Matty Blair

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For the NFL player, see Matt Blair.

Matty Blair
Blair with the parade that followed York City's victory in the 2012 Conference Premier play-off final
Personal information
Full name Matthew James Blair[1]
Date of birth (1989-06-21) 21 June 1989 (age 34)[2]
Place of birth Warwick, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[3]
Position(s) Right back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Racing Club Warwick
2008–2009 Stratford Town 40 (7)
2009 Bedworth United 9 (2)
2009–2010 Redditch United 15 (2)
2010
A.F.C. Telford United
 7 (1)
2010–2011 Kidderminster Harriers 43 (11)
2011–2013 York City 85 (16)
2013–2015 Fleetwood Town 32 (3)
2014 → Northampton Town (loan) 3 (1)
2014 → Cambridge United (loan) 2 (0)
2015–2016 Mansfield Town 35 (2)
2016–2020 Doncaster Rovers 139 (8)
2020–2022 Cheltenham Town 50 (3)
International career
2011–2012 England C 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:59, 12 September 2021 (UTC)

Matthew James Blair (born 21 June 1989) is a former English professional footballer who last played as a right back for club Cheltenham Town.

Blair started his career with

2012 FA Trophy Final and 2012 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley Stadium, and his winning goal in the latter saw York promoted into League Two. After one season with York in League Two, Blair signed for divisional rivals Fleetwood Town
in 2013 and was released in January 2015.

Club career

Early career

Born in Warwick, Warwickshire,[4] Blair started his career in the Midland Football Alliance with his hometown club, Racing Club Warwick, in the 2007–08 season.[5] He signed for Stratford Town of the Midland Football Alliance on 7 July 2008.[6] After signing, manager Micky Moore said of Blair: "He had an excellent season with Racing Club Warwick and I feel coming to Stratford and its environment will make him a better player".[6] He finished 2008–09 with seven goals in 40 league appearances for Stratford.[5]

Blair signed for

A.F.C. Telford United on 19 March 2010.[5][10] He finished 2009–10 with one goal in seven appearances for Telford.[5]

Kidderminster Harriers

Blair signed for

Conference Premier club Kidderminster Harriers on 9 August 2010 on non-contract terms following a trial.[11] He made his debut on 14 August 2010 as a 75th-minute substitute in Kidderminster's 2010–11 opening day 2–1 victory away to York City.[12][13] His first goal for the club came after scoring with a low shot in the 75th minute of a 2–1 win at home to Gateshead on 5 October 2010.[12][14] In the following match, Blair scored twice as Kidderminster beat Grimsby Town 3–2 on 10 October 2010.[12] Blair signed a contract until the end of 2010–11 on 18 October 2010.[15] His first hat-trick for Kidderminster came after scoring all three of their goals in a 3–3 draw away to Grimsby on 9 April 2011, including an 83rd-minute equaliser after latching onto a loose ball in the penalty area.[12][16] He finished the season with 11 goals in 45 appearances for Kidderminster.[12]

York City

Blair playing for York City in 2011

After turning down a new contract with Kidderminster, Blair signed for Conference Premier rivals York City on 1 June 2011 on a two-year contract.

cross.[21] York progressed to the final with a 2–1 aggregate victory.[21]

With a 111th-minute header from a

James Meredith.[26]

Blair playing for York City in 2012

Blair came on as a 78th-minute substitute in York's

Football League Trophy first round Northern section.[27] He finished the season with seven goals in 49 appearances.[27]

Fleetwood Town

Following discussions with York manager Nigel Worthington, Blair expressed his desire to look for another club, and was in talks with newly relegated League Two club Portsmouth before asking for more time to consider the move.[30][31] However, he signed for League Two rivals Fleetwood Town on a two-year contract on 13 May 2013.[32]

Blair joined fellow League Two club Northampton Town on 10 January 2014 on a one-month loan.[33] He made his debut the following day in a 2–0 home defeat to former club York, before scoring a 76th-minute equaliser for Northampton in their 1–1 away draw with Cheltenham Town on 1 February 2014.[34] His loan was ended on 5 February 2014, three days ahead of when it was due to expire, having made three appearances and scored one goal for Northampton.[34][35] Blair scored the only goal in the play-off semi-final against his former club York, and started for Fleetwood in their 1–0 win over Burton Albion in the 2014 League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 26 May.[34] This result meant they were promoted into League One for the first time in their history.[36] He finished 2013–14 with 33 appearances and five goals for Fleetwood.[34]

On 17 November 2014, Blair joined League Two club Cambridge United on loan until January 2015.[37]

Mansfield Town

Blair signed for League Two club Mansfield Town on a contract until the end of 2014–15 on 14 January 2015 after leaving Fleetwood by mutual consent.[38]

Doncaster Rovers

Blair rejected a new contract with Mansfield to sign for newly relegated League Two club Doncaster Rovers on 24 May 2016 on a two-year contract.[39] He made 48 appearances and scored 3 goals in 2016–17[40] as Doncaster were promoted to League One after finishing third in League Two.[41]

He was named as PFA League One Community Player of the Year in both seasons 2017–18[42] and 2018–19.[43] In April 2019, Blair was also named as Community Champion by the PFA for the 2018–19 season in recognition of all his community services.[44]

Cheltenham Town

Blair rejected a new contract offered by Doncaster, and was signed by Cheltenham Town at the beginning of September 2020 on a one year contract.[45] He made his debut for the club on 8 September 2020 in an EFL Trophy group stage away win over Newport County.[46]

On 12 September 2022, Blair announced his retirement from football due to injury.[47]

International career

Blair made his

2011–13 International Challenge Trophy on 28 February 2012.[49][50]

Personal life

Blair is the son of former professional footballer Andy Blair.[7] His sister-in-law is actress Holly Matthews, who was married to his brother Ross up until his death from a brain tumour.[51][52]

Career statistics

As of match played 8 May 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stratford Town 2008–09[5] Midland Football Alliance 40 7 — 40 7
Bedworth United 2009–10[5][8] Southern League Division
One Central 		9 2 6 2 — 1[a] 0 16 4
Redditch United 2009–10[5]
Conference North
 15 2 — — — 15 2
A.F.C. Telford United
 2009–10[5] Conference North 7 1 — — — 7 1
Kidderminster Harriers 2010–11[12]
Conference Premier
 43 11 1 0 — 1[a] 0 45 11
York City 2011–12[19] Conference Premier 41 10 1 0 — 10[b] 10 52 20
2012–13[27] League Two 44 6 2 0 1 0 2[c] 1 49 7
Total 85 16 3 0 1 0 12 11 101 27
Fleetwood Town 2013–14[34] League Two 24 3 2 0 1 0 6[d] 2 33 5
2014–15[53] League One 8 0 0 0 1 0 1[c] 0 10 0
Total 32 3 2 0 2 0 7 2 43 5
Northampton Town (loan) 2013–14[34] League Two 3 1 — — — 3 1
Cambridge United (loan) 2014–15[53] League Two 2 0 2 0 — — 4 0
Mansfield Town 2014–15[54] League Two 3 0 — — — 3 0
2015–16[54] League Two 32 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 34 2
Total 35 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 37 2
Doncaster Rovers 2016–17[40] League Two 45 3 1 0 1 0 1[e] 0 48 3
2017–18[55] League One 40 2 3 0 2 0 1[e] 0 46 2
2018–19[56] League One 42 3 6 1 2 0 4[f] 1 54 5
2019–20[57] League One 12 0 0 0 1 0 1[e] 0 14 0
Total 139 8 10 1 6 0 7 1 162 10
Cheltenham Town
2020–21[58]
 League Two 44 2 4 0 1 0 3[c] 0 52 2
Career total 454 55 30 3 10 0 31 14 525 72
  1. ^ a b Appearance in FA Trophy
  2. Conference Premier play-offs
  3. ^
    Football League Trophy
  4. ^ Three appearances and one goal in Football League Trophy, three appearances and one goal in League Two play-offs
  5. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  6. ^ Two appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances and one goal in League One play-offs

Honours

York City

Fleetwood Town

Doncaster Rovers

Cheltenham Town

Individual

References

  1. ^ "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Matty Blair: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Matty Blair". Doncaster Rovers F.C. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Matty Blair". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Player profiles: Matty Blair". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Moore signs trio". Non-League Daily. Baltic Publications. 7 July 2008. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Three new Greenbacks". Non-League Daily. Baltic Publications. 3 June 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013.
  8. ^ a b For FA Cup preliminary round: "Leek Town 2–3 Bedworth United". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
    For FA Cup first qualifying round: "Bedworth keep it clean in cup draw". Nuneaton News. 14 September 2009. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
    For FA Cup first qualifying round replay: "Greenbacks make it count at home". Coventry Telegraph. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2018 – via TheFreeLibrary.com.
    For FA Cup second qualifying round: "Ugly scenes marr Bedworth win". Nuneaton News. 28 September 2009. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
    For FA Cup third qualifying round: "Coventry Sphinx 0 Bedworth United 1". Coventry Telegraph. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
    For FA Cup fourth qualifying round: Carroll, Steve (26 October 2009). "York City 2, Bedworth 0 – FA Cup fourth qualifying round". The Press. York. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
    For FA Trophy preliminary round: "Mossley go nap on Greenbacks". Mossley A.F.C. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  9. ^ Jenkins, Paul (25 November 2009). "Matt signs for Reds". Redditch Advertiser. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  10. ^ "Telford bring in Blair". Non-League Daily. Baltic Publications. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Kidderminster Harriers sign winger Matty Blair". BBC Sport. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  12. ^
    ISBN 978-1-869833-70-1
    .
  13. ^ "York 1–2 Kidderminster". BBC Sport. 14 August 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  14. ^ "Kidderminster Harriers 2–1 Gateshead". BBC Sport. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Kidderminster Harriers sign winger Matty Blair". BBC Sport. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  16. ^ Wall, Matt (9 April 2011). "Full time: Grimsby 3–3 Harriers". Kidderminster Harriers F.C. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016.
  17. ^ "Winger Matty Blair moves to York City". BBC Sport. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  18. ^ "Kidderminster Harriers sign midfielder James Vincent". BBC Sport. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  19. ^
    ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0
    .
  20. ^ Flett, Dave (17 August 2011). "Match report: York City 3, Barrow 1". The Press. York. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  21. ^ a b Flett, Dave (19 March 2012). "Match report: Luton Town 1, York City 1 – FA Trophy semi-final, second leg". The Press. York. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  22. ^ Phillips, Owen (7 May 2012). "Mansfield 0–1 York". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  23. ^ a b Flett, Dave (14 May 2012). "Match report: Newport County 0, York City 2 – FA Trophy final". The Press. York. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  24. ^ a b c d Flett, Dave (21 May 2012). "Match report: York City 2, Luton Town 1 – Play-off final". The Press. York. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  25. ^ Flett, Dave (25 May 2012). "Season review: York City's class of 2011/12". The Press. York. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  26. ^ a b "York duo in team of year". Vital York. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  27. ^ a b c d e "Games played by Matty Blair in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  28. ^ "Doncaster 1–1 York". BBC Sport. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  29. ^ "York 1–3 Wycombe". BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  30. ^ Flett, Dave (30 April 2013). "Jason Walker released by York City, Matty Blair poised to follow". The Press. York. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  31. ^ Allen, Neil (13 May 2013). "Blair chooses Fleetwood". The News. Portsmouth. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  32. ^ Stocks, Rob (13 May 2013). "Fleetwood Town make Blair first signing". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  33. ^ "Northampton release Clive Platt, sign Matty Blair and Sean McGinty". BBC Sport. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  34. ^ a b c d e f "Games played by Matty Blair in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  35. ^ Willsher, Gareth (5 February 2014). "Loan players depart". Northampton Town F.C. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  36. ^ a b Maiden, Phil (26 May 2014). "Burton 0–1 Fleetwood". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  37. ^ "Matty Blair joins Cambridge United on loan from Fleetwood Town". BBC Sport. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  38. ^ "Matty Blair: Mansfield sign ex-Fleetwood winger". BBC Sport. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  39. ^ "Doncaster Rovers sign winger Matty Blair". South Yorkshire Times. Doncaster. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  40. ^ a b "Games played by Matty Blair in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  41. ^ "League Two: 2016/17: Latest table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  42. ^ "Blair named PFA League One Community Player of the Year". Doncaster Rovers F.C. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  43. ^ "2019 EFL Awards: Divisional winners announced". English Football League. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  44. ^ "Matty Blair named PFA Community Champion". Club Doncaster Foundation. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  45. ^ "Former Doncaster Rovers, Mansfield Town, Fleetwood Town and York City winger joins Cheltenham Town". Gloucestershire Live. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  46. ^ "Newport 0 Cheltenham 1: Exiles downed in EFL Trophy opener". South Wales Argus. 8 September 2020.
  47. ^ "Matty Blair announces his retirement". Cheltenham Town. 12 September 2022.
  48. ^ Phillips, Matt (19 May 2011). "Lions lose out to single goal". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 22 August 2012.
  49. ^ Appleby, Mike (28 February 2012). "England held by Italy". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013.
  50. ^ Williams; Williams (eds.). Non-League Club Directory 2013. pp. 1003, 1005, 1006.
  51. ^ "Son of ex-Aston Villa ace Andy Blair makes charity gesture after meningitis scare". Birmingham Mail. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  52. ^ Evans, Sophie; Siddle, John; Stacey, Alison (1 August 2017). "Husband of TV actress dies after wife shared heartbreaking Facebook post as he lay dying in hospice". Daily Mirror. London. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  53. ^ a b "Games played by Matty Blair in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  54. ^ a b "Games played by Matty Blair in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  55. ^ "Games played by Matty Blair in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  56. ^ "Games played by Matty Blair in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  57. ^ "Games played by Matty Blair in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  58. ^ "Games played by Matty Blair in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  59. ISBN 978-1-4722-3397-4
    .
  60. ^ "Cheltenham 4–1 Harrogate: Michael Duff's Robins clinch League Two title in style". Sky Sports. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2022.

External links

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