Matthew Rees (born 2 September 1982) is a Welsh former footballer who last played for Welsh Premier League side Afan Lido. A former Wales under-21 international, he began his career with Millwall without making a first team appearance. After loan spells with Aldershot Town and Dagenham & Redbridge, he made his debut in the Football League with Swansea City in 2004, making three appearances. He has also had spells with Crawley Town, Newport County, and Carmarthen Town.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 September 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Swansea, Wales | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Afan Lido | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2004 | Millwall | 0 | (0) |
| 2003 | → Aldershot Town (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2004 | → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2004 | → Swansea City (loan) | 3 | (1) |
| 2004 | Crawley Town | 5 | (0) |
| 2004 | Newport County | 3 | (0) |
| 2004–2011 | Port Talbot Town | 193 | (12) |
| 2011–2012 | Neath | 27 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | Carmarthen Town | 26 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Afan Lido | 12 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2002–2003 | Wales U21 | 2 | (0) |
| 2003 | Wales U20 | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career edit
Rees began his career as a youth player at Millwall, turning professional in April 2000,[1] and later captained the club's reserve side. Having not made a first team appearance for the club, he was allowed to join Conference National side Aldershot Town on loan in October 2003. He made his debut for the club in a 3–1 over Halifax Town on 11 October 2003,[2] going on to make ten appearances in all competitions before being recalled from his loan spell by Millwall to cover for an injury crisis after two months.[3] In January 2004, he returned to the Conference on loan with Dagenham & Redbridge,[4] playing in just one match for the club, a 2–0 defeat to Exeter City.[5] After returning to Millwall, Rees was sent out on loan for the third time during the 2003–04 season, joining his home town club Swansea City. He made a goalscoring debut during a 2–1 defeat to Lincoln City on 10 April 2004[6] and made two more appearances before the end of the season.
Released by Millwall on his return, Rees joined Crawley Town on non-contract terms.[7] He remained with the club until November and, after a brief spell with Newport County,[1] joined Welsh Premier League side Port Talbot Town in December 2004. To date, Rees has made over 150 appearances for the club, becoming the club's all-time record Welsh Premier appearance holder in December 2009,[8] and was named Welsh Premier League player of the month for September 2006.[9]
He joined Carmarthen Town in June 2012 after the liquidation of Neath and went on to make 73 appearances for the club, scoring 1 goal.[10]
International career edit
Rees made his debut for the Wales under-21 side on 6 September 2002 as a substitute in place of Rhys Day during a 2–1 defeat to Finland.[12] He made two further appearances during the 2002–03 season, during 0–0 draw with South Korea,[13] in a game designated as an under-20 international,[14] and a 1–0 win over Azerbaijan.[15] In May 2003, despite having not made a professional appearance at club level, he was called up to the senior Wales squad for a friendly match against the United States,[16] remaining on the bench during a 2–0 defeat.
References edit
- ^ a b "Past players". Swansea City A.F.C. Archived from the original on 10 July 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Aldershot 3–1 Halifax". BBC Sport. 11 October 2003. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Lions recall Rees from Aldershot". BBC Sport. 8 December 2003. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Daggers net Rees". BBC Sport. 24 January 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Dagenham 0–2 Exeter". BBC Sport. 24 January 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Lincoln 2-1 Swansea". BBC. 10 April 2004. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
- ^ "Crawley make Rees capture". BBC Sport. 17 August 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Port Talbot Town all-time appearance records". welsh-premier.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Player of the Month". welshpremier.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Three more Eagles find a new nest". Welsh Premier League. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
- ^ "Lido Squad Finalises".
- ^ "Finland 2–1 Wales". Football Association of Wales. 6 September 2002. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Wales 0–0 Korea". Football Association of Wales. 11 February 2003. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Wales U20 vs South Korea U20". Football Association of Wales. 11 February 2003. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Wales 1–0 Azerbaijan". Football Association of Wales. 28 March 2003. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Howarth adds to Wales injury woes". BBC Sport. 20 May 2003. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
External links edit
- Matthew Rees at Soccerbase
- Welsh Premier profile
