Ross Matthews (footballer)
{{short description|Association football player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Ross Matthews
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|1|23|df=y}}
|birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland
|height =
|position = Midfielder
|currentclub = Raith Rovers
|clubnumber = 8
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = Edinburgh City
|youthyears2 =
|youthclubs2 = Royston Rangers
|youthyears3 = 2004–2012
|youthclubs3 = Heart of Midlothian
|youthyears4 = 2012–2013
|youthclubs4 = Raith Rovers
|years1 = 2013–
|clubs1 = Raith Rovers
|caps1 = 227
|goals1 = 11
|club-update = 11 June 2025
}}
Ross Matthews (born 23 January 1996) is a Scottish footballer playing for {{Scottish football updater|RaithRov}} club Raith Rovers in Scotland.
Career
Born in Edinburgh, Matthews began his career with Edinburgh City and Royston Rangers boys club before being quickly swooped up by Heart of Midlothian. He began his professional career at Raith Rovers. He was first included in a matchday squad on 10 August 2013, remaining an unused substitute in a 0–1 home defeat to Hamilton Academical in the first game of the Scottish Championship season.{{cite news|title=Raith Rovers 0–1 Hamilton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23622688|accessdate=25 August 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 August 2015}} On 28 December, he made his debut and only appearance of the season, replacing Calum Elliot for the final seven minutes of a 3–0 loss at Livingston.{{cite news|title=Livingston 3–0 Raith Rovers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25475023|accessdate=25 August 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 December 2013}}
Matthews has been regular in the first team squad for the 2015–16 season and made his first start in the 3rd round tie of the League Cup loss to Celtic at Celtic Park.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/34265394 |title=Celtic 2-0 Raith Rovers |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 September 2015 }} After the match, he was praised by manager Ray Mckinnon for an outstanding dominant performance in the middle of the park.{{cite web |last=Elder |first=Matthew |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918104311/http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/sport/football/raith-youngster-revels-in-celtic-park-limelight-1-3904241 |title=Raith youngster revels in Celtic Park limelight |publisher=Fife Today |date=1 October 2015 }}
In the beginning of the 2016–17 season for rovers, Matthews has been a regular within the first team squad under new head coach Gary Locke, moving from his natural central midfield position, into the right midfield role. On 6 August 2016, Mathews netted his first goal for the club and the 2nd of the match, during a 2–0 away win over Ayr United.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/452074/raith-rovers-ayr-united |title=Ayr United 0–2 Raith Rovers |publisher=ESPN |date=6 August 2016 }} Later on, he played a pivotal role in the 2019–20 Scottish League One victory, and promotion to the Scottish Championship. On 2 March 2022, he scored a goal in a 2–1 victory over Kilmarnock in the Challenge Cup semi-final, which his club eventually achieved after a 3–1 victory over Queen of the South in the final.{{cite web |url=https://www.raithrovers.net/ross-matthews-testimonial/ |title=Ross Matthews' Testimonial |publisher=Raith Rovers F.C. |date=11 April 2024 }} In June 2024, he extended his contract until 2025.{{cite web |url=https://www.raithrovers.net/ross-matthews-extends-contract-2/ |title=Ross Matthews Extends Contract |publisher=ESPN |date=6 August 2016 }}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 26 May 2024}}{{soccerway|ross-matthews/306932|accessdate=6 November 2017}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
; Raith Rovers
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|ross-matthews/306932}}
{{Raith Rovers F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, Ross}}
Category:Footballers from Edinburgh
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Raith Rovers F.C. players