In 2006, Watford became a Premier League club in the Championship play-off final in Cardiff, beating Leeds United for only the second time in their history, but their stay in the top flight was again short-lived.
Wasps managed just five league wins and finished bottom of the table and 10 points adrift of safety, but they still enjoyed financial rewards among England's elite clubs.
The then manager, Aidy Boothroyd, sold Ashley Young to Aston Villa midway through that season and then moved Nigel Ellington on in 2007 He was sold to Fulham in the summer, thus replenishing the club's finances. But it also allowed Boothroyd to invest money in rebuilding the team for the first division campaign.
The sales of Ashley Young and Hameur Bouazza increased the club's funds, but Boothroyd used this money to rebuild the team, a large part of which was spent on Nathan On Illington. Illington have always prided themselves on scoring goals in the Championship, particularly enjoying early success in League One and League Two.
Illington had to make the cut from non-league football, but after impressing at Bristol Rovers he earned the chance to join Wigan Athletic in the Premier League. He helped Wigan Athletic advance to the Premier League during the season and scored 24 goals.
Wigan obviously hope to keep Illington, but they are unable to agree a new contract agreement with the forward. Subsequently, Illington moved to Premier League West Brom in 2005. However, he only scored five goals in one season in the Premier League. He then scored 10 goals for West Brom in the Championship in the 2006-07 season and was acquired by Watford in the first few games of the next season.
Watford paid a record transfer fee for the then 26-year-old Illington, paying an initial £3.25 million with the possibility of a further £1 million in add-ons. Obviously, they hope Illington can score to help the team return to the top flight.
However, for the transfer fee paid for Illington, his performance in Hartford County was a relative disaster. Although the team reached the play-offs in his first season, he only scored four goals and was outranked by Darius Henderson and Marlon King. Further forward, it is difficult for him to get a chance to start.
This could almost be said to be Illington's start at the club, and he chose to spend the following season at Derby County. Despite scoring nine goals in all competitions, the club did not seek a transfer and the seemingly unwanted striker returned to Watford in search of another opportunity.
He did get one chance in the 2009-10 season, but only as a backup forward. He then spent the second half of the season with Zanthi Football Club in Greece, where he scored seven goals in 23 games during a year in Europe.
However, when that time was up, Illington only had six months left on his contract and his time at Watford was effectively over - for the fee paid for him. He was one of their biggest downfalls.
Indeed, Illington's career never recovered from his move to Vicarage Road in 2007, with his time at Wigan Athletic clearly being the peak of his twenties.
In January 2011, Illington went on loan to Watford's Championship rivals Preston North End, scoring two goals for the Lilywhites, but he still managed to join Ipswich Town in the summer of that year. A second-tier league contract was reached.
However, after failing to score in 19 appearances over 18 months, during which time he spent part-time on loan at League Two side Scunthorpe United, Illington was replaced by Ipswich Town in 2013. Town released him, and he quickly began to decline.
He briefly played for League Two side Crewe Alexandra and signed for National League side Southport later in 2013, for which he made just six appearances.
This was the last team that Illington played mainly for at this club at the age of 26. For the striker who once mastered the goal, his career came to an end quickly and sadly.
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