TIVVY ARCHIVE

Michael Nardiello

09/05/1989

Michael comes from an intriguing family of footballers. His uncle Donato enjoyed brief success at Coventry City and was capped twice for Wales in 1977, his cousin Daniel is a current professional and regular goalscorer with Bury having played extensively with Barnsley and Exeter City, and his father Gerardo remains the youngest player ever to turn out for Shrewsbury Town.

Michael's career began as a kid at Torquay United and he then signed a youth deal at Manchester United when he was 14. After two seasons at Old Trafford Nards opted to make the switch to Liverpool, believing his chances of progressing through the ranks would be better at Anfield. The move cost Liverpool £200,000 but injuries curtailed Michael's progress despite a number of impressive performances for both club and country at youth level, so he eventually moved to West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer.

A niggling pelvic condition further hampered his progress, and with the Baggies not prepared to bide their time, Nardiello was released and found his fix of football at Halesowen Town, then managed by another family member in uncle Phil Nardiello. Halesowen, though, were in financial dire straits, and Michael jumped at the chance of joining Tiverton in the autumn of 2010, where he was happily free from serious injuries and became a genuine favourite amongst the supporters. He had a short spell away from the club as he took up a temporrary coaching role in the United States, but returned to Ladysmead in November 2013 to add extra impetus into a promotion push which ultimately fell just short. In May 2014 he moved back to the United States, leaving Tivvy fans with fond memories of his contribution to the club.