Hammerheads Re-Sign Another Pair of 2011 Players for 2012

Wilmington, North Carolina – The Wilmington Hammerheads are making headway towards completing the 2012 team roster and are pleased to announce that they have resigned two additional 2011 Hammerhead players, midfielder Paul Nicholson and right back Tom Parratt, pending USSF approval.

Nicholson was a 2011 co-captain of the Hammerhead squad. A key player in the midfield, Nicholson is described by Hammerhead Head Coach David Irving as having “tireless energy” on the field. Playing every minute of all 24 games during the 2011 regular season, Nicholson had 14 shots on goal from his midfield position, scoring once.

A native of Whitehaven, England, Nicholson played for the University of Rio Grande in Ohio between 2005 and 2008. Nicholson was named in the All Tournament team for the 2008 NAIA Tournament and was tabbed the tournament’s Most Valuable Defensive Player.

Nicholson was the second player in Rio Grande history and the only NAIA player to be invited to the Major League Soccer (MLS) combine in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in 2009. The Englishman played in the PDL in 2009 for the West Virginia Chaos and for MPS Portland Phoenix in 2010 where he played every minute of every game and was named the ‘Players, Player of the Year’.

Born in Inverness, Scotland, Tom Parratt also made his debut with the Hammerheads during the 2011 season. Playing in 20 games during the 2011 season, Parratt recorded 10 shots on goal from his defensive position, scoring once, along with four assists.

The Scottish player moved with his family to Iowa City, Iowa at the age of three. In his youth, Parratt played club soccer for the Iowa City Alliance and Birmingham City in England. Released by Birmingham at the end of the 2004-05 season, Parratt returned to
his place of birth to join Inverness Caledonian Thistle of the Scottish Premier League (SPL).

In August 2006, Parratt signed with Hamilton Academical and established himself as the club’s first-choice right back. In August 2008, Parratt joined First Division side Queen of the South. Then, in August 2009 he returned to Scotland to join Airdrie United.

Following the 2009-10 season, he returned to the United States and relocated to the Wilmington, NC area joining the Hammerheads.
For more information and updates about the Wilmington  Hammerheads 2012 season visit www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com.