Matt Sparrow
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matt Sparrow
| image = Matt Sparrow Brighton vs Spurs.jpg
| caption = Sparrow playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2011
| fullname = Matthew Ronald Sparrow
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|10|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = Wembley, England
| height =
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1999
| youthclubs1 = Scunthorpe United
| years1 = 1999–2010 | clubs1 = Scunthorpe United | caps1 = 336 | goals1 = 36
| years2 = 2010–2013 | clubs2 = Brighton & Hove Albion | caps2 = 47 | goals2 = 6
| years3 = 2013 | clubs3 = Crawley Town | caps3 = 17 | goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2013–2015 | clubs4 = Scunthorpe United | caps4 = 35 | goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2015 | clubs5 = → Cheltenham Town (loan) | caps5 = 11 | goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2015–2016 | clubs6 = Lincoln City | caps6 = 31 | goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2016 | clubs7 = Sorrento | caps7 = 9 | goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2016 | clubs8 = Gainsborough Trinity | caps8 = 4 | goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2017–2019 | clubs9 = Joondalup United | caps9 = 22 | goals9 = 3
| years10 = 2020 | clubs10 = Bayswater City | caps10 = | goals10 =
| years11 = 2021 | clubs11 = Fremantle City | caps11 = | goals11 =
| totalcaps = 512
| totalgoals = 53
| club-update = 3 June 2020
}}
Matthew Ronald Sparrow (born 3 October 1981) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder
Sparrow made 440 appearances in the Football League across his 17-year-long playing career, notably 369 over two spells with Scunthorpe United, also appearing professionally for Brighton & Hove Albion, Crawley Town, Cheltenham Town and Lincoln City. He went on to play at non-league level for Gainsborough Trinity, before emigrating to Australia going on to feature semi-professionally for Sorrento, Joondalup United, Bayswater City and Fremantle City.
Club career
=Scunthorpe United=
Born in Wembley, London, Sparrow spent 11 years of his professional career at Scunthorpe United, playing in the bottom three tiers of league football for them. He formally signed for the club as a 16-year-old and played in the FA Youth Alliance final for Scunthorpe at the old Wembley stadium against West Bromwich Albion.{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scunthorpe_utd/7972779.stm| title=Sparrow is targeting silverware| publisher=BBC Sport| date=30 March 2009}}
After spending several months in prison in 2001, he became a regular in the Scunthorpe first team.{{Cite web | title = Steve Claridge's scouting report: Matt Sparrow, Scunthorpe United | last = Claridge | first = Steve | work = The Guardian | date = 1 May 2007 | accessdate = 4 July 2018 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/may/01/newsstory.scunthorpe}} He was part of the team that won promotion to the Championship after finishing the 2006–07 season as champions. In August 2007, he was offered a new three-year contract with the club.{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scunthorpe_utd/6958788.stm| title=Iron reward Sparrow with new deal| publisher=BBC Sport| date=22 August 2007}}
Sparrow scored twice in the 2008–09 League One Play-off Final at Wembley Stadium against Millwall, helping them to a 3–2 victory and promotion to the Championship.{{cite web| url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/play-offs/news/20090524/league-1-play-off-final-match-report_2293328_1665501| title=League 1 Play-Off Final - Match Report| date=24 May 2009| publisher=The Football League| archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223100805/http://www.football-league.co.uk/play-offs/news/20090524/league-1-play-off-final-match-report_2293328_1665501| archivedate=23 December 2012| url-status=dead| access-date=23 July 2018| df=dmy-all}}
==Testimonial year==
Sparrow made his 300th appearance for Scunthorpe in April 2009, and subsequently played in a testimonial match which took take place on 1 May. Former Scunthorpe striker Billy Sharp and veteran midfielder Peter Beagrie returned for the match. Also involved were Jack Cork, Alex Calvo Garcia, Jamie McCombe, Jamie Forrester, John Eyre, Lee Ridley, Paul Wilson, Steve Housham, Andy Butler, Mark Jackson, Martin Carruthers, Steve Torpey, Lee Hodges, Paul Harsley, Wayne Graves, Lee Turnbull, Tony Daws, Andy Crosby, Ian Baraclough, Cleveland Taylor, Chris Hope, Kevin Sharp, Kevin Pressman, Paul Musselwhite, Justin Walker, Ross Hyslop, Brian Quailey, Sam Beagrie, Des Comerford and Simon Elliott – plus managers Brian Laws and Nigel Adkins.
On 24 June 2010, it was reported that Sparrow had turned down a new contract offer and was looking elsewhere to continue his career.{{cite web| url=http://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/page/News/0,,10442~2072343,00.html| title=Sparrow leaves The Iron| publisher=Scunthorpe United F.C.| date=24 June 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627214647/http://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/page/News/0,,10442~2072343,00.html |archivedate=27 June 2010| url-status=dead}}
=Brighton & Hove Albion=
On 29 June 2010, Sparrow signed for League One side Brighton & Hove Albion, penning a three-year contract. Brighton won the League One championship that season (in which Sparrow scored four goals) and were promoted to the Championship. In the 2011–12 season, Sparrow scored two goals, both in the 3–0 home win over Southampton. However, he received a red card and a three-match suspension in February's win against Leicester City, for a reckless sliding tackle.
=Crawley Town=
On 10 January 2013, Sparrow signed for League One and fellow Sussex side Crawley Town on a free transfer.{{cite web|url=http://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/article/matt-sparrow-signs-590033.aspx|title=Sparrow flies in|publisher=Crawley Town F.C.|date=10 January 2013|accessdate=10 January 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130215184640/http://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/article/matt-sparrow-signs-590033.aspx|archivedate=15 February 2013}} Sparrow made his Crawley debut only two days later on 12 January, coming on in the 67th minute as a substitute replacing fellow midfielder Dannie Bulman, in a 2–0 defeat against Tranmere Rovers.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20919276|title=Tranmere 2-0 Crawley Town|date=4 July 2018| publisher=BBC Sport}} He made his home debut on 2 February in a 1–1 draw against Swindon Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21209214|title=Crawley Town 1-1 Swindon|date=2 February 2013| publisher=BBC Sport}} He scored his first goal for the club on 9 February in a 2–1 defeat against his former club Scunthorpe United.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21311362|title=Scunthorpe 2-1 Crawley Town|date=9 February 2013| publisher=BBC Sport}} He scored his second goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Yeovil Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21665724|title=Yeovil 2-2 Crawley Town|date=12 March 2013| publisher=BBC Sport}} He played 17 times for Crawley in the league that season, scoring three goals as they finished in 10th place, their highest-ever league placing.
=Return to Scunthorpe United=
Sparrow returned to his old club Scunthorpe United on 2 July 2013 after being released by Crawley Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23144549|title=Scunthorpe United: Matt Sparrow return deal agreed|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 July 2013|accessdate=2 July 2013}} On 5 May 2015 it was announced that Sparrow wouldn't be offered a new deal and was free to leave the club.{{cite web |url=http://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/article/iron-announce-retained-list-2440421.aspx |title=Iron Announce Retained List |accessdate=23 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707075825/http://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/article/iron-announce-retained-list-2440421.aspx |archivedate=7 July 2015 }}
=Later career=
On 24 June 2015, he signed a one-year deal with Conference Premier club Lincoln City and make his debut in a home game against Cheltenham Town.
In 2016, he emigrated to Western Australia and joined semi-professional club Sorrento.{{Cite web | title = NPLWA: Wembley hero Sparrow to fly with Gulls | first = Ryan | last = Langley | work = The West Australian | date = 10 June 2016 | accessdate = 4 July 2018 | url = https://thewest.com.au/sport/soccer/nplwa-wembley-hero-sparrow-to-fly-with-gulls-ng-ya-298944}}{{Cite news | title = Scunthorpe United's 2008/09 Wembley winners – where are they now? | last = Wilson | first = Charlie | work = Scunthorpe Telegraph | date = 3 July 2017 | accessdate = 4 July 2018 | url = https://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/sport/scunthorpe-uniteds-200809-wembley-winning-149876}}
On 6 October 2016, it was announced that Sparrow had signed with Gainsborough Trinity of the National League North.{{cite web| url=http://www.gainsboroughtrinity.com/latest-gainsborough-trinity-news/double-signing-boosts-trinity.html| title=Double Signing Boosts Trinity| publisher=Gainsborough Trinity F.C.| date=6 October 2016| access-date=9 October 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013011108/http://www.gainsboroughtrinity.com/latest-gainsborough-trinity-news/double-signing-boosts-trinity.html| archive-date=13 October 2016| url-status=dead}} He made a total of 4 appearances for Gainsborough before returning to Australia.
Sparrow signed for Joondalup United for the 2017 National Premier Leagues season, where it was announced that he would also work in a coaching role.{{cite web |url = http://joondalupunitedfc.com.au/sparrow-flies-seagulls-nest-lands-jufc/ | title = Sparrow flies Seagulls' nest and lands at JUFC | publisher = Joondalup United F.C. | date = 16 January 2017 | accessdate = 3 April 2017 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20170403210508/http://joondalupunitedfc.com.au/sparrow-flies-seagulls-nest-lands-jufc/ | archivedate = 3 April 2017 | df = dmy-all}}{{Cite web | title = Night Series Kicks Off | work = SportsTG | date = 19 January 2017 | accessdate = 4 July 2018 | url = http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-10183-0-296-0&sID=317238&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=51671085}}
Personal life
He attended the John Leggott College in Scunthorpe between 1998 and 2000, studying Leisure and Tourism.[http://www.leggott.ac.uk/formerstu-wellkwn-detail.asp?id=13 Former Students (Alumni) – Significant Alumni Member (Matt Sparrow)] – John Leggot College {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200252/http://www.leggott.ac.uk/formerstu-wellkwn-detail.asp?id=13 |date=3 March 2016 }}
Career statistics
{{updated|1 April 2014.}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
Scunthorpe United
- Football League One: 2006–07; play-offs: 2009
- Football League Trophy runner-up: 2008–09{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7975143.stm |title=Luton 3–2 Scunthorpe (aet) |last=Fletcher |first=Paul |website=BBC Sport |date=5 April 2009 |access-date=16 March 2024}}
Brighton & Hove Albion
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Scunthorpe United F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sparrow, Matt}}
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Brent
Category:Footballers from Scunthorpe
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players
Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
Category:Crawley Town F.C. players
Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. players
Category:Lincoln City F.C. players