Matthew Ghent

Matthew Ghent

Personal information
Full name	Matthew Ian Ghent
Date of birth	5 September 1980 (1980-09-05) (age 31)
Place of birth	Burton upon Trent, England
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Rushall Olympic
Youth career
1996-1997	Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997-2000	Aston Villa	0	(0)
2000-2001	Lincoln City	1	(0)
2001	Forest Green Rovers	2	(0)
2001-2003	Barnsley	8	(0)
2006	Sutton Town	?	(0)
2006	Tamworth	1	(0)
2007-2008	Solihull Moors	?	(0)
2009-	Rushall Olympic	?	(0)
National team
1996-1997	England U-16	?	(0)
1998-1999	England U-18	?	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 01:14, 12 April 2009 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

Matthew Ghent (born 5 September 1980 in Burton upon Trent, England) is a retired English professional football goalkeeper. . Ghent was tipped as the next England Goalkeeper following his pedigree as a young player signing a four year professional contract at Aston Villa aged 17 and his rapid rise into the first team squad. Ghent has also played for England Under-16^[1] and Under-18 teams.

Ghent started his football career with Aston Villa as an associated schoolboy player and as a schoolboy represented England 27 times at the age of 14-18 playing against the likes of Germany,Sweden and Brasil and was part of the prestigious National School of excellence playing with the likes of Michael Owen, Wes Brown and Scott Parker following this Ghent progressed to a traineeship at Aston Villa despite interest from Newcastle United before turning professional in 1997 at the age of 17. He appeared as a substitute for Aston Villa against Southampton in the premier league 16 days after his 17th Birthday at the time making him the youngest ever Goalkeeper to appear on a Premier League Teamsheet. From there he made further squad appearances against Arsenal and Manchester United that season. As well as a regular reserve at Aston Villa he left the club in December 2000 to trial at Nottingham Forest and later that season went on to join Lincoln City on a free transfer. Following this he joined Barnsley FC on a free transfer and went on to become a regular first team player making his debut in what would be the Championship today against Wimbledon FC where he saved a 75th minute penalty to aid in Barnsley only away clean sheet of that season.

His league debut came on December 2, 2000 when he was a first-half substitute for the injured Alan Marriott in the 1-1 draw away to Carlisle United. He started the FA Cup surprise defeat at home to Dagenham & Redbridge the following week but after again not settling at Lincoln left the club a short time after.

In March 2001 Ghent joined Forest Green Rovers where he made 2 appearances for the club as well as sitting on the bench for the club in the 2001 FA Trophy final where Rovers lost out 1-0 against Canvey Island. Ghent then joined Barnsley in August 2001. He joined Doncaster Rovers on loan in January 2002,^[2] but was injured in training with Barnsley damaging his knee and went onto have surgery and never played for Doncaster.^[3]

He was offered a short-term deal by Barnsley in May 2003, but rejected this due to the administration of Barnsley FC and financial reasons at that time.^[4] but left the club shortly afterwards.

After three years out of the professional game and taking time to consider his future after an interview where he stated "my love for the game has gone, but its an easy paycheck", Ghent trialed with his local side Tamworth during the summer of 2006 before joining Sutton Town. He then rejoined Tamworth, making his first and only appearance for the club against York City in a 2-2 draw in October 2006.^[5]

He joined newly formed Solihull Moors in July 2007, but left in January 2008 Where he went on to retire playing only a further handful of games for a local side.

1. ^ Whatever happened to the likely lads?
2. ^ Rovers sign Ghent on loan
3. ^ Keeper joins Doncaster
4. ^ Seven released by Tykes
5. ^ Williams brace bags a point

External links

• Matthew Ghent career stats at Soccerbase
• Aston Villa Player Database

Persondata
Name	Ghent, Matthew
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1980-09-05
Place of birth	Burton, England
Date of death
Place of death