Matt Ritchie
Encyclopedia
Matthew Thomas "Matt" Ritchie (born 10 September 1989) is an English
football player, who currently plays as a left winger for Swindon Town
.
in a 4–1 victory over hometown club Gosport Borough
, Ritchie was taken on trial alongside fellow academy graduate Joel Ward
by Bournemouth
with a view to a loan move to help give the youngsters important first-team experience in league football. Ritchie was however kept at Portsmouth following a number of injuries to first-team midfielders. He was called up to Portsmouth's UEFA Cup
squad as a home-grown talent and presented with the squad number 36.
On the 14th April Ritchie made his debut for Portsmouth in the Premier League game at Wigan Athletic
. He played 79 minutes but was then substituted for Frédéric Piquionne
.
For the 2010-11 season
Ritchie was handed the number 5 shirt and was selected in Portsmouth's starting XI for their first match of the season at Coventry City
. However, Ritchie soon found himself out of the Portsmouth line-up and, with the club having disbanded its reserve team, manager Steve Cotterill
agreed to loan out the player for fitness reasons.
club Dagenham & Redbridge
. He made his Football League debut against Rotherham United
on the 27 September 2008, coming on as a late substitute. He scored on his first competitive start for the Daggers in a 2–0 win over Rochdale
. He scored again in his next match, a 2–0 win over Barnet
.
Daggers boss John Still
has been hugely impressed with Ritchie's initial impact at the club. Speaking after the match against Barnet, Still had to say: "He's got a terrific leap. He showed that with his goal. He's come in and done very well. [The] Nicest kid in the world. Come down from a Premier League club. No big time about him. Harry Redknapp and Paul Hart speak ever so well of him. It's a pleasure to have him. He's got a smile on his face in training and loves being here."
Still has also made it clear he wishes to extend the loan deal of Ritchie until later on in the season. Dagenham announced on 30 December that Ritchie would remain with the club until the end of the current season. His impressive performances have seen him rewarded with a new two-year deal at Portsmouth, and their young player of the Season Award.
, were on talks with Portsmouth
over a six-figure fee for his services, believed to be £100,000. On 1 September 2009, he signed on a loan deal until 31 December.
After Danny Wilson failed to secure Ritchie's services on a permanent deal during the transfer window, it was announced on 11 February 2010 that Swindon Town
signed the midfielder on loan for the remainder of the season
.
However due his parent club Portsmouth's mounting injury list, he was recalled in March and was named on the bench for their 2–0 Premier League
loss at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur
.
On 4 October Ritchie was loaned again to Swindon Town
, in a one month deal. Two weeks later the deal was extended to two months.
On the 7th January 2011 Swindon Town bought Matt Ritchie on a 2 and a half year deal for an undisclosed fee. Following his move, Ritchie has been loan spell to Swindon twice for the club.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football player, who currently plays as a left winger for Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
.
Portsmouth
Ritchie has been involved in Portsmouth's academy since he turned 13. Before-hand he was playing football locally in Gosport. After signing his first professional contract with the club, and a positive 2008–09 pre-season campaign, including a hat-trickHat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in a 4–1 victory over hometown club Gosport Borough
Gosport Borough F.C.
Gosport Borough Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Gosport, England currently playing in the Southern League Division One South and West...
, Ritchie was taken on trial alongside fellow academy graduate Joel Ward
Joel Ward (footballer)
Joel Edward Philip Ward is an English footballer who currently plays for Football League Championship club Portsmouth. He is naturally a centre back, but has made his breakthrough into the first team as both right back and defensive midfielder.-Portsmouth:Ward started his footballing career with...
by Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
with a view to a loan move to help give the youngsters important first-team experience in league football. Ritchie was however kept at Portsmouth following a number of injuries to first-team midfielders. He was called up to Portsmouth's UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
squad as a home-grown talent and presented with the squad number 36.
On the 14th April Ritchie made his debut for Portsmouth in the Premier League game at Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
. He played 79 minutes but was then substituted for Frédéric Piquionne
Frédéric Piquionne
Frédéric Piquionne is a French football player who plays as a forward for West Ham United. His former clubs are Golden Star of Martinique, Nîmes Olympique, Rennes, AS Saint-Etienne, AS Monaco, Lyon and Portsmouth...
.
For the 2010-11 season
2010–11 Football League
The Football League 2010–11, called the Npower Football League, was the 111th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2010 and concluded in May 2011, with the promotion play-off finals....
Ritchie was handed the number 5 shirt and was selected in Portsmouth's starting XI for their first match of the season at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. However, Ritchie soon found himself out of the Portsmouth line-up and, with the club having disbanded its reserve team, manager Steve Cotterill
Steve Cotterill
Stephen "Steve" Cotterill is an English former footballer who is manager of Nottingham Forest.-Playing career:...
agreed to loan out the player for fitness reasons.
Loan to Dagenham & Redbridge
Ritchie played reserve and academy football at Pompey until late September and continued to impress until he was taken on a one-month loan deal by League TwoFootball League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
. He made his Football League debut against Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
on the 27 September 2008, coming on as a late substitute. He scored on his first competitive start for the Daggers in a 2–0 win over Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
. He scored again in his next match, a 2–0 win over Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
.
Daggers boss John Still
John Still (footballer)
John Leonard Still is an English former footballer and current football club manager. He is currently in charge at Dagenham & Redbridge...
has been hugely impressed with Ritchie's initial impact at the club. Speaking after the match against Barnet, Still had to say: "He's got a terrific leap. He showed that with his goal. He's come in and done very well. [The] Nicest kid in the world. Come down from a Premier League club. No big time about him. Harry Redknapp and Paul Hart speak ever so well of him. It's a pleasure to have him. He's got a smile on his face in training and loves being here."
Still has also made it clear he wishes to extend the loan deal of Ritchie until later on in the season. Dagenham announced on 30 December that Ritchie would remain with the club until the end of the current season. His impressive performances have seen him rewarded with a new two-year deal at Portsmouth, and their young player of the Season Award.
Loan to Swindon and permanent basis
On 28 July 2009, it was reported that Notts CountyNotts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, were on talks with Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
over a six-figure fee for his services, believed to be £100,000. On 1 September 2009, he signed on a loan deal until 31 December.
After Danny Wilson failed to secure Ritchie's services on a permanent deal during the transfer window, it was announced on 11 February 2010 that Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
signed the midfielder on loan for the remainder of the season
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
.
However due his parent club Portsmouth's mounting injury list, he was recalled in March and was named on the bench for their 2–0 Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
loss at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
.
On 4 October Ritchie was loaned again to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, in a one month deal. Two weeks later the deal was extended to two months.
On the 7th January 2011 Swindon Town bought Matt Ritchie on a 2 and a half year deal for an undisclosed fee. Following his move, Ritchie has been loan spell to Swindon twice for the club.
Career Statistics
- (correct as of 8 May 2011)
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | Others | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
2008-09 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham... (Loan) |
2008-09 | 37 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 12 |
| Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
2009-10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... (Loan) |
2009 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 3 |
| Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... (Loan) |
2010 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
2010-11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... (Loan) |
2010-11 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 4 |
| Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
2011 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 4 |
| Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
2011-12 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 105 | 24 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 23 | |