Matthew Saunders
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matthew Saunders
| image = MSaunders.JPG
| image_size = 200
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|09|12|df=y}}{{cite web
| title = Matt Saunders
| url = http://www.11v11.com/players/matt-saunders-230280/
| publisher = 11v11
| accessdate =7 July 2016}}
| birth_place = Chertsey, England
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2009 | youthclubs1 = Fulham
| years1 = 2009–2011 | clubs1 = Fulham | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2010 | clubs2 = → Lincoln City (loan) | caps2 = 18 | goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2012–2014 | clubs3 = Dagenham & Redbridge | caps3 = 41 | goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2014 | clubs4 = Whitehawk | caps4 = 1 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2014 | clubs5 = Dover Athletic | caps5 = 1 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2014–2015 | clubs6 = Hemel Hempstead Town | caps6 = 10 | goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2015 | clubs7 = Aldershot Town | caps7 = 8 | goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2016–2018 | clubs8 = Hemel Hempstead Town | caps8 = 44 | goals8 = 3
| years9 = 2019 | clubs9 = Wealdstone | caps9 = 0 | goals9 = 0
| totalcaps = 123 | totalgoals = 10
| manageryears1 = 2021–2024
| managerclubs1 = Wealdstone (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2024–2025
| managerclubs2 = Notts County (assistant)
| club-update = 21:26, 11 February 2021 (UTC)
}}
Matthew Saunders (born 12 September 1989) is a retired professional English footballer who played as a midfielder. He was most recently the assistant head coach of Notts County.
Playing career
Saunders graduated from Fulham's academy.{{cite news|url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/MatchAndTeam/PlayerProfiles/ProfileDetails/MatthewSaunders.aspx |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20090717100622/http://www.fulhamfc.com/MatchAndTeam/PlayerProfiles/ProfileDetails/MatthewSaunders.aspx |archivedate=17 July 2009 |title=Profile: Matthew Saunders |publisher=Fulham F.C. |accessdate=9 December 2013 |url-status=dead }} Despite never making an official first team appearance, he spent pre-season 2009 with the first team squad as they toured Australia, making three appearances.
On 1 January 2010, he joined League Two club Lincoln City on a one-month loan deal along with teammate Michael Uwezu.{{cite news | url = http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2009/december/31/quartet-join-lincoln | publisher = Fulham F.C. | title = Quartet join Lincoln | date = 31 December 2009 | accessdate = 9 December 2013 }}{{cite news | url = http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Lincolnshire-Echo-exclusive-Imps-set-land-Fulham-duo-Michael-Uwezu-Matthew-Saunders/story-11203515-detail/story.html | newspaper = Lincolnshire Echo | title = Lincolnshire Echo exclusive: Imps set to land Fulham duo Michael Uwezu and Matthew Saunders | date = 31 December 2009 | accessdate = 9 December 2013 }} He made his professional debut a day later, on 2 January, for Lincoln in their 4–0 away loss to Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup Third Round.{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8434000.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | title = Bolton 4 – 0 Lincoln | date = 2 January 2010 | accessdate = 11 January 2010 }}{{cite news | url = http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bolton-4-lincoln-0-879805 | newspaper = Manchester Evening News | first = Trevor | last = Baxter | title = Bolton 4 Lincoln 0 | date = 2 January 2010 | accessdate = 9 December 2013 }} Saunders returned to Fulham on 1 February 2010, after appearing twice for Lincoln in the league.{{cite web|url=http://www.redimps.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10440~1951750,00.html |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120307205455/http://www.redimps.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10440~1951750,00.html |archivedate=7 March 2012 |title=Fulham duo return |publisher=Lincoln City F.C. |date=1 February 2010 |accessdate=9 December 2013 |url-status=dead }} Saunders later rejoined Lincoln City on loan{{cite news|title=Double deal for Imps|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/5953518/|publisher=Sky Sports|date=16 February 2010|accessdate=22 January 2013}} and made a total of 18 appearances for the Imps, scoring three goals, including a brace against Hereford United{{cite news|title=Lincoln City 3 – 1 Hereford|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8547576.stm|publisher=BBC|date=12 March 2010|accessdate=22 January 2013}} and scored against Northampton Town in the next game.{{cite news|title=Lincoln City 1 – 1 Northampton|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8568301.stm|publisher=BBC|date=27 March 2010|accessdate=22 January 2013}} After one season at Fulham, Saunders failed to make a single appearance for Fulham and at the end of the 2010–11 season, he was released.{{cite news|title=FULHAM ANNOUNCE PLAYERS TO BE RELEASED|url=http://www.fulhamweb.co.uk/news/fulham-announce-players-to-be-released.aspx|publisher=Fulham Web|date=17 June 2011|accessdate=22 January 2013}}
On 10 February 2012, Saunders joined League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge on an 18-month contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.daggers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10692~2597401,00.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213203023/http://www.daggers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10692~2597401%2C00.html |archivedate=13 February 2012 |title=Daggers Sign Saunders |publisher=Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. |date=13 February 2012 |accessdate=9 December 2013 |url-status=dead }} Just four days later since joining the club, he made his debut in a 2–1 loss against Oxford United. On 28 February 2012, he made a start against Morecambe and he set up a goal for Medy Elito to put Dagenham in the lead and eventually won 2–1.{{cite news|title=Morecambe 1–2 Dag & Red|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17109420|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 February 2012|accessdate=22 January 2013}} Soon after, Saunders scored his first goal, from a free-kick, in a 1–0 win over Bradford City.{{cite news|title=Dag & Red 1–0 Bradford|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17163253|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 March 2012|accessdate=22 January 2013}} After the game, Manager John Still praised Saunders performance and said "The goal was worthy of winning a very tight game. It was a fantastic goal. He's got terrific quality. He was a player we wanted to sign at the start of the season, but he got injured. At the moment it's okay, but between now and the end of the season there will be tough games and we have to maintain this level of performance. We're on decent form and we just have to maintain that and, if we do, there are enough games for us to get points from."{{cite news|title=Still heaps praise on Saunders|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11750/7565947/|publisher=Sky Sports|date=4 March 2012|accessdate=22 January 2013}}
Towards the end of the season, Saunders was used less after suffering an ankle injury{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}} and made only five appearances. The next season for Saunders role in midfield increased. On 6 November 2011, Saunders provided a double assist for Sam Williams and Luke Wilkinson, who scored a winner, in a 3–2 win over Oxford United and on 1 December, he scored his first of the season in a 2–1 loss against Torquay United. After the game, Saunders said he expected to score and said: "I feel in previous games I've come close to scoring with a few strikes and it was a relief to be honest to get on the scoresheet, Hopefully now I've got one I'll start to get a few more. When you score and don't get anything out of the game it kind of gets forgotten but if it's a goal that gets you a point or a goal which wins a game or helps win a game, you get more recognition for it."{{cite news|title=Saunders hoping to kick on|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8308847/|publisher=Sky Sports|date=4 December 2012|accessdate=22 January 2013}} That did happen when followed up by his second on 5 January 2013, in a match against Accrington Stanley and set up a goal for Luke Howell in a 2–0 win. Three days after scoring his second, Saunders, along with Elito, signed a new contract, keeping both Saunders and Elito until 2016.{{cite news|title=Daggers pair pen new contracts|url=http://www.teamtalk.com/dagenham-&-redbridge/8385929/Daggers-pair-pen-new-contracts|publisher=Team Talk|date=8 January 2013|accessdate=22 January 2013}}
In May 2014, Saunders departed Dagenham & Redbridge by mutual consent, a year before his original contract expiry date.{{Cite news
| title = Midfielder Exits Daggers
| url = http://www.daggers.co.uk/news/article/matt-saunders-leaves-daggers-1574737.aspx
| publisher = Dagenham & Redbridge F.C
| date = 27 May 2014
| accessdate = 27 May 2014}} He then moved to Whitehawk, making two appearances before cancelling his contract to sign for Conference side Dover Athletic in September 2014.
On 1 October 2014, Dover announced Saunders had been released by mutual consent to travel to India to play football. In November 2014, he signed for Hemel Hempstead Town, making his debut on 22 November against Basingstoke Town. Saunders went on to make five appearances before agreeing a deal until the end of the season with Conference Premier club Aldershot Town.
In July 2019, Saunders signed for Wealdstone in the National League South.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/saunders-signs-for-the-stones|title = Matty Saunders signs for Wealdstone FC|date = 26 July 2019}}
Coaching career
Saunders didn't make a single league appearance at Wealdstone, instead taking up a role on the coaching staff and with the Wealdstone academy. In October 2020 it was announced that he had been cut from the Wealdstone coaching in order to add to the playing budget.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/sport/wealdstone-boss-brennan-on-saunders-departure-6523716|title=Wealdstone axe first-team coach Matt Saunders for financial reasons|date=13 October 2020}} Following the departure of manager Dean Brennan, Saunders was temporarily reappointed to the coaching staff,{{Cite web|url=https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/statement-from-the-board-3|title = Statement from the Board|date = 4 February 2021}} before being permanently appointed as Stuart Maynard's assistant manager on 11 March 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/maynard-announced-as-manager|title=Maynard announced as Manager|date=11 March 2021}}
On 18 January 2024, Saunders left Wealdstone alongside Maynard as the duo were appointed by League Two club Notts County, Saunders taking the role of assistant head coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2024/january/stuart-maynard-appointment-180124/|title=Head coach: Stuart Maynard|website=www.nottscountyfc.co.uk|date=18 January 2024|accessdate=18 January 2024}} On 24 January 2025, he departed the club by mutual agreement. {{cite web|url=https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2025/january/24/departure--matt-saunders/|title=DEPARTURE: MATT SAUNDERS|website=www.nottscountyfc.co.uk|date=24 January 2025|accessdate=24 January 2025}}
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Lincoln City (loan)
|2009–10{{Soccerbase season|52299|2009|access-date=11 November 2012}} |18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 19 | 3 | |||
| rowspan="4" valign="center"|Dagenham & Redbridge
|2011–12{{Soccerbase season|52299|2010|access-date=9 December 2013}} |League Two |5 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 5 | 1 | ||||
| 2012–13{{Soccerbase season|52299|2011|access-date=9 December 2013}}
|League Two |32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1Appearances in Football League Trophy | 0 | 34 | 3 | |
| 2013–14{{Soccerbase season|52299|2012|access-date=9 December 2013}}
|Football League Two|League Two |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!41 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 4 | |
| Whitehawk
| title = M. Saunders – Soccerway | url = https://int.soccerway.com/players/matthew-saunders/111112/ | publisher = Soccerbase | accessdate = 17 July 2016}} |1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Dover Athletic
|1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Hemel Hempstead Town
|Conference South |10 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 3Appearances in FA Trophy | 0 | 13 | 0 | |||
| Aldershot Town
|Conference Premier |8 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 8 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="4" valign="center"|Hemel Hempstead Town
| title = M. Saunders – Aylesbury United | url = http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/matthew-saunders#playingcareer | publisher = Aylesbury United FC | accessdate = 17 July 2016}} |1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2016–17
|National League South |29 | 3 | 6 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | 37 | 3 | ||
| 2017–18
|National League South |14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1Appearances in National League South play-offs | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!44 | 3 | 6 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3 | 0 | 53 | 3 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career totals
!123 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 140 | 10 |
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saunders, Matthew}}
Category:Footballers from Chertsey
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Lincoln City F.C. players
Category:Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. players
Category:Whitehawk F.C. players
Category:Wealdstone F.C. players
Category:Hemel Hempstead Town F.C. players
Category:Aldershot Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Dover Athletic F.C. players
Category:English football coaches