ALF MATTHEWS

Full Name: Alfred William 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, and a talented schoolboy footballer, he played for Parson Street School in the city, and later Parson Street Old Boys, from where he was signed as an amateur by Bristol City in 1921. He played regularly for the Robins' reserve side, helping City's second string with the Western League title in 1920-21 before they moved into the Southern League. He also won a Gloucestershire County cap but made just a single first team appearance for City.

Developing into a speedy outside-right, he then embarked on a decade of sterling service to two south west clubs. Moving first to Exeter City in 1922, he played 138 games in three years, scoring 13 goals, most of which were penalties. At one stage he played in 117 consecutive games for City, such was his reliability.

He then made the short move to Argyle, signed by Bob Jack for £750 as a foil to Sammy Black on the left, he would go on to spend eight seasons at the club. He was a regular for the first four seasons and, though used sparsely in the last four seasons, in total made almost 150 appearances and scored 32 times. Like his time at City, he was reliable, having a spell of 71 consecutive games for Argyle, with Jack Cock in particular, but many team-mates, benefitting from his crosses.

Matthews scored five goals in the run-in to the 1925-26 season end as Argyle finished Division Three (South) runners-up when only the Champions were promoted). In his first full season he was an ever-present as Argyle once again finished runners-up, remarkably, for the sixth consecutive season. After third and fourth place finishes in the next two seasons, Matthews lost his regular place to Tommy Grozier, in September 1929, after a knock to the knee against Brentford in the third game of the 1929-30 season. He only played six league games as Argyle finally won the Third Division (South) Championship. He made only six and five league appearances respectively in the next two seasons, finding it difficult to break back into the team for a concerted run.

After just seven league starts in his eighth and final season, 1932-33, he left for Doncaster Rovers in 1933, but not before he had been rewarded with a Benefit Match between Argyle and his previous club, Exeter City. The match was played on 1st May 1933, with newly-crowned champions Argyle, captained for the day by Matthews and triumphing 5-0 in front of approximately 3,000. Gate receipts of £125 7s 6d were collected for Matthews (equating to around £3,500 in 2026). Scorers for Argyle were Eugene Melaniphy with two, Jack Leslie and Sammy Black and an own-goal by City's Jimmy Gray, who deflected in a Tony Bird shot.

Having played eight games, scoring once, for Doncaster Rovers in 1933-34, he left and ended his career with a spell at Crystal Palace, in 1934-35 but did not make a first team appearance for the club before retiring from professional football.

He returned to live and work in Plymouth. Having combined playing for Argyle in the 1920s and 1930s with working in Devonport Dockyard (it was not uncommon for players then to have a second income outside of the game), it's possible he returned to work there. Matthews was also fan of playing bowls and was a member of Yelverton Golf Club, maintaining his affection for Argyle, and following the club's fortunes with interest.

Alf passed away in Plymouth in February 1985, aged 83 years old.