Matthew Carson (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Matthew Carson

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Matthew Alan Carson{{Soccerway|matty-carson/655414}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|10|17|df=y}}

| birth_place = Chester, England

| height =

| position = Left-back

| currentclub = Radcliffe
(on loan from Grimsby Town)

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2008–2016

| youthclubs1 = Liverpool

| youthyears2 = 2016–2019

| youthclubs2 = Burnley

| years1 = 2019–2021

| clubs1 = Burnley

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2019

| clubs2 = → Nelson (loan)

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2019

| clubs3 = → Padiham (loan)

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 2021–2023

| clubs4 = Accrington Stanley

| caps4 = 0

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2022

| clubs5 = → Carrick Rangers (loan)

| caps5 = 14

| goals5 = 4

| years6 = 2022

| clubs6 = → AFC Telford United (loan)

| caps6 = 4

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2022–2023

| clubs7 = → Stalybridge Celtic (loan)

| caps7 = 8

| goals7 = 3

| years8 = 2023–2024

| clubs8 = Reading

| caps8 = 17

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2024–

| clubs9 = Grimsby Town

| caps9 = 13

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2025

| clubs10 = → Alfreton Town (loan)

| caps10 = 4

| goals10 = 1

| club-update = 11:05, 23 March 2025 (UTC)

| years11 = 2025–

| clubs11 = → Radcliffe (loan)

| caps11 = 0

| goals11 = 0

}}

Matthew Alan Carson (born 17 October 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back for National League North side Radcliffe on loan from {{English football updater|GrimsbyT}} side Grimsby Town.

Career

=Early career=

Carson spent eight years in the Academy at Liverpool, before being released at the age of fourteen. He joined the Academy at Burnley following a four-week trial.{{cite news |title=SIGNINGS: Carson and Moonan sign up for Development Squad |url=https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2021/july/signings-carson-and-moonan-sign-up-for-development-squad/ |access-date=10 August 2023 |work=www.accringtonstanley.co.uk |date=5 July 2021 |language=en-gb}}

=Accrington Stanley=

On 5 July 2021, Carson completed a successful trial to sign a one-year contract with EFL League One club Accrington Stanley. On 6 August 2022, he joined National League North club AFC Telford United on a one-month loan.{{cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Luke |title=DEPARTURE: Carson joins Telford on loan |url=https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2022/august/departure-carson-joins-telford-on-loan/ |access-date=10 August 2023 |work=www.accringtonstanley.co.uk |date=6 August 2022 |language=en-gb}} On 15 October 2022, he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Stalybridge Celtic on a one-month loan.{{cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Luke |title=DEPARTURE: Carson joins Stalybridge on loan |url=https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2022/october/departure-carson-joins-stalybridge-on-loan/ |access-date=10 August 2023 |work=www.accringtonstanley.co.uk |date=15 October 2022 |language=en-gb}} He left Accrington on 31 January 2023.{{cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Luke |title=DEPARTURE: Carson leaves the Reds |url=https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2023/january/departure-carson-leaves-the-reds/ |access-date=10 August 2023 |work=www.accringtonstanley.co.uk |date=31 January 2023 |language=en-gb}}

=Reading=

Carson signed a short-term deal with EFL Championship club Reading on 15 February 2023 following a successful trial period.{{cite news |title=Trialist Matthew Carson Signs Contract With Under-21s |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/february/15/carson-signs/ |access-date=10 August 2023 |work=Reading F.C. |date=15 February 2023}} He signed a new contract in the summer.{{cite news |title=Professional contracts signed by nine young players |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/july/01/professional-contracts-signed-by-nine-young-academy-graduates/ |access-date=10 August 2023 |work=Reading FC |date=1 July 2023}} He made his first-team debut for the club on 8 August 2023, in a 4–0 win at Millwall in the EFL Cup.{{cite news |title=Reading crush Millwall for rare victory |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66368512 |access-date=10 August 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=8 August 2023}} On 8 May 2024, Reading announced that Carson would be released in the summer once his contract expired.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-08 |title=Clinton Mola and Sam Hutchinson among four released by Reading |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cw940xrvd2po |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}

=Grimsby Town=

Carson signed for EFL League Two side Grimsby Town in June 2024 on a two-year deal.{{cite web |title=Carson Completes Move |url=https://gtfc.co.uk/carson-completes-move/ |website=Grimsby Town Football Club |access-date=7 August 2024}} He made his first appearance for the club as a substitute in a 5-1 loss in the EFL Cup against Sheffield Wednesday on 27 August 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-27 |title=MATCH REPORT {{!}} GRIMSBY TOWN 1-5 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY - Grimsby Town Football Club |url=https://gtfc.co.uk/match-report-grimsby-town-1-5-sheffield-wednesday/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=gtfc.co.uk |language=en-GB}}

On 21 February 2025, Carson joined National League North side Alfreton Town on an initial one-month loan deal. {{cite web|url=https://www.alfretontownfootballclub.com/news/reds-dip-in-to-loan-market-to-sign-full-back-matty-carson-on-loan-from-grimsby-town-2902439.html|title=Reds dip in to loan Market to sign full back Matty Carson on loan from Grimsby Town|website=www.alfretontownfootballclub.com|date=21 February 2025|accessdate=22 February 2025}} He then went back out on loan on 27 March 2025 to National League North team Radcliffe F.C.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-27 |title=Matty Carson joins Radcliffe FC on a loan deal until the end of their season - Grimsby Town Football Club |url=https://gtfc.co.uk/matty-carson-joins-radcliffe-fc-on-a-loan-deal-until-the-end-of-their-season/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJTQWVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfiCeTSWEeX0em_6qxjfsQWxMCfKpSlXE-QLq6aWlgM0VBJq0p9_bsCJ7Q_aem_VYloFwYZEgIbu-gRksdQ2Q |access-date=2025-03-28 |language=en-GB}}

Style of play

Carson is an attacking left-back and an accomplished set-piece taker.

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|EFL Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="3" \|Accrington Stanley \|2021–22{{Soccerbase season\|143684\|2021\|accessdate=1 August 2023}}	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	1{{Efn\|name=FLT\|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}}	0	1	0
2022–23{{Soccerbase season\|143684\|2022\|accessdate=1 August 2023}}	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
Carrick Rangers (loan) \|2021–22	NIFL Premiership	14	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	15	4
AFC Telford United (loan) \|2023–24	National League North	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
Stalybridge Celtic (loan) \|2022–23{{cite web \|title=Stalybridge Celtic {{!}} Appearances {{!}} Matty Carson {{!}} 2022-2023 {{!}} Football Web Pages \|url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/stalybridge-celtic/appearances/2022-2023/matty-carson/944751 \|website=www.footballwebpages.co.uk \|access-date=10 August 2023}}	Northern Premier League Premier Division	8	3	0	0	0	0	3{{Efn\|2 appearances and 1 goal in Cheshire Senior Cup and 1 appearance in Manchester Premier Cup}}	1	11	4
rowspan="3" \|Reading \|2022–23	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2023–24{{Soccerbase season\|143684\|2023\|accessdate=1 August 2023}}	League One	10	0	2	0	2	0	3{{Efn\|name=FLT}}	0	17	0
colspan="2"\|Total !10	0	2	0	2	0	3	0	17	0
Grimsby Town \|2024–25{{soccerbase season\|143684\|2024\|access-date=12 August 2024}} \|League Two \|9	0	0	0	1	0	3{{Efn\|name=FLT}}	0	13	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !45	8	3	0	3	0	10	1	61	9