Long live the Kingham
Every club has that player who leaves a mark not just through results, but through presence, professionalism, and pride in the badge. A player who embodies the soul of the club, its city, and its people. Unfortunately, that means their departure leaves the biggest hole in our hearts and the hardest goodbye. For Atlético Ottawa, that player is Nathan Ingham, who after four years and 109 appearances, a milestone that speaks volumes about his loyalty, consistency, and importance, is departing ATO.
It was impossible to know just how deeply Nate would embed himself into the fabric of the club when he first arrived in the capital. He came to Ottawa after three years with York Nine/United― where he featured in the league’s inaugural match and finished his time there by leading the York team to a playoff semi-final―and from the moment he donned the Atlético Ottawa crest, he brought more than just his goalkeeping ability; he brought leadership, calm authority, and belief. He set standards between the posts and in the locker room, helping to shape a culture that elevated the players around him.
Goalkeepers are often underappreciated when things go well (and blamed when they don’t), but anyone who watched an Atlético Ottawa match during his tenure knew how vital Ingham was to the team’s success. Week after week, he produced crucial saves that kept the team in games. After signing with Atléti in 2022, he stated, “We’re coming hungry this year,” and kept true to his words, helping lift the club’s first CPL Shield while earning a Golden Glove nomination and the Allstate Canada Good Hands Award for top save of the year.
After the 2023 season didn’t go as planned, Nathan re-signed another two-year contract, saying that Ottawa “felt like home.” In 2024, he kept the team in playoff contention with a massive penalty save, though the team’s run ultimately ended in the semi-finals. His efforts with ATO were fully recognized in 2025, when he captained the team to a second-place regular season finish, earning another Golden Glove nomination, another AllState Canada Save of the Year, and led Ottawa to the North Star Cup in front of 13,000 fans at TD Place―in a blizzard, no less. Despite this success, Nate is characteristically humble and will insist that the credit goes to the team’s collective efforts.
This season alone, Nate featured in every single match, recorded 13 clean sheets, earned 11 Team of the Week selections, multiple Player of the Match awards, and three Goalkeeper of the Month honours, and his performance was central to helping the team break over 20 club and league records. In August, the CPL’s Saves of the Month felt less like a competition and more like a Nathan Ingham highlight reel—a testament to the talent that earned him the nickname “Allstate Nate”.
Beyond the numbers, his leadership defined his time in Ottawa. His pre-match pep talks became a game-day staple. He lifted up his players and, on occasion, singled them out, reminding them they belong on the pitch, like he did before Kozlovskiy’s first professional start. He also helped guide the youngest backline in the CPL to the club’s first Canadian Championship semi-final appearance and ATO’s first North Star Cup.
That leadership extended off the pitch as well. Following in the footsteps of veterans Drew Beckie and Maxim Tissot, Nate spoke on a podcast about taking personal responsibility for welcoming new players to the city and showing them around, understanding how difficult it can be to move somewhere new.
Beyond the pitch, Nathan emphasized unity, encouraging players to celebrate every win with the Dub and to always applaud supporters even in defeat. When a small group traveled to Halifax this summer, he made a point of clapping them after the walkout and leading the team over after the match to show appreciation. His commitment to fans went far beyond matchday gestures. He consistently met with the CCSC executives at the end of each season to listen, gather feedback, and openly discuss how the team could strengthen its relationship with fans. At club events, he was often the last to leave, making time to talk with adults and kids alike, making everyone feel seen.
Nathan’s presence in the city was just as important as his performances on the pitch. More than minutes played or saves made, what defined his time in Ottawa was his professionalism, humanity, and genuine care for the community. He became a familiar face around the city as he embedded himself in Ottawa’s hospitality and sports scenes, and made it clear time and again where his heart was―saying that as long as the club would have him, he would call Ottawa home. That loyalty, paired with his kindness and leadership, is why he is held in such high regard by players, coaches, staff, and supporters alike.
Farewells are never easy, especially when many of us imagined #29 ending his career between the sticks at TD Place. But moments like this allow us to reflect with gratitude on someone who gave his time, his talent, and his heart to Atlético Ottawa. He helped lay foundations, raise standards, and define what it means to represent this club with pride. Those contributions don’t disappear when a player moves on—they are woven permanently into the club’s identity.
We know his decision to leave the club was made with great difficulty, and we extend our deepest respect and appreciation to him for everything he has given to Atlético Ottawa over the past four years. With the recent announcement that Nate has signed a three-year contract with Cavalry FC, we know we’ll still have the opportunity to watch him play, only this time as an opponent. While Ingham leaves Ottawa as one of our own and will always be welcomed home at TD Place, we do look forward to beating him on his new home turf―ATO Field.
Nate, while this is written as a thank you, in truth it is a love letter from the Capital City Supporters Group and the wider Atleti fanbase in gratitude for your unwavering dedication, tireless work, and endless passion during your time with Atlético Ottawa. Your name and legacy will forever live on affiliated with our fortress.
Thank you, Nathan and we wish you all the best on this new chapter of your career.
About the author
C.D. Girard (she/her/elle) discovered Atlético Ottawa during their 2023 season and has been a loyal fan ever since. A long-time admirer of the sport, she first began playing football at the age of seven and most looks forward to international competitions, supporting both Canada and the Netherlands.
