Lee Matthews (footballer)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Lee Matthews
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Lee Joseph Matthews{{Hugman|13333|accessdate=9 March 2017}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|1|16|df=y}}{{cite web|url=http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10381~5730,00.html|title=Lee Matthews|work=port-vale.co.uk|accessdate=3 July 2011}}
| birth_place = Middlesbrough, England{{cite web |title=leeds-fans.org.uk: Leeds United Player Profile: Lee Matthews |url=https://www.leeds-fans.org.uk/leeds/players/512.html |website=www.leeds-fans.org.uk |access-date=29 October 2022}}
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}
| position = Forward
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1996–2001| clubs1 = Leeds United| caps1 = 3| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1998| clubs2 = → Notts County (loan| caps2 = 5| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2000| clubs3 = → Gillingham (loan)| caps3 = 5| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2001–2004| clubs4 = Bristol City| caps4 = 43| goals4 = 9
| years5 = 2003–2004| clubs5 = → Darlington (loan)| caps5 = 6| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2004| clubs6 =→ Bristol Rovers (loan)|caps6 = 9| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2004| clubs7 = → Yeovil Town (loan)| caps7 = 4| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2004–2006| clubs8 = Port Vale| caps8 = 34| goals8 = 10
| years9 = 2006–2007| clubs9 = Crewe Alexandra| caps9 = 10| goals9 =0
| years10 = 2007| clubs10 = Livingston| caps10 = 5| goals10 = 0
| totalcaps = 124| totalgoals = 20
}}
Lee Joseph Matthews (born 16 January 1979) is an English former footballer who played as a striker.
He began his career with Leeds United in 1997 after winning the FA Youth Cup with the club's youth team. He transferred to Bristol City in 2001 after loan spells at Notts County and Gillingham. During three years with City, he was loaned out to Darlington, Bristol Rovers, and Yeovil Town. He signed with Port Vale in 2004 before moving on to Crewe Alexandra after a two-year stay. After leaving Crewe in 2007, he joined the Scottish club Livingston before retiring at 28. Dogged by injuries throughout his career, he was limited to a total of twenty goals in 138 league and cup appearances in his ten-year professional career—most of these appearances were as a substitute.
Career
Matthews began his career with Leeds United in February 1996, and was part of the same generation of youth team players as Paul Robinson, Jonathan Woodgate, Alan Smith and others.{{cite web |title=Leeds United F.C. History |url=http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/players_profiles/M/MatthewsLJ.php |website=www.ozwhitelufc.net.au |access-date=29 October 2022}} He made three substitute appearances for Leeds in the Premier League in early 1998. His debut came in a 2–0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on 31 January, as he replaced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on 86 minutes. He made his Elland Road debut in a 1–0 defeat to Southampton on 28 February, replacing Alan Maybury again on 86 minutes. Four days later, he replaced Rod Wallace with one minute to go of a 1–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
In late September 1998 he joined Notts County of the Second Division on a one-month loan deal. Playing competently, though not spectacularly,{{cite web|url=http://www.leeds-fans.org.uk/leeds/players/512.html|title=Lee Matthews|work=leeds-fans.org.uk|accessdate=6 July 2009}} he returned to Elland Road after five appearances. Because of an injury, he had to wait until the end of March 2000 to see first-team action again, joining promotion chasing Gillingham on an end-of-season loan. He played five games, having a minimal impact in seeing the "Gills" reach the play-off final.
On 15 March, he joined Bristol City on loan after coming off the bench the next day to score against Millwall in a 2–1 win at Ashton Gate, he was signed permanently for £100,000 (initially £70,000, with a maximum bonus of £35,000 dependent on appearances) on 20 March.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/1228346.stm|title=City complete Matthews deal|date=22 March 2001|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} Three days later he did the same thing in a 3–1 win at Reading, his goal coming three minutes after coming onto the pitch. A semi-regular in 2001–02, he scored just five goals, though Two of these came in a Bristol derby game on 9 January, City celebrating a 3–0 home win in the Football League Trophy. He also scored in City's Severnside derby victory over Cardiff City. However, he missed many games that season due to injury, including an ankle injury which required surgery.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/1816540.stm|title=City delay Matthews' operation|date=12 February 2002|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} In April 2002 he was transfer listed by manager Danny Wilson, along with Mickey Bell, Mark Lever, Steve Jones and Simon Clist.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/1939352.stm|title=Wilson transfer-lists five|date=19 April 2002|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}}
If injury was a niggling concern the previous season, the 2002–03 season was one blighted by injury. Sustaining a back injury in a 3–1 home defeat to Queens Park Rangers, he was taken off by Wilson, who stated: "It needed to be done because we can't afford to lose someone like Lee for a lengthy spell."{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/2280422.stm|title=Matthews faces month out|date= 25 September 2002|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} However, the damage was done, a slipped disc, as it turned to be, booked him a lengthy spell on the sidelines.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/2290388.stm|title=Matthews devastated by injury|date=1 October 2002|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} It took another ten months for Matthews to recover.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/3114127.stm|title=Matthews delight at comeback goal|date=31 July 2003|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}}
At the start of the 2003–04 season he was used almost exclusively as a substitute.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/3139558.stm|title=Matthews awaits City recall|date=25 September 2003|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} In mid-December he joined Third Division side Darlington on a one-month loan. He played six games, scoring one goal against Carlisle United.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7005060.matthews-leveller-gives-quakers-hope/|title=Matthews leveller gives Quakers hope|publisher=thenorthernecho.co.uk|date=2 January 2004 |accessdate=30 April 2020}} Upon returning to Bristol he went straight into the first-team, though this was at Rovers rather than City. Wilson claimed this was to give Matthews a chance at regular football.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/3413883.stm|title=Wilson offers Matthews hope|date=20 January 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} Appreciated at The Memorial Stadium, Matthews considered making the move permanent.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/3476591.stm|title=Matthews may stay at Rovers|date=10 February 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} Caretaker manager Phil Bater was keen to oblige;{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/3455693.stm|title=Pirates keen on Matthews|date=3 February 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} however, the loan deal ended in March, Matthews having failed to score in nine games. He moved straight on to Yeovil Town,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/3524028.stm|title=Matthews joins Yeovil|date=18 March 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} in a loan deal later extended to the end of the season.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/3643653.stm|title=Matthews loan is extended|date=20 April 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} In June 2004 he was released by City,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/3768825.stm|title=Robins release five|date=2 June 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} though manager Wilson soon followed him out the door.
In June 2004 he was signed to Port Vale, manager Martin Foyle looking to replace Scottish dynamo Stephen McPhee.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3792217.stm|title=Matthews joins Port Vale|date=9 June 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} Foyle and Matthews seemingly got off to a good start, Matthews claiming to be "really impressed" with Foyle.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3827093.stm|title=Foyle impresses Matthews|date=21 June 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} Despite being released by City, Matthews never held a grudge and his praise of the club persuaded Vale teammate Steve Brooker to sign with City in September 2004.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/3700122.stm|title=Robins clinch Brooker deal |date=29 September 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} He scored ten goals in 32 games for Vale during the 2004–05 season. This would prove to be his most successful season in terms of match fitness. The 2005–06 season was exceptionally poor for Matthews, his injury problems seemingly worsening,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/4271848.stm|title=Vale nab Blades striker on loan |date=22 September 2005|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=3 July 2011}} he played just three games. He was released upon the season's conclusion.
He spent the 2006–07 season with Crewe Alexandra,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/5301626.stm|title=Striker Matthews signs for Crewe |date=31 August 2006|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} where again injuries severely limited his contribution, this time to ten appearances, all from the bench, never finding the net. He was once again released in the summer.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/6608675.stm|title=Matthews set to leave Gresty Road |date=30 April 2007|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} He joined Livingston in August 2007,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/livingston/6948794.stm|title=Striker Matthews wins Livi deal |date=15 August 2007|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 July 2009}} but was released shortly afterwards.
Later and personal life
After retiring as a player, Matthews set up the football agency firm Sports Management International, along with Mark Obern.{{cite web |title=SMI World · Team Member |url=https://smiworld.co.uk/team/lee-matthews |website=smiworld.co.uk |accessdate=20 June 2020}}
His son, Ajay Matthews, played for Middlesbrough at youth team level and also represented England at under-17 level.{{cite web |title=Ajay Matthews |url=https://www.mfc.co.uk/players/under-18s/ajaymatthews/ |website=Middlesbrough FC |access-date=23 April 2024}}
Career statistics
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, Lee}}
Category:Footballers from Middlesbrough
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:Notts County F.C. players
Category:Gillingham F.C. players
Category:Bristol City F.C. players
Category:Darlington F.C. players
Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. players
Category:Yeovil Town F.C. players
Category:Port Vale F.C. players
Category:Crewe Alexandra F.C. players
Category:Livingston F.C. players
Category:Premier League players