He started his professional career with Rangers and went on to play over 100 games for each of Dunfermline Athletic, Aberdeen and Preston North End.
Some records show that he scored once for Rangers in a UEFA Champions League qualifier against FC Haka in 1999,[5] but Nicholson has stated that the goal should be credited to Jonatan Johansson.
[4] Nicholson joined Dunfermline Athletic under the helm of Jimmy Calderwood and was a first team regular in what was the Pars' most successful period since the George Farm era.
Nicholson's performances at East End Park saw him signed by Aberdeen for a fee of £250,000 in July 2005[6] and re-joined former boss Calderwood who had since moved to Pittodrie.
The most notable of these was the last minute equaliser against Hearts which all but clinched third place for Aberdeen, with only two matches of the season left at that stage.
"[2] On 30 June 2008, Nicholson signed a two-year contract with an option of a third year on a free transfer for Preston North End, subject to passing a medical.