{{short description|English footballer (born 1993)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}} {{Use British English|date=May 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | image = | fullname = Nathanael Anthony Ralph<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Southend United |publisher=English Football League |page=67 |accessdate=27 October 2019}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|2|14|df=y}} | birth_place = Great Dunmow, England<ref>{{cite book|editor1-first=Glenda|editor1-last=Rollin|editor2-first=Jack|editor2-last=Rollin|title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013|year=2012|publisher=Headline|location=London|isbn=978-0-7553-6356-8|page=511|edition=43rd}}</ref> | height = {{convert|1.75|m|order=flip}}<ref name="SW">{{soccerway|id=154838 |accessdate=25 February 2020 }}</ref> | position = Left wingback, Center-back | currentclub = Chelmsford City | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 2005–2009 | youthclubs1 = Ipswich Town | youthyears2 = 2009–2010 | youthclubs2 = Peterborough United | years1 = 2010–2012 | clubs1 = Peterborough United | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2012 | clubs2 = → Kettering Town (loan) | caps2 = 14 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2012–2015 | clubs3 = Yeovil Town | caps3 = 35 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2015–2016 | clubs4 = Newport County | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2016 | clubs5 = → Aldershot Town (loan) | caps5 = 12 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 2016–2018 | clubs6 = Woking | caps6 = 63 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2018–2019 | clubs7 = Dundee | caps7 = 26 | goals7 = 1 | years8 = 2019–2026 | clubs8 = Southend United | caps8 = 177 | goals8 = 8 | years9 = 2026– | clubs9 = Chelmsford City | caps9 = 0 | goals9 = 0 | club-update = 18:00, 30 May 2026 (UTC) }} '''Nathanael Anthony Ralph''' (born 14 February 1993) is an English footballer, who plays as a left wingback or center back for {{English football updater|ChelmsfC}} club Chelmsford City.
==Career==
===Yeovil Town===
On 14 August 2012, Ralph made his Yeovil debut in the Football League Cup against Colchester United in a 3–0 victory.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19159735 |title=Yeovil 3–0 Colchester |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 August 2012 |access-date=14 August 2012 }}</ref> He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 victory over Preston in a League One match, having come on as a substitute midway through the second half.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21332971 |title=Yeovil 3–1 Preston |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 February 2013 |access-date=14 February 2012 }}</ref> He made 17 appearances in the 2012–13 campaign, though did not feature in the play-off final victory over Brentford which took the "Glovers" into the Championship.
Ralph was released by Yeovil at the end of the 2014–15 season following their relegation to League Two.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32662260 |title=Yeovil Town: Paul Sturrock releases 11 players |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2015 |access-date=8 May 2015 }}</ref>
===Newport County===
On 25 June 2015, Ralph signed for League Two club Newport County. His time at Newport was beset by injuries and although he made the substitutes bench on a number of occasions he did not make a competitive appearance. On 12 February 2016, he joined Aldershot Town on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-02-12 |title=Nathan Ralph: Aldershot sign Newport County winger on loan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35561233 |access-date=2026-01-22 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> He was released by Newport on 10 May 2016 at the end of his contract.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/14482407.newport-county-release-8-players/|title=Newport County release 8 players|website=South Wales Argus|date=10 May 2016 }}</ref>
===Woking===
On 3 August 2016, Ralph signed a one-year contract with Woking.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Woking sign ex-Charlton striker Zak Ansah and Nathan Ralph |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36964070 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 August 2016 |accessdate=21 September 2016}}</ref> On 6 August 2016, Ralph made his Woking debut in a 3–1 home defeat against Lincoln City, playing the full 90 minutes.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Woking 1-3 Lincoln City |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36930699 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 August 2016 |accessdate=21 September 2016}}</ref> Three days later, Ralph went onto score his first Woking goal in a 2–2 draw with Solihull Moors.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Solihull Moors 2-2 Woking |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36949530 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 August 2016 |accessdate=21 September 2016}}</ref> On 15 June 2017, Ralph signed a new one-year deal for the 2017–18 campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Nathan Ralph signs for another season |url=http://www.wokingfc.co.uk/news/article/5870/nathan-ralph-signs-for-another-season/ |publisher=Woking Official Site |date=15 June 2017 |accessdate=15 June 2017}}</ref>
===Dundee===
On 31 May 2018, Ralph signed a two-year deal with Scottish Premiership side Dundee.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44323363 |title=Dundee: Nathan Ralph agrees a two-year deal to become fourth summer signing |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 May 2018 |accessdate=31 May 2018}}</ref> He won the club's player of the year award for 2018/19, but they were relegated.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2019-05-20 |title=Ralph wins De Vries Trophy |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/ralph-wins-de-vries-trophy/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Dundee Football Club - Official Website |language=en-US}}</ref> Ralph then exercised a clause in his contract that allowed him to become a free agent.<ref name="southend">{{cite web |date=9 July 2019 |title=Nathan Ralph: Southend United sign Dundee left-back on two-year deal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48928592 |accessdate=10 July 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
===Southend United=== Southend United signed Ralph to a two-year contract, with an option for a third year, in July 2019.<ref name = "southend"/> He scored his first goal for Southend when he scored in an EFL Trophy tie against AFC Wimbledon on 13 November 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50412766 |title=Leasing.com Trophy: Top-tier academy sides flourish as group stages finish|date=14 November 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=14 November 2019}}</ref> He dislocated his shoulder in December 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50665716|title=Nathan Ralph: Southend United left-back out after dislocating shoulder|date=4 December 2019|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 December 2019}}</ref>
In December 2023, Ralph signed a contract extension with Southend until the summer of 2025, again with the possibility of a one-year extension having become club captain during his time there.<ref>{{Cite web |last=fc |first=southend united |date=2023-12-29 |title=Ralph, Bridge and Demetriou Sign New Contracts |url=https://www.southendunited.co.uk/news/2023/december/29/ralph-bridge-demetriou-extend-their-deals-/ |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=Southend United F.C. |language=en}}</ref>
In June 2025, Ralph triggered an automatic one-year extension keeping him at Southend until June 2026.
===Chelmsford City=== On 30 May 2026, National League South club Chelmsford City announced the signing of Ralph.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chelmsfordcityfc.com/news/nathan-ralph-is-a-claret/|title=Nathan Ralph is a Claret!|date=30 May 2026|publisher=Chelmsford City F.C.|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 7 February 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=3|Peterborough United |2010–11<ref name=NR10>{{soccerbase season|57064|2010|accessdate=29 August 2019 }}</ref> |League One |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |2011–12<ref name=NR11>{{soccerbase season|57064|2011|accessdate=29 August 2019 }}</ref> |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |Kettering Town (loan) |2011–12<ref name=NR11/> |Conference Premier |14||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||14||0 |- |rowspan=4|Yeovil Town |2012–13<ref name=NR12>{{soccerbase season|57064|2012|accessdate=29 August 2019 }}</ref> |League One |14||1||0||0||1||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT>Appearances in Football League Trophy</ref>||0||17||1 |- |2013–14<ref name=NR13>{{soccerbase season|57064|2013|accessdate=29 August 2019 }}</ref> |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- |2014–15<ref name=NR14>{{soccerbase season|57064|2014|accessdate=29 August 2019 }}</ref> |League One |21||0||1||0||1||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT/>||1||24||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !35||1||1||0||2||0||3||1||41||2 |- |Newport County |2015–16<ref name=NR15>{{soccerbase season|57064|2015|accessdate=29 August 2019 }}</ref> |League Two |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |Aldershot Town (loan) |2015–16<ref name=NR15/> |National League |12||1||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||12||1 |- |rowspan=3|Woking |2016–17<ref name=soccerway>{{Cite news |title=N. Ralph |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/nathan-ralph/154838/ |publisher=Soccerway |accessdate=8 May 2021}}</ref> |National League |31||1||3||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||34||1 |- |2017–18<ref name=soccerway/> |National League |32||0||6||0||colspan="2"|—||1<ref group="lower-alpha" name=":0">Appearances in FA Trophy</ref>||0||39||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !63!!1!!9!!0!!colspan=2|—!!1!!0!!73!!1 |- |Dundee |2018–19<ref name=NR18>{{soccerbase season|57064|2018|accessdate=8 May 2021 }}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |26||1||2||0||4||0||colspan=2|—||32||1 |- | rowspan="8" |Southend United |2019–20<ref name=NR19>{{soccerbase season|57064|2019|accessdate=29 August 2019 }}</ref> |League One |17||0||1||0||1||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=EFT>Appearances in EFL Trophy</ref>||1||20||1 |- |2020–21<ref name=NR20>{{soccerbase season|57064|2020|accessdate=10 October 2020 }}</ref> |League Two |7||1||0||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=EFT/>||0||8||1 |- |2021–22<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=57064|season=2021|accessdate=19 October 2021}}</ref> |National League |28 |1 |1 |1 |0 |0 |2<ref name=":0" group="lower-alpha" /> |0 |31 |2 |- |2022–23 |National League |27 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3<ref name=":0" group="lower-alpha" /> |1 |30 |1 |- |2023–24 |National League |36 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1<ref name=":0" group="lower-alpha" /> |1 |37 |3 |- |2024–25 |National League |40 |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |6{{Efn|3 appearances in the FA Trophy, 3 appearances and 1 goal in the National League play-offs}} |1 |48 |3 |- |2025–26 |National League |22 |2 |1 |0 |colspan=2|– |2<ref group="lower-alpha" name=":0"/> |0 |25 |2 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !177!!8!!5!!1!!1!!0!!16!!4!!199!!13 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !326!!12!!17!!1!!7!!0!!20!!5!!371!!18 |}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Honours== '''Southend United''' *FA Trophy: 2025–26<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2026/may/17/isuzu-fa-trophy-southend-united-wealdstone-match-report-20261705 |title=Southend United win the 2025–26 Isuzu FA Trophy, Defeating Wealdstone on penalties |first=Archie |last=Brown |website=The FA |date=17 May 2026 |access-date=18 May 2026}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *Andrew De Vries Player of the Year: 2018–19<ref name=":0" /> *Dundee Players' Player of the Year: 2018–19<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ralph, Nathan}} Category:Living people Category:People from Great Dunmow Category:1993 births Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football full-backs Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Arsenal F.C. players Category:Peterborough United F.C. players Category:Kettering Town F.C. players Category:Yeovil Town F.C. players Category:Newport County A.F.C. players Category:Aldershot Town F.C. players Category:Woking F.C. players Category:Dundee F.C. players Category:Men's association football wingers Category:Southend United F.C. players Category:Chelmsford City F.C. players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:Footballers from Essex Category:21st-century English sportsmen