Matt Piper
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Matthew James Piper | ||
Date of birth | 29 September 1981 | ||
Place of birth | Leicester, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Youth career | |||
Leicester City | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2000–2002 | Leicester City | 27 | (1) |
2001–2002 | → Mansfield Town (loan) | 12 | (2) |
2002–2006 | Sunderland | 38 | (0) |
2008 | Anstey Nomads | 3 | (3) |
2011–2012 |
Oadby Town | 35 | (15) |
Total | 115 | (21) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Matthew James Piper (born 29 September 1981) is an English former professional footballer and current coach, who played as a winger.
Career
Piper came through the youth ranks of hometown club Leicester City. After signing a professional contract in 2000, he made his first team debut in the League Cup on 9 October 2001, playing the whole of a 6–0 home defeat to Leeds United. After another appearance in a 4–1 league defeat to Liverpool, he was loaned to Mansfield Town, for whom he played eight times. He impressed there,[1] and scored his first senior goal against Swansea City.[2] On his return in January 2002, Piper played 27 games as Leicester fought relegation from the Premier League. Although Leicester were ultimately relegated with a mere five league wins all season, Piper made his mark in the club's history by scoring the last ever competitive goal at Filbert Street on 11 May 2002, in a 2–1 win against Tottenham Hotspur.[3]
Following Sunderland's promotion to the Premiership in the
In the summer of 2007, Piper participated in pre-season training at Mansfield Town, in an attempt to rebuild his fitness. However, he decided to retire before the start of the
Piper retired at the age of 26, and has since spoken about his battles with drink and drugs as a result.[6]
References
- ^ "Piper wins praise". 28 November 2001 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Mansfield 3-0 Swansea". BBC. 1 December 2001. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ^ "Leicester's Filbert farewell". BBC Sport. 11 May 2002. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ^ "Sunderland bag Piper". 21 August 2002 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Trialist Piper decides to retire". 26 July 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Tanner, Rob. "Matt Piper turned to Valium and a litre of whisky a day..." The Athletic.
External links
- Matt Piper at Soccerbase