Nathanael Abbey was born on 11 July 1978 in Islington, London, and began his football career as a trainee with Luton Town, turning professional in August 1995.
He had to wait until January 1999 for this next first team appearance for Luton, playing in the 3–0 defeat at home to Walsall in the Football League Trophy.
In the summer of 2000, Luton manager Ricky Hill signed Mark Ovendale and chose him to start the season in place of him.
He had a spell on loan with Leyton Orient in December 2005[11] and moved to Bristol City on a free transfer in February 2006[12] after being released by Boston at the end of January.
[13] He made just one appearance for City, as a substitute for Adriano Basso in the 1–0 defeat away to Southend United on 6 May 2005, before being released at the end of the season.
[17] Abbey signed for Brentford on 29 December 2006 on an emergency loan as regular goalkeepers Stuart Nelson and Clark Masters were injured.
[23] It was announced on 16 November 2010 that Abbey had been sacked from Kettering Town due to gross misconduct, having made 29 appearances for the club.
[26] Abbey left the club at the same time as his brother a couple of months into the 2014–15 season, with Gary King assuming sole control of the first team.
The club team, now known as Real Bedford, is currently managed by Nathan Abbey as it continues its season in the Spartan South Midlands Football League.