John Matthews initially joined the club as an apprentice and signed
professionally in August 1973. One year later he made his full debut for
Arsenal in a 1-0 win at Leicester City on the opening day of the
1974/75 season. He soon proved his extreme versatility, for his first
three games were in three different positions - right back, centre-half,
and midfield. Although most of his twenty-six league and cup
appearances were made in midfield he still continued to deputise, when
necessary, for all the positions across the back line. While it was a
disappointing season in the league for the club, finishing sixteenth,
John contributed to the one high spot by scoring his first goal in a 3-0
FA Cup fourth round replay win against Coventry City as the Londoners
had a run to the quarter-finals.
It had been an encouraging first
season, but one unfortunately he wasn't able to build on. As Arsenal
fought a season long battle against relegation in 1975/76, Matthews made
only one appearance, and that as a substitute in a 1-3 defeat at
Birmingham City. However, during the summer of 1976 Terry Neil became
manager and John, along with a number of other youngsters, saw an
opportunity to re-establish himself. Although he didn't figure early on,
by autumn he had forced his way back into the side. John played
centre-half in a 1-4 defeat at Leicester City, but then was moved back
to his favourite midfield position, scoring in a 1-2 defeat at Leeds
United.
After a period out of the side he came back in late winter and
appeared regularly from then on, making nineteen league and cup
appearances in all and scoring another goal in a 2-0 win at Newcastle
United. Disappointingly, as in 1975/76, after a season of heavy
involvement, John found himself once more a peripheral squad player and
figured in only seven league games, four of those as Arsenal protected
senior players before the 1978 Cup Final. Matthews did however manage a
two goal haul in a 5-1 League Cup win over Hull City. It had been the
Gunners' best season for years - fifth in the league, FA Cup finalists,
and League Cup semi-finalists, but as the club moved on he realised his
opportunities would become ever more limited. Consequently, in the
summer of 1978, after four seasons, he moved to Sheffield United for a
nominal fee. (David Fensome) |
SENIOR FOOTBALL CAREER.
Years Team Games Goals
1973–1978 Arsenal 45 (2)
1978–1982 Sheffield United 103 (14)
1982–1984 Mansfield Town 72 (6)
1984–1985 Chesterfield 38 (1)
1985–1989 Plymouth Argyle 135 (4)
1989–1990 Torquay United 25 (0)
1990–1991 Dorchester Town 3 (0)
John also ran his own office furniture company in the Plymouth area.