Mathew Stevens

Mathew Stevens
Personal information
Full name Mathew Antony Stevens
Date of birth (1998-02-12) 12 February 1998
Place of birth Surrey, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current team
 Peterborough United
Number 28
Youth career
Aldershot Town
Farnborough
0000–2014 Reading
2014– Barnet
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Barnet 10 (1)
2016– Peterborough United 0 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:44, 4 June 2016 (UTC).


Mathew Antony "Matt" Stevens (born 12 February 1998) is an English footballer and former amateur boxer. He plays as a forward for Peterborough United.

Boxing career

Stevens was born into a boxing family – grandfather Les Stevens was a professional boxer[1] who fought John Conteh in 1974.[2] Stevens, who fought out of Pinewood Starr ABC in Crowthorne and once sparred with Tim Witherspoon,[3] won four national titles during his brief career at youth level. In 2011 he won the ABAE Schools national title[4] and the GB Schoolboy 3 Nations title,[5] repeating the feat again in 2012.[6][7] Stevens was undefeated during his boxing career.

Football career

Barnet

Stevens quit boxing aged 15, although while still fighting he was part of the youth teams at Aldershot Town,[8] Farnborough,[9] and Reading, where he scored 32 goals in the 2013–14 season at U-16 level.[10] Stevens joined Barnet in the summer of 2014 on a two-year scholarship. Impressive goal scoring form for the youth team early in the season saw him make his senior debut against Alfreton Town on 6 September 2014,[11] coming on as a substitute for Sam Togwell after 82 minutes,[12] becoming Barnet's youngest ever player aged 16 years and 204 days, a record previously held by Mauro Vilhete.[11] His first senior goal for the Bees came in the FA Trophy against Concord Rangers on 16 December 2014 – scoring a Panenka penalty – and also becoming Barnet's youngest ever goalscorer.[13] Stevens scored 57 goals in all competitions (including youth games) in the 2014–15 season – attracting interest from larger clubs, including Swansea City, who had a £250k offer for Stevens rejected in May 2015.[14] A bid was also received from Crystal Palace with both Manchester United and Manchester City sending scouts to watch him play.[15]

Stevens scored six times for the Bees in 2015–16 pre-season, and made his Football League debut when he came on as an 87th-minute substitute for Michael Gash against Leyton Orient on 8 August 2015.[16] Barnet transfer listed Stevens in January 2016 after he turned down two contract offers from the club.[17] Stevens scored his first league goal for the Bees against AFC Wimbledon on 20 January 2016.[18]

Peterborough United

Stevens signed for Peterborough United on 1 July 2016, signing a three-year deal.[19]

References

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