*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Matt Stock
Appearances: 4 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 20th January 1960
Position: Striker / Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1994/95
Season of last appearance: 1994/95
Also played for: Charlton Athletic (0), Maidstone United, Sheppey United, Sittingbourne, Hastings United, Chelmsford City, Folkestone, Gravesend & Northfleet, Dover Athletic, Durban City (South Africa), Hastings Town, Ashford Town, Crawley Town, Faversham Town and Chatham Town
Nomadic flamboyant attacking player born on the Isle of Sheppey who started his career with Charlton, signing associated schoolboy forms for the Addicks on 16.10.74 aged just 14. Matt played for Charlton's 'Colts' side during the 1975/76 and 1976/77 seasons before linking up with Maidstone in the summer of 1977.
He progressed through the Stones' youth and reserve sides to the first team squad and then joined Sheppey for the start of the 1978/79 campaign.
Matt moved on to Sittingbourne at the start of 1979 before signing for Hastings United in the summer of 1979.
Matt settled down with the Sussex club although he managed to miss a 1979/80 FA Trophy 1st Round tie at Frome as he overslept. There were rumoured to be 19 Football League clubs trailing him during that season but no offers were ever made to Hastings.
Towards the end of the 1982/83 campaign Matt linked up with Chelmsford and he then went back to Sheppey where he scored seven goals during 1983/84.
He started the 1984/85 season with Folkestone but only made five appearances there before going to play in Australia. Matt returned to England later in 1984/85 and played nine games for Maidstone without scoring.
He then left the UK once more and played in Finland before joining Gravesend & Northfleet for the 1985/86 campaign where he teamed up with his former Sheppey and Hastings striker partner Ernie Batten once again. When Gravesend won 2-0 in a Kent Senior Cup tie at Thanet United on 5.11.85 the Isle of Thanet Gazette called Batten and Matt a "talented double act who have delighted southern soccer audiences over many years" and said Matt "was the perfect 'feed' for ace sharpshooter Ernie Batten". He scored once in 15 appearances for the Fleet before moving on to Dover before the end of 1985.
Matt then had a spell back at Sheppey before going to South Africa to play for Durban City.
He returned to the UK during the early part of the 1986/87 season and joined Hastings Town. Matt scored twice in their 3-1 win over Thanet at Hartsdown Park on 7.2.87.
He started the 1987/88 campaign back at Sheppey and then had a spell with Ashford before moving on to Crawley. Matt made seven appearances for the Sussex club without scoring and then returned to Durban towards the end of the season.
By early 1989 Matt was playing for Sheppey again and in the summer of 1989 he rejoined Hastings. He stayed there until going back to Durban in the early months of 1990.
In November 1990 Matt returned to Ashford but after only a month there he linked up with Sheppey yet again, by that time his old sidekick Ernie Batten was the Islanders' manager.
At the start of January 1992 Matt signed for Sittingbourne and he was sent off in a 3-2 home defeat against Erith & Belvedere later that month.
He linked up with Faversham for the start of the 1993/94 campaign but in January 1994 Matt returned to Sittingbourne. At the start of the 1994/95 season the Brickies' manager John Ryan wrote a 'pen picture' of Matt and said "If he had Andy Blondrage's attitude 'Stocky' would have played for England. Turned down Spurs as a kid and was stopped from playing for Malcolm Allison at Manchester City by Hastings United refusing a £30,000 bid. Wonderful skills on the ball, he tells me he is also the best tackler at the club. A professional tennis coach, Matt has wasted a great talent for football and if he keeps playing with his shirt out I shall have to sack him !"
At the start of November 1994 Matt signed for Margate aged 34 and made his debut in a 2-0 defeat against Salisbury at Hartsdown Park on 5.11.94. The Thanet Times said he "showed some deft touches in midfield". The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he "produced magical moments in spasms" in his next outing - a 1-0 home win over Sittingbourne on 8.11.94 - and Matt played twice more in midfield before leaving Margate by mutual consent after a 1-0 win over Yate at Hartsdown on 19.11.94. Manager Bill Roffey told the Gazette "It simply did not work out but I wish him luck wherever he goes".
Matt went back to Sittingbourne after leaving Margate and stayed with the club until moving on to Chatham a few weeks into the 1996/97 campaign. He retired from senior football at the end of that season.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1994/95 (MFC) |
4 (55) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (13TH OF 22) |
3QR |
1QR |
3R |
2R |