Matt Sargent
{{short description|Welsh footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matt Sargent
| fullname = Matthew Rhys Sargent
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|07|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bodelwyddan, Wales
| height =
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Radcliffe
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2012–2018 | youthclubs1 = Wrexham
| years1 = 2018–2020 | clubs1 = Wrexham | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2019–2020 | clubs2 = → Airbus (loan) | caps2 = 17 | goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2020–2023 | clubs3 = Salford City | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2020 | clubs4 = → Widnes (loan) | caps4 = 3 | goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2021 | clubs5 = → Matlock Town (loan) | caps5 = 5 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2022 | clubs6 = → Ashton United (loan) | caps6 = 7 | goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2022 | clubs7 = → Chester (loan) | caps7 = 11 | goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2022 | clubs8 = → Buxton (loan) | caps8 = 10 | goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2023 | clubs9 = → Warrington Rylands | caps9 = 10 | goals9 = 3
| years10 = 2023– | clubs10 = Radcliffe | caps10 = 30| goals10 = 4
| nationalyears1 = 2017 |nationalteam1 = Wales U16 |nationalcaps1 = 1 |nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2017 |nationalteam2 = Wales U17 |nationalcaps2 = 5 |nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 18:30, 11 September 2024 (UTC)
}}
Matthew Rhys Sargent (born 24 July 2001) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|RadclifB}} club Radcliffe.
A product of the Wrexham academy, he made his first team debut in 2018, and the following season spent time on loan at Cymru Premier team Airbus. Following his release by Wrexham in 2020, he joined Salford City. During his time at Salford, he has been loaned out to non-league clubs Widnes, Matlock Town, Ashton United and Chester. Internationally, Sargent has represented Wales at youth level, making a total of three appearances in 2017 for the U16 and U17 sides.
Career
=Club career=
Born in Bodelwyddan, Wales, Sargent is a product of the Wrexham academy, having joined aged 11 from Accrington Stanley.{{cite news |last=Meijer |first=Lars |url=https://mtagfootball.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/interview-matthew-sargent/ |title=Interview - Matthew Sargent |work=MTAG |date=30 March 2020 |access-date=8 October 2021}} His first appearance at youth level came in October 2016 in the Football League Youth Alliance, and he scored his first goal in January 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/player.php?id=17 |title=Matty Sargent Player Profile |work=Wrexham A.F.C. Archive |access-date=8 October 2021}} Sargent made his Wrexham senior debut on 15 December of the same year, coming on as a late substitute in the 3–0 first round win in the FA Trophy against Boston United.{{cite news |last=Phillips |first=Terry |url=https://www.dai-sport.com/36035-2/ |title=Wrexham Earn Place In FA Trophy Second Round Draw |work=Dai Sport |date=16 December 2018 |access-date=8 October 2021}} His league debut came on the final day of the 2018–19 National League regular season, starting in a 2–1 win against Harrogate Town at the age of 17.{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Richard |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/17602444.wrexham-afc-2-harrogate-town-1/ |title=Wrexham AFC 2 Harrogate Town 1 |work=The Leader |date=27 April 2019 |access-date=8 October 2021}} Wrexham manager Bryan Hughes praised Sargent for his performance, describing it as "magnificent" and that he "didn't look out of place".{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Richard |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/17609693.wrexham-afc-boss-bryan-hughes-welcomes-plenty-options-play-offs/ |title=Wrexham AFC boss Bryan Hughes welcomes having plenty of options for the play-offs |work=The Leader |date=1 May 2019 |access-date=8 October 2021}}{{cite news |last=Griffiths |first=Rob |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wrexham-afc-boss-delighted-give-16192438 |title=Wrexham AFC boss delighted to give 'outstanding' youth prospects a chance |work=Daily Post |date=28 April 2019 |access-date=8 October 2021}}
On 9 May, he signed his first professional contract, a one-year deal following the completion of his scholarship,{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Richard |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/17628986.matty-sargent-jack-thorn-sign-first-professional-contracts-wrexham-afc/ |title=Matty Sargent and Jack Thorn sign their first professional contracts at Wrexham AFC |work=The Leader |date=9 May 2019 |access-date=8 October 2021}} and said Hughes' faith gave him confidence to progress.{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Richard |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/17700193.wrexham-afc-first-year-pro-matty-sargent-hungry-senior-action-making-breakthrough/ |title=Wrexham AFC first year pro Matty Sargent hungry for more senior action after making the breakthrough |work=The Leader |date=12 June 2019 |access-date=8 October 2021}} During pre-season of the 2019–20 season, Sargent was told by Hughes he had every chance of making it as a Wrexham first-team player,{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Richard |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/17768614.wrexham-afc-manager-bryan-hughes-not-afraid-turn-young-duo/ |title=Wrexham AFC manager Bryan Hughes would not be afraid to turn to young duo |work=The Leader |date=13 July 2019 |access-date=8 October 2021}} but in August was loaned out to Cymru Premier team Airbus until January.{{cite news |last=Norris |first=Tom |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/17830270.wrexham-send-matty-sargent-jack-thorn-on-loan-cymru-premier-duo-airbus-newtown/ |title=Wrexham send Matty Sargent and Jack Thorn on-loan to Cymru Premier duo Airbus and Newtown |work=The Leader |date=11 August 2019 |access-date=8 October 2021}} On 18 September, he received a red card for a bad tackle during a defeat to Barry Town United,{{cite news |url=https://www.barry-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=129189&headline=Barry%20back%20on%20top%20after%20victory%20at%20Airbus§ionIs=sport&searchyear=2019 |title=Barry back on top after victory at Airbus |work=The Barry GEM |date=18 September 2019 |access-date=8 October 2021}} and subsequently missed three games.{{cite news |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/loan-watch-sargent-to-miss-three-games |title=Loan watch: Sargent To Miss Three Games |work=Wrexham A.F.C. |date=23 September 2019 |access-date=8 October 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125050215/https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/loan-watch-sargent-to-miss-three-games |archive-date=25 November 2020}} Sargent returned to Wrexham when his loan deal ended in January 2020,{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Jordan |url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2020/01/01/transferwindow-cymruleagues-cymrusouth/ |title=January transfer window – latest news and transfers |work=Y Clwb Pêl-droed |date=7 February 2020 |access-date=8 October 2021}} and was released at the end of his contract in June.{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Dafydd |url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2020/07/01/jason-oswell-jack-thorn-matthew-sargent-dawid-szczepaniak-released-wrexham/ |title=Former Cymru Premier quartet released by Wrexham |work=Y Clwb Pêl-droed |date=1 July 2020 |access-date=8 October 2021}}
He signed for EFL League Two team Salford City in October of their 2020–21 season, and moved on loan to Widnes of the Northern Premier League Division One West in the same month, making his debut on 24 October as a substitute in a 1–1 with Trafford.{{cite news |last=Chadwick |first=Callum |url=https://www.widnesfootballclub.co.uk/teams/82452/match-centre/1-6357773/report |title=Report: Trafford 1-1 Widnes |work=Widnes F.C. |date=24 October 2020 |access-date=8 October 2021}} His first goal for the club came a week later, scoring the only goal of the game against Mossley at the DCBL Stadium,{{cite news |last=Chadwick |first=Callum |url=https://www.widnesfootballclub.co.uk/teams/82452/match-centre/1-6357782/report |title=Report: Widnes 1-0 Mossley |work=Widnes F.C. |date=31 October 2020 |access-date=8 October 2021}} described by The Non-League Paper as a "thunderbolt".{{cite news |last=Chadwick |first=Callum |url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/step-4/385806/npl-north-west-8/ |title=Matt Sargent'S 51st-minute thunderbolt sent Widnes to victory over Mossley |work=The Non-League Paper |date=31 October 2020 |access-date=8 October 2021}} Upon returning to Salford, he made his debut on 8 December in the EFL Trophy second round fixture against the Leicester City Under-21 team, in which Salford were eliminated from the competition on penalties following a 3–3 draw.{{cite news |last=Moorcroft |first=Will |url=https://salfordcityfc.co.uk/salford-city-3-3-leicester-city-u21s-reaction-08122021/ |title=Reaction: Salford City 3-3 Leicester City U21s (5-6 on penalties) |work=Salford City F.C. |date=8 December 2020 |access-date=8 October 2021}} On 8 October 2021, having made two further appearances in the EFL Trophy during the 2021–22 season, he was loaned out to Matlock Town of the Northern Premier League.{{cite news |last=Richardson |first=Ian |url=https://www.matlocktownfc.co.uk/sargent-signs-on-loan-from-salford.asp |title=Sargent Signs On Loan From Salford |work=Matlock Town F.C. |date=8 October 2021 |access-date=8 October 2021}} Sargent made his debut for The Gladiators the following day, starting the game against Atherton Collieries in midfield until being substituted in the 54th minute of an eventual 2–1 defeat.{{cite news |url=https://www.matlocktownfc.co.uk/atherton-collieries-vs-matlock-town-fc-09-october-2021.asp |title=Atherton Collieries 2-1 Matlock Town FC - match report |work=Matlock Town F.C. |date=9 October 2021 |access-date=12 October 2021}}
In January 2022, he joined Ashton United on loan.{{cite web |title=Double Signing |url=https://twitter.com/AshtonUnitedFC/status/1483892023757348867 |website=Twitter |publisher=Ashton United FC |access-date=20 January 2022 |date=19 January 2022}} He followed this up with another loan spell, joining Chester in mid-March.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Chester FC boss Steve Watson makes double signing ahead of Kettering game |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/chester-fc-transfer-news-griffiths-23438320 |access-date=19 March 2022 |work=Cheshire Live |date=18 March 2022}} He scored on his debut for the club, just 87 seconds into his first game as the club beat Kettering Town 4–0 on 19 March.{{cite web |title=Chester 4-0 Kettering Town |url=https://www.chesterfc.com/2022/03/19/report-chester-4-0-kettering-town/ |publisher=Chester FC}}
In October 2022, he joined Buxton on loan.
Sargent was released by Salford at the end of the 2022–23 season.{{cite web|url=https://salfordcityfc.co.uk/retained-and-released-list-250523/|title=Retained and Released list|website=salfordcityfc.co.uk|date=25 May 2023|accessdate=27 May 2023}} Following his departure, he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Radcliffe.{{cite web|url=https://www.radcliffefc.com/news/matt-sargent-arrives-at-the-neuven-stadium-2781998.html|title=Matt Sargent arrives at the Neuven Stadium|website=www.radcliffefc.com|date=25 May 2023|accessdate=27 May 2023}}
=International career=
Internationally, Sargent has represented Wales at youth level for the U16 and U17 teams, both during 2017. He made his first and only appearance for the U16's on 30 April, starting in a 1–1 draw with San Marino.{{cite news |url=https://dragonsoccer.co.uk/newsite/newsfeed/show_news.php?subaction=showcomments&template=news&id=1493573994&archive=&start_from=&ucat=17 |title=Under 16: San Marino v Wales |work=Dragon Soccer |date=16 April 2017 |access-date=8 October 2021}} In September, Sargent was called up for the Wales U17 double-header in Llanelli against Scotland,{{cite news |url=https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/wales-u17-set-two-friendlies-llanelli/ |title=Wales U17 set for two friendlies in Llanelli |work=FAW Cymru |date=12 September 2017 |access-date=8 October 2021}} and started the first of the two games, a 2–0 defeat.{{cite news |url=https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/wales-u17s-suffer-defeat-against-scotland/ |title=Wales U17s suffer defeat against Scotland |work=FAW Cymru |date=20 September 2017 |access-date=8 October 2021}} The following month, he was called up for the 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification matches against Hungary, Kosovo, and Netherlands, starting the match against Kosovo.{{cite news |url=https://dragonsoccer.co.uk/newsite/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1508137439&archive=&start_from=&ucat=11& |title=Under 17: UEFA Qualifying matches |work=Dragon Soccer |date=4 October 2017 |access-date=8 October 2021}}
Career statistics
{{updated|11 September 2024}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase|117796}}
- {{Soccerway|515572}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sargent, Matt}}
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players
Category:Airbus UK Broughton F.C. players
Category:Salford City F.C. players
Category:Matlock Town F.C. players
Category:Ashton United F.C. players
Category:Radcliffe F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Northern Premier League players