Johnny Matthews

Johnny Matthews
Personal information
Date of birth (1946-08-27)27 August 1946
Place of birth Coventry, England
Date of death 25 December 2019(2019-12-25) (aged 73)
Position Forward
Youth career
1965 Coventry City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1979 Waterford 327 (143)
1979–1981 Limerick United 41 (6)
1981–1982 Cork United 18 (3)
1982–1983 Waterford United 11 (4)
1983–1984 Galway United 4 (0)
1985–1986 Longford Town 2 (0)
1986–1987 Newcastle West 15 (0)
International career
1970–1971 League of Ireland XI 2 (1)
Managerial career
1986–1987 Newcastle West
1989–1990 Waterford United
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Johnny Matthews (27 August 1946 – 25 December 2019)[1] was an English footballer and manager. Originally playing for Coventry City, he moved to Ireland in the 1960s and played with Waterford United for a number of years. He won several League of Ireland titles with Waterford, and one with Limerick FC. He was subsequently a manager.

Career

Matthews started his career playing with his hometown club of Coventry City.[1]

He moved to Waterford United during the 1965/66 season (at the age of 19)[2] under the impression from Jimmy Hill that it was for just a six-week loan period. Matthews played in the last seven games of the season, scoring twice and his loan period was extended. During the following season, he signed for Waterford on a permanent basis and played the next 13 seasons with the club.

In total, Matthews won 5 league medals with Waterford, and was awarded a sixth many years later after not playing enough games in his first season. He also won three runners-up medals in the FAI Cup. Matthews played in 16 European Cup matches and scored against Celtic at Parkhead[3] and against Manchester United.[4] While playing for a League of Ireland XI against an English League XI in 1971 at Lansdowne Road, Matthews scored a penalty against Gordon Banks.[5]

After also playing for Limerick FC,[5] Cork United and other League of Ireland clubs,[6] Matthews entered management with Newcastlewest FC, in 1986, while still a player.[1] He later returned to Waterford to take a managerial role.[1] He was Waterford manager during the 1989–90 League of Ireland First Division season, when the club won the First Division Title.[7]

Following his playing and managerial career, Matthews became involved in refereeing.[2] He was also involved in other sports, and captained the Munster cricket team.[2]

Matthews died in December 2019.[8] At the time of his death, the 156 goals he had scored made him the "ninth highest goal scorer in the history of the League of Ireland".[9]

Honours

As a player

As a manager

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Kinsella, Colm (26 December 2019). "Sadness at death of soccer legend Johnny Matthews". limerickleader.ie.
  2. ^ a b c "Obituary: Johnny Matthews". independent.ie. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  3. ^ "The Irish Times - Thursday, November 5, 1970 - Page 003". irishtimes.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012.
  4. ^ "The Irish Times - Thursday, September 19, 1968 - Page 003". irishtimes.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Hoops, Gypsies honoured with Buble seal of approval". independent.ie. 30 July 2008. Archived from the original on 30 December 2008.
  6. ^ "Late Waterford great Johnny Matthews broke the heart of Cork soccer teams". echolive.ie. 26 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Waterford FC legend and seven-time league winner dies aged 73". the42.ie. 25 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Waterford FC legend Johnny Matthews remembered by family and friends". wlrfm.com. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Waterford legend Johnny Matthews dies aged 73". rte.ie. 25 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
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