Reg Matthewson

Football player infobox
playername = Reg Matthewson


fullname = Reginald Matthewson
height = 5ft 11in
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1939|8|6
cityofbirth = Sheffield
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Retired
clubnumber =
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1958–1968
1968–1973
1973–1976
1978–1979
clubs = Sheffield United
Fulham
Chester
Bangor City
caps(goals) = 149 0 (3)
158 0 (1)
87 00 (1)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
managerclubs =
manageryears =
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Reg Matthewson (born 6 August 1939, Sheffield) is a former English professional footballer. He played as a defender in The Football League for three clubs, making 394 appearances in the process.

Playing career

Matthewson began his professional career in his home city of Sheffield with Sheffield United, who he signed a professional contract with in June 1958. He had to wait until 1961–62 for his league debut, with the Blades playing in the top-flight of English football at the time.

After six years in the Blades’ first-team, Matthewson joined Fulham in February 1968 for £30,000 [’Where are they now?’, Chester City v. Fulham matchday programme; 1/5/1993; pg. 20] , beginning a five year spell at Craven Cottage that included one promotion and two relegations. In January 1973 Matthewson dropped into the Fourth Division when he joined Chester, initially on loan. He made his debut in a 1–1 away draw at Aldershot [cite web|url= http://www.chester-city.co.uk/aldershot_v_chester_top10.asp|title= Top Ten Chester v Aldershot Town| publisher = chester-city.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-20] , with his home debut a fortnight later ending in a 5–0 win over Darlington. Matthewson quickly joined Chester permanently and became club captain when Bob Wallace moved to Aldershot [’Where are they now?’, Chester City v. Fulham matchday programme; 1/5/1993; pg. 20] .

The 1974–75 season was to be a final glory for Matthewson, as he skippered Chester to a first promotion from Football League Division Four and on an unlikely run to the Football League Cup semi-finals. Matthewson featured in all of Chester’s eight games during the cup run and missed just two league games, but he was to rarely play after promotion. His final game for Chester was a 3–1 derby defeat to Wrexham in April 1976 [’Where are they now?’, Chester City v. Fulham matchday programme; 1/5/1993; pg. 20] .

Matthewson had a spell on the Chester coaching staff and then joined Bangor City as player-coach, working under his former Chester team-mate Stuart Mason [’Where are they now?’, Chester City v. Fulham matchday programme; 1/5/1993; pg. 20] . He later had a spell assisting Graham Turner at Shrewsbury Town [’Where are they now?’, Chester City v. Fulham matchday programme; 1/5/1993; pg. 20] and away from football worked for a chemical fertiliser company in Ellesmere Port ['Where are they now?', Chester City v. Fulham matchday programme; 1/5/1993; pg. 20] . His nephew Trevor Matthewson played professionally. Matthewson now lives in a small village close to Chester and is retired from work.

Honours

Fulham

* Football League Third Division runners-up: 1970–71 (44 apps, 1 goal)

Chester

* Football League Fourth Division promotion as fourth placed team: 1974–75 (44 apps, 1 goal)

* Football League Cup semi-finalists: 1974–75.

References