Matt Wicks

Matthew Jonathan Wicks (born 8 September 1978) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Matt Wicks
Personal information
Full name Matthew Jonathan Wicks[1]
Date of birth (1978-09-08) 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

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

Wicks was captain of the England national under-17 football team.[14]

Honours
Peterborough United

Personal life

Wicks is the son of fellow footballer Steve Wicks[14] and grandson of former Chelsea F.C. chairman Brian Mears.

References
  1. "Matt Wicks". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2002). Rothmans Football Yearbook: 2002–03. London: Headline. p. 480. ISBN 978-0-7553-1099-9.
  3. Nick Harris (8 January 1999). "Football: New faces for 1999 – County play for high stakes over Pennant". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  4. "Former Arsenal trainees, from about 1994". Arseweb. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  5. "ARSENAL : 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  6. "MANCHESTER UNITED : 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  7. "CREWE ALEXANDRA : 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  8. "PETERBOROUGH UNITED : 1960/61 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  9. "Brighton clinch Wicks deal". BBC Sport. 13 October 2000. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  10. "BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION : 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  11. "HULL CITY : 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  12. "Career Statistics – Matthew Wicks". On Cloud Seven. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  13. "Wicks leaves Tigers". BBC Sport. 26 July 2002. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  14. "Matthew Wicks". Up The Posh!. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  15. Haylett, Trevor (27 May 2000). "Fry high as Clarke lifts Posh". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
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