Mattie Pollock
{{Short description|English footballer (born 2001)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mattie Pollock
| image =
| caption =
| full_name = Mattie William Pollock{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/2247219 |title=2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=10 September 2021 |access-date=12 September 2021}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|9|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Redhill, Surrey, England
| height = {{convert|1.90|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |title=FootballSquads - Grimsby Town - 2018/2019 |url=http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2018-2019/fltwo/grimsby.htm |website=www.footballsquads.co.uk |accessdate=21 August 2019}}
| position = Defender
| currentclub =Watford
| clubnumber = 6
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2011
| youthclubs1 = Middlesbrough
| youthyears2 = 2012–2016
| youthclubs2 = Leeds United
| youthyears3 = 2016–2018
| youthclubs3 = Polton Allstars
| youthyears4 = 2018–2019
| youthclubs4 = Grimsby Town
| years1 = 2018–2021
| clubs1 = Grimsby Town
| caps1 = 46
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2021–
| clubs2 = Watford
| caps2 = 66
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2021–2022
| clubs3 = → Cheltenham Town (loan)
| caps3 = 34
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2023
| clubs4 = → Aberdeen (loan)
| caps4 = 15
| goals4 = 2
| club-update = 3 May 2025 (UTC)
}}
Mattie William Pollock (born 28 September 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for {{English football updater|Watford}} club Watford. Mainly a centre-back, he can also be deployed as a right-back.
Pollock was the product of the youth academies of Middlesbrough and Leeds United before joining Grimsby Town's academy in 2018. He later signed full professional terms with Grimsby and went on to make 46 league appearances for the club before signing for Watford in 2021. He has since spent time on loan with Cheltenham Town.
Early life
Born in Redhill, Pollock was brought up in Middlesbrough, where he attended the Nunthorpe Academy.
Career
Pollock was a trainee with Leeds United up until under-15 level, where he was considered a midfielder.
=Grimsby Town=
Pollock joined Grimsby Town on a scholarship in 2018 after being scouted playing as a defender for his father's team, Polton Allstars.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Adam |title=Mattie Pollock signs professional contract with Grimsby Town |url=https://www.gtfcacademy.com/news/mattie-pollock-signs-professional-contract-with-gr-2396718.html |accessdate=21 August 2019 |work=www.gtfcacademy.com |date=14 February 2019 |language=en}} He was called up to the first-team bench by manager Michael Jolley for the first time in October 2018.{{cite news |title=Freeview {{!}} Mattie Pollock: "It Was A Dream Come True!" |url=https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2018/october/freeview--mattie-pollock-it-was-a-dream-come-true/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821203110/https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2018/october/freeview--mattie-pollock-it-was-a-dream-come-true/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=21 August 2019 |accessdate=21 August 2019 |work=www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk |date=16 October 2018 |language=en-gb}} Pollock made his professional debut on 29 December, coming on as a 52nd-minute substitute for Martyn Woolford in a 2–1 win at Exeter City following a red card for centre-back Alex Whitmore.{{cite news |title=Exeter City vs Grimsby Town on 29 Dec 18 - Match Centre - Grimsby Town |url=https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/matches/fixtures/first-team/201819/december/exeter-city-vs-grimsby-town-on-29-dec-18/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821203111/https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/matches/fixtures/first-team/201819/december/exeter-city-vs-grimsby-town-on-29-dec-18/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=21 August 2019 |accessdate=21 August 2019 |work=www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk |date=29 December 2018}} He turned professional in February 2019 and upon signing a {{frac|2|1|2}}-year deal said that "my ultimate ambition is to be the best central defender in the world and play at the highest level I can".{{cite news |last1=Westcott |first1=Matt |title=Pollock aims to be the best after signing Grimsby deal |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/17469307.mattie-pollock-signs-deal-with-grimsby-town/ |accessdate=21 August 2019 |work=The Northern Echo |date=2 March 2019 |language=en}} Pollock was given his first start for the "Mariners" on 13 August 2019, in a 1–0 victory over Doncaster Rovers at Blundell Park.{{cite news |title=Grimsby Town 1-0 Doncaster Rovers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49245378 |accessdate=21 August 2019 |work=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2019}} He scored his first goal for Grimsby in a 1–1 draw with Carlisle United on 24 October 2020.{{cite news |title=Grimsby 1-1 Carlisle Orient|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54580382|accessdate=11 November 2020}}
=Watford=
On 27 May 2021, Pollock joined Watford on a five-year deal{{cite news |title=Official: Watford Sign Pollock |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/official-watford-sign-pollock |accessdate=27 May 2021 |work=watfordfc.com |date=27 May 2021}} for an initial fee of £250,000.{{cite news |title=Transfer Of Pollock To Watford Agreed |url=https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2021/may/transfer-of-pollock-to-watford-agreed |accessdate=27 May 2021 |work=grimsby-townfc.co.uk |date=27 May 2021}}{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
On 30 August 2021, Pollock joined Cheltenham Town on loan for the 2021–22 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/watford-defender-mattie-pollock-joins-5850553|title = One in, one out and at least one more to come|date = 30 August 2021}} Pollock scored his first goal for Cheltenham in the FA Cup first round against Gillingham on 6 November 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/19707690.out-on-loan-watford-man-mattie-pollock-scores-cheltenham/|title = Out-on-loan Watford man Mattie Pollock scores for Cheltenham |accessdate=16 January 2022 |work=watfordobserver.co.uk |date = 10 November 2021}} He also scored in the replay win on 16 November, earning Cheltenham a spot in the second round and praise from manager Michael Duff.{{Cite web|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/19723562.watford-defender-mattie-pollock-praised-cheltenham-goal/|title = Watford defender Mattie Pollock praised for Cheltenham goal |accessdate=16 January 2022 |work=watfordobserver.co.uk |date = 17 November 2021}}
Pollock made his Watford debut on 23 August 2022 in a 2–0 home defeat to MK Dons in the second round of the EFL Cup, and his full Championship debut on 19 October 2022 in a 3–0 away defeat to Millwall. He was loaned to Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen in January 2023.{{Cite news |title=Aberdeen: Barry Robson put in interim charge as Mattie Pollock arrives on loan from Watford |language=en-GB |website=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64448234 |access-date=2023-01-29 |date=29 January 2023}}
His first goal for Watford came in the 5-0 win over MK Dons in the EFL Cup in August 2024. In March 2025 he was in the EFL sky bet team of the week for both the championship and EFL team of the week. {{cite web |title=Watford 5 - 0 MK Dons |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cy8xnw13w5et?page=3 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=14 August 2024}}
Personal life
He is the son of former Middlesbrough and Manchester City midfielder Jamie Pollock, and younger brother to professional footballer Ben Pollock.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 3 May 2025}}
| 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"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Grimsby Town
|2018–19{{Soccerbase season|id=116584|season=2018|accessdate= 4 February 2020}} |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2019–20{{Soccerbase season|id=116584|season=2019|accessdate= 4 February 2020}}
|League Two |19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=FLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 2020–21{{Soccerbase season|id=116584|season=2020|accessdate= 5 March 2021}}
|League Two |25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=FLT}} | 1 | 29 | 4 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!46 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 58 | 4 | |
| rowspan="4" |Watford
|2022–23{{soccerbase season|116584|2022|access-date=12 August 2024}} |3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|116584|2023|access-date=12 August 2024}}
|Championship |18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0|19 | 0 | |
| 2024–25{{soccerbase season|116584|2024|access-date=12 August 2024}}
|Championship |45 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0|47 | 3 | |
| colspan="2" |Total
!66 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 3 | |
| Cheltenham Town (loan)
|2021–22{{soccerbase season|116584|2021|access-date=13 August 2024}} |League One |34 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 3 | |
| Aberdeen (loan)
|15 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 4 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!161 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 188 | 14 |
{{notelist}}
Honours46+
Individual
- Cheltenham Town Supporters' Young Player of the Season: 2021–22
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Watford F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pollock, Mattie}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players
Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Aberdeen F.C. players
Category:People from Reigate and Banstead (district)