Ahead of our fixture with Plymouth Argyle this weekend we take a look at former player John Matthews who started his career with London based club Arsenal.
DoB: 1 November 1955 PoB: London Position: Defender/Midfield
Career: Islington Schools, Arsenal (1973-78), Sheffield United (1978-82, 121 (5) + 18), Mansfield Town (1982-84), Chesterfield (1984-85), Plymouth Argyle (1985-89), Torquay United (1989-90) Total: (1974-90, 0 (0) + 0), Dorchester Town (1990-??)
Matthews made his Football League career with Arsenal in an away fixture against Leicester City in first game of 1974-75 season. He played just 20 games for the gunners that season and was part of the side that lost 2-0 to rivals West Ham United in FA Cup sixth round.
However he did not score his first goal until 1976-77 season when his single goal could not prevent the Highbury club from losing 2-1 to Leeds United. When Arsenal reached semi-finals of League Cup he was not selected to play against Liverpool despite netting a brace against Hull City in a previous round.
He had failed to hold down a regular first team place; he was hampered by injury having broken his leg and with quality players such as Liam Brady and David Price struggled to make an impact.
The same season they reached the final of the FA Cup, but again was not selected, though they lost 1-0 to Ipswich Town. He left Highbury that season in search of another club after failing to hold down a first team place, joining the Blades in August 1978 for £90,000.
His debut was to be a happy one; he netted the winner against Leicester City and later he played at centre-half in the 1-0 League Cup win over Liverpool. But at the end of that season United were relegated to Division Three.
United were relegated to Division Four two seasons later, but Matthews helped the Blades climb back up at the first call of asking before Ian Porterfield surprisingly gave him a free transfer.
He played two seasons at Mansfield Town before signing for Chesterfield in close 1984-85 season. They won Division Four that season and in following season Matthews were to help Plymouth Argyle win promotion to Division Two. He then finished his football league career at Torquay United in 1989-90 campaign and slipped into non-league action with Dorchester Town.
