Nathan Woods (Ike Hamilton) 2005 Duration: EP: 341 - 346 | SE: 8.17 – 8.22 Squad Number/Position: #44 (Goalkeeper) Nathan spent his early years in London, where he was a childhood friend of the troublesome Marlon Baldon. Nathan's talent as a goalkeeper got him noticed, and by the time he was seventeen he'd been accepted into Harchester United's youth team, though he could never quite leave Marlon behind. Nathan gets an unexpectedly early call-up to the first team when second-choice keeper Alex Lawler has a knee injury and Viv Wright is supposedly on compassionate leave. It is no ordinary match though - the team face Southampton in the 5th Round of the FA Cup, and Nathan's nerves get the better of him until he is throwing up in the toilets. A desperate Don fetches Viv to play, but at half time Viv begins hallucinating and violently takes Lee out of the game. Nathan is put on for the second half, and trouble breaks out after Harchester go 2-0 down with rioting both in and outside of the Lair. In order to save their jobs, Don and Dean have to win against Lazio in the Champions League, an uphill task with an already weakened squad. Don comes up with a plot - to get the game abandoned and the points awarded to Harchester after Nathan, who is desperate for a contract, receives racist abuse from planted Harchester fans in the Lazio end. Nathan is shocked that Don wants him to cheat, but Don explains he will be making a worthwhile sacrifice by pushing UEFA into doing something about racism in football. Nathan agrees and Don hands him what he will be using - an Italian euro which has a pointed edge. Harchester kick off and when Lazio score first Nathan uses the coin, and falls to the ground clutching his forehead. The game is abandoned by the referee following Nathan's injury. Following the sympathetic coverage and the team's determination, Nathan's conscience gets to him and going to Geneva to meet with UEFA’s board, decides he will say the team do not want the game awarded to them, but to play it fair otherwise the racists have won. The Lazio drama concludes with Harchester securing a 3-1 win, but that drama is nothing for Nathan when comes the return of Viv Wright to the club. After a visit from Viv's psychologist Naomi, Nathan asks Viv to join him for some practice sessions on the training pitch, following which Nathan invites Viv to join him for dinner at home. Mrs Woods drops that Naomi paid Nathan a visit earlier, and Viv's mind goes into overdrive again and he stops taking his pills. At Studs, Nathan stays behind to help Viv and suddenly Viv smashes the glasses out of Nathan's hand before forcing his head down onto the bar, warning Nathan if he tries to take his place he will kill him. Viv tells Nathan he is to hand in a transfer request, as he has every right to defend his place in the team. Nathan sees Marlon who tears up the letter and tells Nathan if Viv tries anything again he is to come to him. Nathan is spooked when Viv pays another visit to his home with his mom and further threatens Nathan he will be out of the game unless he does as he says. Nathan phones Marlon who brings his gang to sort out Viv, but they are interrupted by the team arriving for a meeting. Viv has Nathan exactly where he wants him, with the team thinking he was out to hurt Viv, and when Viv announces he is leaving for Leeds, the team blame Nathan. In a final showdown, Viv stands before Nathan and repeatedly hits himself until he bleeds, knowing Nathan will be blamed. Nathan knows to get away from Viv he must take the transfer to Leeds.