Matthew Jonathan Wicks (born 8 September 1978) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Jonathan Wicks[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 September 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Reading, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Central defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1995 | Arsenal | ||
| 1995–1996 | Manchester United | ||
| 1996–1998 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–1999 | Crewe Alexandra | 7 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | Peterborough United | 31 | (0) |
| 2000 | → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | 7 | (3) |
| 2000–2002 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 19 | (1) |
| 2002–2003 | Hull City | 14 | (0) |
| 2003 | Newcastle United Jets | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 78 | (4) | |
| International career | |||
| England U17 | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Wicks was viewed as "one of the most promising players of his generation" but never lived up to the label.[3]
Club career edit
Born in Reading,[2] Wicks began his career with youth contracts at both Arsenal and Manchester United,[4] but failed to make a league appearance for either team.[5][6] After being released by Arsenal in 1998, Wicks signed for Crewe Alexandra, where he made six league appearances.[7] Wicks later signed for Peterborough United, making a total of 31 league appearances.[8] While at Peterborough, Wicks spent a loan spell with Brighton & Hove Albion, and later signed for Brighton on a permanent deal.[9] In his two spells at Brighton, he made 26 league appearances.[10] After leaving Brighton, Wicks signed for Hull City, where he made 14 league appearances.[11][12] After leaving Hull in July 2002,[13] Wicks moved to Australia to play with the Newcastle United Jets, under the management of former Norwich City player Ian Crook, but never appeared for the club. He was released from his contract in August 2003 on compassionate grounds because of the illness of a relative, and retired from football soon afterwards.[14]
International career edit
Wicks was captain of the England national under-17 football team.[14]
Honours edit
- Peterborough United
- Football League Third Division playoffs: 2000[15]
Personal life edit
Wicks is the son of fellow footballer Steve Wicks[14] and grandson of former Chelsea F.C. chairman Brian Mears.[citation needed]
References edit
- ^ "Matt Wicks". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ a b Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2002). Rothmans Football Yearbook: 2002–03. London: Headline. p. 480. ISBN 978-0-7553-1099-9.
- ^ Nick Harris (8 January 1999). "Football: New faces for 1999 – County play for high stakes over Pennant". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ^ "Former Arsenal trainees, from about 1994". Arseweb. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ^ "ARSENAL : 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ^ "MANCHESTER UNITED : 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ^ "CREWE ALEXANDRA : 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ^ "PETERBOROUGH UNITED : 1960/61 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ^ "Brighton clinch Wicks deal". BBC Sport. 13 October 2000. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ^ "BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION : 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ^ "HULL CITY : 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ^ "Career Statistics – Matthew Wicks". On Cloud Seven. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ^ "Wicks leaves Tigers". BBC Sport. 26 July 2002. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ^ a b c "Matthew Wicks". Up The Posh!. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ^ Haylett, Trevor (27 May 2000). "Fry high as Clarke lifts Posh". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
External links edit
- Matthew Wicks at Soccerbase
