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ALF MATTHEWS
Born: 28 April 1901
Came from: Exeter City Went to: Doncaster Rovers
First game: 13 March 1926 Last game: 25 March 1933
Appearances: 147 (147/0) Goals: 32
Born in Bristol in 1901, Matthews was playing for Parson Street Old Boys when he was signed as an amateur by Bristol City in 1921. He played regularly for the Robins reserve side in the Southern League, and won a Gloucestershire County cap but made just a single first team appearance. However, the outside-right was then to embark on a decade of sterling service to two South West clubs. Moving to Exeter City in 1922, he played 138 games in three years, including one spell of 117 consecutive matches, a club record, and then made the short move to Argyle where he spent eight seasons, making almost 150 appearances and scoring regularly.
After being a first-choice in his first three full seasons, he lost his place to Tommy Grozier and his chances became more limited. With just seven starts in 1932-33, he left for Doncaster Rovers in 1933, where he played eight games, but not before he had been rewarded with a benefit game between Argyle and the Grecians. He ended his career with a spell at Crystal Palace, but did not make a first team appearance for the club.
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APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]
The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.
I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.
The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.
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