Matthew Etherington

Matthew Etherington

Etherington at the Boleyn Ground in 2015
Personal information
Full name Matthew Etherington[1]
Date of birth (1981-08-14) 14 August 1981[1]
Place of birth Truro, England
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Playing position Left Winger
Youth career
Falmouth Town
Peterborough United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Peterborough United 51 (6)
2000–2003 Tottenham Hotspur 45 (1)
2001 → Bradford City (loan) 13 (1)
2003–2009 West Ham United 165 (16)
2009–2014 Stoke City 152 (13)
Total 426 (37)
National team
1997–1998 England U16 5 (0)
1999 England U18 3 (0)
1999 England U20 3 (0)
2002 England U21 3 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:35, 11 May 2014 (UTC).


Matthew Etherington (born 14 August 1981) is an English former footballer who played as a winger.

Born in Truro, Cornwall, Etherington started his footballing career at Peterborough United and was a stand-out performer for the "Posh" which attracted the attention of Premier League clubs. He joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2000 along with Simon Davies. He struggled at Tottenham and left for West Ham United in 2003. At the East London club Etherington showed his true form and became a vital player for the "Hammers". However he had personal problems related to an addiction to gambling and in 2009 was sold by manager Gianfranco Zola to fellow Premier League side Stoke City.

At Stoke, Etherington became a vital member of the side under manager Tony Pulis, winning the player of the year award for the 2009–10 season and also played in the 2011 FA Cup Final. Etherington remained a regular under Pulis in 2011–12 and 2012–13 before he was released by Mark Hughes at the end of the 2013–14 season.

Club career

Peterborough United

Born in Truro, Cornwall, Etherington came through the youth ranks at Peterborough United after being spotted by Barry Fry playing for Falmouth Town under 14s.[3] He made his debut in the Football League aged 15 years 262 days, in a 2–1 win at Brentford on 3 May 1997.[4] He made a further two appearances in the following season but made his breakthrough into the first team in 1998–99 when he made 33 appearances in all competitions scoring three goals.[4] He went on trial at Manchester United in July 1999, but at the end of December 1999, he joined Tottenham Hotspur in a deal that valued him at £500,000.[4] He made a total of 58 appearances for Peterborough in all competitions, scoring six goals.[4]

Tottenham Hotspur

Etherington joined Tottenham Hotspur from Peterborough in a move that saw Simon Davies join the North London club as part of the same deal. He struggled to establish himself during his three-year stint at Spurs and, in 2001, spent two months on loan to Bradford City,[5] where he made 13 appearances and scored one goal against Watford.[4][6] Having only started five Premiership games since arriving from Peterborough in 1999, he handed in a transfer request in June 2002 saying that he had decided that his career would be best served away from Spurs.[7] However, no transfer was forthcoming but he broke into the first team during the 2002–03 season, when he made 25 appearances[4] despite a lay-off with an ankle injury.[8] He scored his first Premier League goal in a 2–2 draw with Everton on 17 August 2002.[9]

In August 2003, he joined West Ham in an exchange deal plus cash for Fredi Kanouté amid a formal complaint made to the FA by Peterborough at the valuation placed on Etherington, who would have benefited from a sell-off clause had it been greater than £500,000, the price at which Peterborough sold Etherington to Tottenham in 1999.[10] Etherington made 51 appearances for Tottenham, 28 of these as a substitute, scoring two goals against Bolton in the FA Cup[11] and Everton in the league.[4][12]

West Ham United

Etherington joined West Ham at the beginning of their two-year spell in the second-tier of English football, playing the final season of the First Division and the first of the Championship. Signed by manager, Glenn Roeder, he was part of a transfer deal which saw West Ham player Frederic Kanoute move to Tottenham and Etherington and £3.5 million coming to West Ham.[13] His West Ham debut came on 9 August 2003 as he created the chance for David Connolly to score West Ham's winning goal in a 2–1 away win at Preston North End.[14] His opening goal came just over a month later, on 16 September 2003. Now under the managership of Trevor Brooking, following the sacking of Glenn Roeder, West Ham beat Crewe Alexandra 3–0 at Gresty Road in the first ever league meeting between the clubs, with Etherington scoring the third goal.[15] His only red card during his West Ham career was in a 1–1 away draw with Norwich City on 21 February 2004 when he was sent off for two bookable offences.[16] Etherington was a big hit at Upton Park, scoring several goals including a hat-trick in a 5–0 win over Wimbledon on 9 March 2004.[17] He won the "Hammer of the Year" award in his first season at the club and played a huge part in helping the club get to the 2004 Championship play-off final by scoring in the 2–0 win over Ipswich Town in the play-off semi final second leg.[18] Etherington played in the final as West Ham lost 1–0 to Crystal Palace.[19]

The following year, West Ham reached the play-off final again, with Etherington setting up the goal in the final against Preston North End with a perfectly timed cross which was scored by Bobby Zamora, which sent West Ham back into the Premier League.[20] In season 2005–06, West Ham made the FA Cup Final before losing on penalties to Liverpool. Etherington scored in the 4–2, fourth round win against Blackburn Rovers and played in the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in May 2005.[21][22] He was a regular member of the team for seasons 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06, his appearances being more sporadic in the following three seasons. Etherington eventually lost his place in the starting eleven due to Gianfranco Zola's preference to play younger players. He completed 195 games for West Ham, in all competitions, scoring 18 goals,[23] before being sold to Stoke City on 8 January 2009.

Stoke City

Etherington with Stoke City in 2009

On 8 January 2009, Etherington completed a transfer, thought to be for £2 million, from West Ham United to Stoke City, signing a three and a half-year contract.[24] He made his debut for Stoke City two days after his transfer, against Liverpool in the Premier League, in a game which finished goalless.[25] He was sent off in his fifth game with Stoke for kicking out at Danny Collins as his side lost 2–0 to Sunderland.[26] He scored his first goal for Stoke in a 4–3 League Cup win over Blackpool on 22 September 2009.[27] Etherington scored his first League goal for Stoke in a 2–2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.[28] Etherington went on to have a successful season for Stoke which led him to win the player of the year award.[29] Etherington signed a new four-year contract with Stoke on 11 July 2010.[30]

Etherington started the 2010–11 season in fine form providing a number of assists from corners and left midfield. He scored his first goal of the season in a 3–0 win over West Bromwich Albion and followed this up by scoring a last minute equaliser against Manchester City a week later and then scored another against Wigan Athletic.[31][32] He scored the opening goal in the FA Cup Semi-final as City beat Bolton 5–0 clinching a first FA Cup Final appearance in their 148-year history.[33][34] Etherington described the performance as the game of their lives.[35] On 28 April in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers Etherington tore his hamstring leaving him in doubt for the FA Cup Final.[36] He did make the final as Stoke lost 1–0 to Manchester City.[37]

In the 2011–12 season Etherington was again the clubs only recognised left winger and he scored twice against his old club Tottenham Hotspur on 11 December 2011.[38] After some indifferent performances he has admitted that his form has dipped since last season.[39] He made his 100th Premier League appearance for Stoke against Fulham on 11 February 2012.[40] He scored the winning goal against Norwich City on 3 March 2012.[41] Etherington lost his place in Tony Pulis' starting line up at the start of the 2012–13 season due to the signing of Michael Kightly which has restricted him to making cameo appearances from the bench.[42] He regained his starting place in November 2012.[43] However Etherington struggled with form and fitness throughout the campaign.[44] He made 33 appearances in 2012–13 as Stoke finished in 13th position and the end of the season Tony Pulis was replaced by Mark Hughes.[45] Hughes changed the teams style of play for the 2013–14 season, and whilst Etherington stated that they have adapted well, a lack of goals is still a concern.[46] As the season progressed Etherington lost his place in the side to Oussama Assaidi,[47] and left Stoke at the end of the 2013–14 season.[48][49]

After leaving Stoke Etherington began training with Millwall and had an offer from manager, Ian Holloway to join the club.[50] He turned this down and announced his decision to retire from football in December 2014, due to a back injury which he had been carrying for some time.[51]

International career

Etherington appeared for the England Under-20 team at the 1999 FIFA U-20 World Cup, playing alongside players such as Stuart Taylor, Ashley Cole, Peter Crouch, Lee Canoville and Andy Johnson. However, the team failed to score a single goal in their three group matches, and finished bottom of their group.

Personal life

Etherington had a gambling addiction while he was at West Ham United, who paid him a £300,000 loan, after he accumulated debts in excess of £800,000. He also spent time at Tony Adams' Sporting Chance Clinic.[52] Matthew's father, Peter, has thanked Stoke City for saving his son's career and helping him to combat his gambling addiction.[53] In 2015, Etherington spoke to BBC journalist Victoria Derbyshire concerning the impact of gambling on professional footballers. His own debts caused by gambling throughout his career were reported as £1.5 million.[54] He grew up supporting Liverpool.[55]

Career statistics

As of match played 11 May 2014[56]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other[A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Peterborough United 1996–97[57] Second Division 100000–0010
1997–98[58] Third Division 200000–0020
1998–99[59] Third Division 2931010–20333
1999–2000[60] Third Division 1932010–00223
Total 51630200020586
Tottenham Hotspur 1999–2000[60] Premier League 500000––50
2000–01[61] Premier League 601010––80
2001–02[62] Premier League 1101110––131
2002–03[63] Premier League 2310020––251
Total 45121400000512
Bradford City (loan) 2001–02[62] First Division 1310000––131
Total 13100000000131
West Ham United 2003–04[64] First Division 3554030–31456
2004–05[65] Championship 3940020–30444
2005–06[66] Premier League 3327100––403
2006–07[67] Premier League 270101010–300
2007–08[68] Premier League 1832010––213
2008–09[69] Premier League 1321010––152
Total 1651615180106119518
Stoke City 2008–09[69] Premier League 1400000––140
2009–10[70] Premier League 3453111––387
2010–11[71] Premier League 3256120––406
2011–12[72] Premier League 303202060–403
2012–13[45] Premier League 3102000––330
2013–14[73] Premier League 1100010––120
Total 1521313261600017716
Career total 42637334201708149443
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League play-offs and the Football League Trophy.

Honours

West Ham United
Stoke City

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 142. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ↑ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  3. ↑ "Etherington thanks his former Falmouth PE teachers with VIP trip to Stoke City". The Falmouth Packet. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Matthew Etherington". Soccerbase. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
  5. ↑ "Etherington joins Bradford", BBC Sport, 23 October 2001. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
  6. ↑ "Bradford 4–3 Watford". BBC. 27 October 2001. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  7. ↑ "Etherington wants move", BBC Sport, 28 June 2002. Retrieved 2007.
  8. ↑ "Spurs set for Etherington talks", BBC Sport, 3 March 2003. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
  9. ↑ Corrigan, James (18 August 2002). "Everton see the light with Rooney". Everton 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2. London: The Independent. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  10. ↑ "Posh lodge Etherington complaint", BBC Sport, 7 August 2003. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
  11. ↑ "Slick Spurs thrash Bolton". BBC. 5 February 2002. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  12. ↑ "Radzinski rescues Everton". BBC. 17 August 2002. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  13. ↑ "Glenn on signing". www.whufc.com. 5 August 2003. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Hammers struffle to victory". The Telegraph. 9 August 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  15. ↑ Milledge, Andrew (17 September 2003). "Quick-fire Hammers give Brooking reason to linger". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "Norwich 1-1 West Ham United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  17. ↑ "West Ham 5-0 Wimbledon". BBC Sport. 9 March 2004. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  18. ↑ "West Ham reach final". BBC Sport. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "Crystal Palace 1-0 West Ham". BBC Sport. 29 May 2004. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  20. ↑ "West Ham 1-0 Preston". BBC Sport. 30 May 2005. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "West Ham United 4-2 Blackburn Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  22. ↑ "Liverpool 3-3 West Ham United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  23. ↑ West Ham statistics Matthew Etherington
  24. ↑ Etherington completes Stoke move
  25. ↑ McNulty, Phil (10 January 2009). "Stoke 0–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  26. ↑ Dawkes, Phil (7 February 2009). "Sunderland 2–0 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  27. ↑ "Stoke 4–3 Blackpool". BBC. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  28. ↑ "Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  29. ↑ "Matthew Etherington named Stoke's player of the year". BBC. BBC Sport. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  30. ↑ "New Four Year Deal For Etherington". Stoke City F.C. Archived from the original on 13 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  31. ↑ "West Brom 0–3 Stoke". BBC Sport. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  32. ↑ "Stoke 1–1 Man City". BBC Sport. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  33. ↑ "Rampant City Make History". Stoke City F.C. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  34. ↑ "Bolton 0 - 5 Stoke". BBC Sport. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  35. ↑ "It was the game of our lives - Stoke's Matt Etherington". BBC Sport. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  36. ↑ "Stoke's Etherington in race to make FA Cup final". BBC Sport. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  37. ↑ "Stoke winger Matthew Etherington back to full fitness". BBC Sport. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  38. ↑ "Stoke 2 - 1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  39. ↑ "My form has dipped, admits Stoke's Matthew Etherington". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  40. ↑ "Etherington Aiming For Landmark". Stoke City F.C. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  41. ↑ "Stoke 1-0 Norwich". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  42. ↑ "Matthew Etherington in line for Norwich start". The Sentinel. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  43. ↑ "Etherington poised to wing it as Kightly faces axe". The Sentinel. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  44. ↑ "Matthew Etherington and Marc Wilson could be out for season". The Sentinel. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  45. 1 2 "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  46. ↑ "Premier League: Matthew Etherington says Stoke must score goals". Sky Sports. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  47. ↑ "Matthew Etherington ready in last chance saloon against Manchester City". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  48. ↑ "Stoke City: "I'm off in the summer" says Matthew Etherington". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  49. ↑ "Stoke City: Matty Etherington ready for Britannia swansong". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  50. ↑ "Former West Ham midfielder 'thanks God' he turned down Millwall". Hereisthecity.com. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  51. ↑ "Matthew Etherington announces retirement". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  52. ↑ Armitage, Dave (9 January 2009). "Stoke take £3m punt on Matty". Daily Star. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  53. ↑ "Matt Etherington's dad hails Stoke for saving son's career". www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  54. ↑ Matthew Etherington: Many footballers are gambling addicts - BBC News
  55. ↑ Stoke City Official Matchday Magazine 29 January 2013 v Wigan Athletic
  56. ↑ "Matthew Etherington". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  57. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  58. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  59. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  60. 1 2 "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  61. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  62. 1 2 "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  63. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  64. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  69. 1 2 "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  70. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  71. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  72. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  73. ↑ "Games played by Matthew Etherington in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
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