Matthews Vince Image 1 Bolton Wanderers 1923

Description

Osney, Oxford born centre half Vince Matthews started his football career with St. Frideville, before joining Oxford City in 1920, from where he moved to Boscombe in 1921 (soon to become Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic). He was then sold to First Division Bolton Wanderers in January 1923 for a £1,000 transfer fee and made his Football League debut at Burnley in March the same year, but he was a fringe player at Burnden Park and made only 3 first team appearances before joining Tranmere Rovers in the 1925 close season.

He was an ever present for two seasons at Prenton Park scoring 3 goals in 88 appearances before Sheffield United took him back to the First Division for £1,000 in the 1927 close season. Such was the impression he created in a season that saw The Blades go to the semi final of the FA Cup, where they lost to Huddersfield Town at Maine Road in a second replay, that he was included in England’s summer tour, already aged 32, winning 2 caps in 3 days in May 1928 in wins over France and Belgium, scoring in the second match. These would prove his only England caps.

Matthews lost his regular position in The Blades’ line-up in December 1930 and moved to Irish League Shamrock Rovers in May 1931 after 2 goals in 136 appearances, spending two years in Ireland before returning to play for non league Oswestry Town in 1933. He joined Shrewsbury Town in 1934 and finally played for Morris Motors of Cowley in 1939 before retirement.

NB in the photograph Matthews (left), on his debut for Bolton Wanderers at Turf Moor on 12th March 1923, helps team mate Alex Finney to tackle Burnley’s right winger Billy Nesbitt, who scored the winner in a 2-1 victory for Burnley.