Born and raised playing soccer on the rolling plains of London’s Hackney Marshes (allegedly the spiritual home of soccer), Matt knew he was destined for stardom from a young age.
Beginning his career as a pimply faced 17 year old with his local church Sunday school side in division 17 of the Ex-Lax sponsored Hackney Sunday Pub League, Matt soon had the scouts (East Hackney Boy Scouts Brigade) flocking to admire his silky skills and range of one pass.
After a stand out season in 2009 (38 games, one goal and one assist), the Uni Whites made their move. A long, drawn out transfer process saw the Whites break the bank and Steve Saf’s heart by trading six bottles of pale ale, on transfer deadline day, for the fleet footed midfielder’s creative vision, wizardry and trickery.
Hackney Marshes, the burnt out cars, abandoned fridges and the odd dead body on a pitch were soon a thing of the past, as Matt set about unlocking Collegiate League defences with his renowned range of one pass.
Outside of soccer Matt is a successful documentary writer and film directory. Some of his best work involves titles such as the Debbie Does Series, Harry Slotter and the Philosophers Bone, Shaving Ryan’s Privates and Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.
Matt also claims to have starred in the war time soccer classic Escape to Victory, as the stunt doubles for soccer legends Pele, Ossie Ardiles, John Wark and Sylvester Stallone (?).
As the years ticked by age began to take its toll on the body of the fifty (something) year old. Following a glittering career in the A and B sides of the ‘Glamour’ Matt sought to prolong his playing days by dropping down the sides to ply his trade with the Whites C grade.
Bringing with him his now creaking right foot and crumbling body, Matt soon began to find his range of one pass and vision (with the main benefactor in chief of this being former White ‘Leg End’ and goal getter Richie Harris).
Sadly, Richie was lured away by the bright lights of Sydney at the end of the 2014 season and Matt became withdrawn and distant. A lone sad figure often found in the changing rooms, knees pulled tightly to his chest cradling and smelling a superman T-Shirt in memory of his departed team mate.
For a while it was touch and go if Matt would return to the Whites in 2015 or hang up the boots in honour of Richie.
To the delight of a few (?), Matt returned and (to date) can still be seen breaking forward from midfield on an odd occasion before breaking down full stop and hobbling off.
gold! 🙂