammers' goalkeeping heroes and howlers’. You can read an extract below...
"In an empty London Stadium, save a handful of club delegates and sanctioned officials, Nathan Trott made his West Ham debut in January 2021 during a comfortable FA Cup victory over Doncaster.
With the behind-closed-doors fixture taking place during the COVID lockdown restriction, the Bermudan-born youngster replaced Łukasz Fabianski in the 83rd minute, five minutes after fellow-debutant Oladapo Afolayan had scored the final goal in a 4-0 Hammers’ victory.
Trott joined the club in 2016 having been recommended by Irons’ legend Clyde Best. After settling in east London, the young 'keeper was subsequently sent out on loan to AFC Wimbledon, where he played 23 games in League One, earning himself an England U20 cap.
Upon returning to the Hammers, Trott appeared on the bench a handful of times in the league during the 2020/21 campaign - making his aforementioned debut in the cup - but the signing of French international Alphonse Areola left the Bermudan 'keeper surplus to requirements in East London.
He spent the next three years out on loan, gaining valuable first team experience. The season after his Hammers’ debut, Trott temporarily joined AS Nancy, playing in 22 league matches and conceding 45 goals, winning just four games while being rooted to the French second division.
Valuable experience for the young goalkeeper, but probably not the season he would have envisaged. For the 2022/23 campaign, Nathan went on loan to Danish second tier side Vejle Boldklub.
During this spell, Trott won the league, helping VB gain promotion to the Superliga, where his contract was renewed for the following season, playing 31 games in the Danish top flight and keeping 8 clean sheets.
Trott’s attributes were never in doubt within the West Ham management team, with goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero talking highly of the 25-year old. “Nathan is extraordinary with his feet and he could play as an outfield player sometimes,” Valero told West Ham's website.
“He’s fast, he's agile and he's an excellent shot-stopper. He’s very proactive and involved with the team playing with a high line, is excellent with his distribution and can make a save in a key moment.”
Despite the high praise, in the summer of 2024, West Ham signed Sheffield United 'keeper Wes Foderingham whilst retaining the services of both Areola and Fabiański, leaving the door open for Trott to make a permanent move away from east London.
Having impressed in Denmark, it was third-place Copenhagen who secured the Bermudan’s services, with the incentive of European football in the Conference League."
Good luck to Nathan on Thursday. The qualification rounds aren't shown on TV, but if you really want to watch it, the match kicks off at 6pm UK time and is being streamed through Solid Sports for €12.
For more West Ham goalkeeping-related content, you can follow me on X: @robinlomaxGK
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