Matt Carragher
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matt Carragher
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Matthew Carragher{{Hugman|3137|accessdate=9 March 2017}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1976|1|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Liverpool, England{{cite web |title=FootballSquads – Port Vale – 2001/02 |url=http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2001-2002/d2/portv.htm |website=footballsquads.co.uk |accessdate=24 June 2019}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|12|28|1976|1|14|df=y}}
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}{{cite web|title=Profile|url=http://www.mtfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10393~9291,00.html|work=mtfc.co.uk|accessdate=1 April 2012}}
| position = Defender
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Wigan Athletic
| years1 = 1993–1997
| clubs1 = Wigan Athletic
| caps1 = 119
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1997–2003
| clubs2 = Port Vale
| caps2 = 194
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2003
| clubs3 = Stafford Rangers
| caps3 = 8
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2003–2005
| clubs4 = Macclesfield Town
| caps4 = 49
| goals4 = 5
| totalcaps = 370
| totalgoals = 6
}}
Matthew Carragher (14 January 1976 – 28 December 2016) was an English footballer who played 362 league games over twelve years in the Football League. He was a versatile defender and was described as "a natural leader".
He began his career with Wigan Athletic in 1993. He made 119 league appearances in four years at the club, helping the "Latics" to the Third Division title in 1996–97. He then switched to Port Vale. He was later made club captain and led the "Valiants" to victory in the Football League Trophy in 2001. Despite 194 games for the club, he was released in May 2003. Following a brief spell at Stafford Rangers, he spent two years with Macclesfield Town before retiring in 2005.
Career
Carragher started his career at Wigan Athletic after coming through the ranks at the Latics School of Excellence and made his debut in a 6–3 win over Chester City in October 1993.{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Ed|title=Wigan Athletic saddened by passing of former defender Matty Carragher|url=http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/matty-carragher-passes-away-3491278.aspx|accessdate=30 December 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.chester-city.co.uk/what_happened_to_21.asp|title=What happened to...|work=chester-city.co.uk|accessdate=26 January 2011}} Kenny Swain's "Latics" then finished the 1993–94 campaign fourth from bottom of the Third Division. New boss Graham Barrow then led the Springfield Park club to 14th in 1994–95, before he was replaced by John Deehan. Wigan finished 10th in 1995–96, two points behind Colchester United in the play-off zone. Carragher made 16 appearances in 1996–97, as Wigan were crowned of the Third Division, finishing above Fulham on goal difference.
He moved on to Port Vale in 1997 after John Rudge judged Carragher to be a potential replacement for the ageing Dean Glover and Neil Aspin. He made 25 First Division appearances in 1997–98, helping the "Valiants" to beat Huddersfield Town 4–0 on the final day of the season to avoid relegation by one point, at the expense of Manchester City and Potteries derby rivals Stoke City.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Matt Carragher's managers at Port Vale pay tribute to fine player|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/matt-carragher-s-managers-at-port-vale-pay-tribute-to-a-fine-player-and-a-top-guy/story-30020515-detail/story.html|accessdate=30 December 2016|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=30 December 2016}} However, he featured just 12 times in 1998–99, and was not selected once by new boss Brian Horton.{{cite news |last1=Fielding |first1=Rob |title=Cult hero 70: Matt Carragher |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2020/06/cult-hero-70-matt-carragher/ |accessdate=15 June 2020 |work=onevalefan.co.uk |date=14 June 2020}} He was though named as the club's Clubman of the Year.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Ready for a momentous day |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/ready-for-a-momentous-day |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=1 May 2025}} He scored his first goal at Vale Park on 25 September 1999, in a 2–0 win over Swindon Town, and went on to play 39 games as Vale were relegated to the Second Division at the end of the 1999–2000 season. He played 56 of the club's 57 games in 2000–01, playing as a sweeper in a defence of Michael Walsh, Sagi Burton, Allen Tankard, and goalkeeper Mark Goodlad.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Old failings return as Port Vale are held at Lincoln City |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/old-failings-return-as-port-vale#poll-118963 |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=12 November 2023}} He also captained the "Valiants" at the Football League Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium, which finished as a 2–1 win over Brentford.{{cite news|title=Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1289338.stm|accessdate=31 March 2012|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 April 2001}} He continued to lead the back line in 2001–02, making 47 appearances. He scored only his second goal for the club on 22 October 2002, in a 3–1 home win over Hull City in the Football League Trophy. Despite making 40 appearances in 2002–03, being one of only three settled defenders (the others being Sam Collins and Ian Brightwell), he was surprisingly released by Horton in May 2003.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3014351.stm|title=Carragher exits Vale|date=9 May 2003|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=12 May 2009}}
Following his release from Vale, he joined Stafford Rangers on non-contract terms, playing eight Southern League games, whilst Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough considered whether or not to make him an offer.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/burton_albion/3115920.stm|title=Clough eyes Carragher|date=17 September 2003|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=26 January 2011}} Instead he signed for Macclesfield Town in November 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.chester-city.co.uk/what_happened_to_21.asp|title=Whatever Happened to?|date=15 November 2003|accessdate=12 January 2009}} He played 18 games in 2003–04, as the "Silkmen" avoided relegation into the Conference by three places and seven points. Ironically, manager John Askey was replaced by Brian Horton in April 2004. He played 39 games in 2004–05 and featured in the play-off semi-final defeat to Lincoln City, but Horton released him from his contract at Moss Rose in May 2005.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/macclesfield_town/4584281.stm|title=Nine released by Macc boss Horton|date=26 May 2005|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=12 May 2009}}
Style of play
Carragher was a versatile defender who could play as a left-back, right-back or sweeper. He was described as "a natural leader".{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Port Vale: Tributes paid to former captain Matt Carragher|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/port-vale-tributes-paid-to-former-captain-matt-carragher/story-30019955-detail/story.html|accessdate=30 December 2016|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=30 December 2016}}
Personal life and death
His father was a semi-professional footballer. He had three older sisters. Carragher married childhood sweetheart Louise Morgan in 2001.{{cite news |title=The LDV Vans Trophy final |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2012/06/ldv-vans-trophy-final/ |accessdate=4 June 2020 |work=onevalefan.co.uk |date=9 June 2012}} Carragher died of cancer on 29 December 2016 at the age of 40.{{cite news|title=Matt Carragher: Ex-Port Vale and Wigan defender dies aged 40|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38467618|accessdate=30 December 2016|publisher=BBC Sport|date=30 December 2016}}{{cite web|last1=King|first1=John|title=Sad news – Matty Carragher – Port Vale Supporters Club|url=http://portvalesupportersclub.org.uk/sad-news-matty-carragher/|website=portvalesupportersclub.org.uk|accessdate=30 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230231023/http://portvalesupportersclub.org.uk/sad-news-matty-carragher/|archive-date=30 December 2016|url-status=dead}} Former teammate Tony Naylor paid tribute to him as a "a cheeky chappie, a typical Scouse lad, confident and a nice guy with it".
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{ENFA}} | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Wigan Athletic
|32 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
| 1994–95
|Third Division |41 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 50 | 3 | |
| 1995–96
|Third Division |28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
| 1996–97
|Third Division |18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!119 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 145 | 3 | |
| rowspan="7"|Port Vale
|26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| 1998–99
|First Division |10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000
|First Division |37 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 1 | |
| 2000–01
|45 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 56 | 0 | |
| 2001–02
|Second Division |41 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 47 | 0 | |
| 2002–03
|Second Division |35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 40 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!194 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 220 | 2 | |
| rowspan="3"|Macclesfield Town
|Third Division |18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| 2003–04
|31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!49 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 57 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!362 | 1 | 19 | 2 | 41 | 2 | 422 | 5 |
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carragher, Matt}}
Category:Footballers from Liverpool
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Wigan Athletic F.C. players
Category:Port Vale F.C. players
Category:Stafford Rangers F.C. players
Category:Macclesfield Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Southern Football League players
Category:Deaths from cancer in England