Matthew Kilgallon

Matthew Shaun Kilgallon (born 8 January 1984) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Matthew Kilgallon
Kilgallon playing for Bradford City in 2016
Personal information
Full name Matthew Shaun Kilgallon[1]
Date of birth (1984-01-08) 8 January 1984[2]
Place of birth York, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
York City
0000–2002 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2007 Leeds United 80 (3)
2003West Ham United (loan) 3 (0)
2007–2010 Sheffield United 107 (4)
2010–2013 Sunderland 23 (0)
2010Middlesbrough (loan) 2 (0)
2011Doncaster Rovers (loan) 12 (0)
2013–2016 Blackburn Rovers 57 (2)
2016–2018 Bradford City 49 (4)
2018–2019 Hamilton Academical 25 (0)
2019–2020 Hyderabad 17 (1)
2020–2021 Buxton 6 (0)
Total 381 (14)
International career
2002 England U18 5 (0)
2002 England U19 2 (0)
2003 England U20 4 (0)
2004–2006 England U21 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kilgallon began his career at Leeds United, where he came through the youth set up before becoming a fixture in their first team. He moved to Sheffield United where he spent three years before moving to Sunderland. He has had spells on loan at West Ham, Middlesbrough and Doncaster Rovers. He made five appearances for the England U21s.

Early life

Kilgallon was born in York, North Yorkshire[4] and was raised in the nearby village of Appleton Roebuck.[5] He attended Tadcaster Grammar School.[6]

Club career

Leeds United

Kilgallon played in York City's youth system before signing for Leeds United at the age of 12.[7] He signed schoolboy forms with the club in 1998, before being offered a three-year scholarship the following year.[8] He signed a one-year professional contract with Leeds at the end of his scholarship.[9] Kilgallon was first called up to the first team for a UEFA Cup match away to Metalurh Zaporizhya on 3 October 2002,[10] although he did not make the matchday squad.[11]

In his first season in the Championship with Leeds, he was mainly playing left-back with Paul Butler and Sean Gregan the main centre-back partnership. Kilgallon also displaced Clarke Carlisle and Michael Duberry in the pecking order. He played in their run to the 2006 Championship play-offs, helping them make the final, which Leeds lost 3–0 against Watford at the Millennium Stadium.[12]

Kilgallon was the subject of a failed bid of over £1 million from newly promoted Premier League club Reading in August 2006.[13] He played in most of Leeds's matches of the first half of the 2006–07 season, keeping experienced centre-backs Paul Butler, Sean Gregan and Hayden Foxe out of the team.

Sheffield United

Kilgallon signed for Premier League Sheffield United on 8 January 2007 for a £1.75 million fee, rising to £2 million with add-ons.[14] Despite recovering from an early injury, he did not make his debut until starting in a 1–0 loss away to Bolton Wanderers on 31 March 2007.[15]

Having been used sparingly in the Premier League,[15] Kilgallon established himself in the team in the Championship.[16] He scored his first goal for Sheffield United on 15 December 2007, with a deflected header in the 64th minute of a 1–0 home victory over local rivals Barnsley.[17] He was virtually ever-present in the team in the 2008–09 season, and was voted Sheffield United Player of the Year at the end of the season.[18]

Kilgallon started the 2009–10 season as a regular starter once more, but with his contract due to expire the following summer, discussions over a new contract with the club were unsuccessful.[19] At the turn of the year, Kilgallon announced that he intended to see out the remainder of his contract[20] and rejected the opportunity to open transfer talk with Premier League club Burnley.[21]

Sunderland

Kilgallon signed for Premier League club Sunderland on 21 January 2010 on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[22] He made his debut six days later, starting in a 2–0 loss away to Everton.[23] Kilgallon struggled to make an impact during Sunderland's winless run until a man-of-the-match performance against Hull City on 24 April 2010, his first start in months.

On 19 August 2010, Kilgallon joined Championship club Middlesbrough on loan for the 2010–11 season.[24] After a man-of-the-match performance at left-back against Sheffield United, his loan was cut short by injury. On 12 January 2011, Kilgallon joined another Championship club, Doncaster Rovers, on loan for the rest of the 2010–11 season.[25]

After his loan return from Doncaster Rovers, he was not given a squad number for the 2011–12 Premier League. However, after Steve Bruce was dismissed in November 2011, Kilgallon was given a squad number by new manager Martin O'Neill. He returned to the first-team squad as an unused substitute during Sunderland's 2–1 victory over Blackburn Rovers on 11 December 2011. On 1 January 2012, Kilgallon made his first Sunderland appearance since May 2010, coming on as a 26th-minute substitute for the injured Wes Brown against Manchester City.[26][27] Kilgallon helped keep a clean sheet as Sunderland beat the league leaders 1–0.[28] Two days later, he made his first Sunderland start since May 2010, playing alongside John O'Shea in central defence in a 4–1 away win against Wigan Athletic.[29][30] He suffered an ankle injury during a 1–0 away defeat against Chelsea on 15 January 2012[31][32] and did not reappear until 31 March, starting in an away match against Manchester City.[27] He was substituted in the 81st minute with Sunderland winning 3–1, before the team conceded twice to draw 3–3.[33]

During the 2012–13 season, Kilgallon failed to appear in the league until starting in a 0–0 home draw to Queens Park Rangers on 27 November 2012.[34] After playing in Sunderland's 3–0 loss away to Liverpool on 2 January 2013, he did not feature again in the league under Martin O'Neill, but returned to the starting line up for Paolo Di Canio's first match in charge, a 2–1 defeat away to Chelsea, in which scored an own goal.[34][35] However, this proved to be Kilgallon's last appearance and Sunderland[34] and he was released at the end of the season.[36]

Blackburn Rovers

Kilgallon signed for Championship club Blackburn Rovers on 8 July 2013 on a two-year contract.[37] He made his first start for the club in a 2–1 loss to Wigan Athletic as the captain Scott Dann was injured.[38][39] Kilgallon signed a new one-year contract at Blackburn in May 2015.[40] He was released at the end of the 2015–16 season.[41]

Bradford City

Kilgallon signed for League One club Bradford City on 1 August 2016 on a one-year contract with the option of a second year.[42] He was named Bradford City's Player of the Year for the 2017–18 season.[43]

Hamilton Academical

After his contract was cancelled by mutual consent, Kilgallon signed for Scottish club Hamilton Academical on 31 August 2018.[44] He left Hamilton in May 2019.[45][46]

Hyderabad FC

Kilgallon signed a deal with Hyderabad FC in 2019 for Indian side Hyderabad FC.[47]

In August 2020, Kilgallon joined Northern Premier League side Buxton.[48]

On 6 October 2021, Kilgallon announced his retirement from professional football.[49]

International career

Kilgallon was capped by England at under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 level.[50]

Career statistics

As of end of 2018–19 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leeds United 2002–03[51] Premier League 2000001[lower-alpha 1]030
2003–04[52] Premier League 821092
2004–05[53] Championship 2601010280
2005–06[12] Championship 25120303[lower-alpha 2]0 331
2006–07[15] Championship 1900030220
Total 803407040953
West Ham United (loan) 2003–04[52] First Division 301040
Sheffield United 2006–07[15] Premier League 6060
2007–08[16] Championship 4023030462
2008–09[54] Championship 40130303[lower-alpha 2]0491
2009–10[23] Championship 2111010231
Total 10747070301244
Sunderland 2009–10[23] Premier League 7070
2010–11[55] Premier League 000000
2011–12[27] Premier League 1001000110
2012–13[34] Premier League 60101080
Total 230201000260
Middlesbrough (loan) 2010–11[55] Championship 201030
Doncaster Rovers (loan) 2010–11[55] Championship 120120
Blackburn Rovers 2013–14[38] Championship 2511000261
2014–15[56] Championship 2215000271
2015–16[57] Championship 1000010110
Total 572601000642
Bradford City 2016–17[58] League One 7010004[lower-alpha 3]0120
2017–18[59] League One 424301000464
Total 494401040584
Hamilton Academical 2018–19[60] Scottish Premiership 2501000260
Career total 3581324019011041213
  1. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. Appearances in Championship play-offs
  3. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Individual

References

  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 236. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. "Matt Kilgallon". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  3. "M. Kilgallon: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  4. "Killa's on the way up". The Press. York. 14 November 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  5. "Killa heads out". The Press. York. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  6. Hughes, Claire (16 September 2006). "Kilgallon kicks off new pitch". The Press. York. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  7. "York-born defender Matthew Kilgallon hoping promotion with Sheffield United could pave the way to full England honours". The Press. York. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  8. "Henson try wins York team a trip to Wales". York Evening Press. 24 February 1999. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  9. "Kilgallon moves up England ladder". York Evening Press. 13 March 2002. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  10. "Matthew thrills to Meteoric rise". York Evening Press. 2 October 2002. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  11. "Barmby edges Leeds through". BBC Sport. 3 October 2002. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  12. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  13. "Leeds reject Royals Kilgallon bid". BBC Sport. 22 August 2006. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  14. "Blades sign Kilgallon from Leeds". BBC Sport. 8 January 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  15. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  16. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  17. "Sheff Utd 1–0 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 15 December 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  18. "Killa and Kyle win awards". Sheffield United F.C. 6 April 2009. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012.
  19. "Killa to go from Sheffield United". The Star. Sheffield. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  20. "Window of hope as Killa 'happy to stay'". The Star. Sheffield. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  21. "Kilgallon delay a boost for Blades". The Star. Sheffield. 15 January 2010. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  22. "Sheffield Utd's Matthew Kilgallon seals Sunderland move". BBC Sport. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  23. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  24. "Matthew Kilgallon completes Middlesbrough loan switch". BBC Sport. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  25. "Doncaster Rovers snap up defender Matthew Kilgallon". BBC Sport. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  26. Glendenning, Barry (1 January 2012). "Sunderland 1–0 Manchester City – as it happened". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  27. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  28. Magowan, Alistair (1 January 2012). "Sunderland 1–0 Man City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  29. "Team news from Lancashire". Sunderland A.F.C. 3 January 2012. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012.
  30. Vose, Stuart (3 January 2012). "Wigan Athletic 1 Sunderland 4". Sunderland A.F.C. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012.
  31. "Rowell Report: Injury just bad luck for Matt Kilgallon". Sunderland Echo. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  32. "Chelsea 1–0 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 15 January 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  33. Ornstein, David (31 March 2012). "Man City 3–3 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  34. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  35. "Di Canio's Sunderland lose out at Chelsea". Sunderland Echo. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  36. "Titus Bramble and Matt Kilgallon released by Sunderland". BBC Sport. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  37. "Blackburn Rovers sign Matt Kilgallon on free transfer". BBC Sport. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  38. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  39. "Team news from the DW Stadium". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  40. "Rovers announce retained list". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  41. "Blackburn Rovers could let eight players leave Championship club". BBC Sport. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  42. "Matt Kilgallon: Bradford City sign former Sheff Utd and Blackburn defender". BBC Sport. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  43. "Kilgallon dominates Player of the Year awards evening". Bradford City A.F.C. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  44. "Matt Kilgallon signs for Hamilton after leaving Bradford City". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  45. "Player Departures". Hamilton Academical F.C. 21 May 2019. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  46. "Hamilton: Eight players leave after safety secured". BBC Sport. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  47. "ISL 2019-20: Hyderabad FC set to sign English defender Matthew Kilgallon".
  48. "Ex-Premier League defender Kilgallon joins Buxton". nonleaguedaily.com. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  49. "Ex-Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers man Matthew Kilgallon announces retirement". the72.co.uk. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  50. "Matt Kilgallon". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  51. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  52. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  53. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  54. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  55. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  56. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  57. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  58. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  59. "Games played by Matt Kilgallon in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  60. "Games played by Matthew Kilgallon in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
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