Matthew Rush (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Matthew James Rush is a former professional footballer. He played as a winger.
in 1988 and professional forms in March 1990. He made his debut for the first-team as a substitute in a 7–1 win over Hull City
in a Second Division match in October 1990. He made five league appearances and one in the League Cup in the 1990–91 season, and also gained two caps for the Éire Under 21 team, for whom he qualified through his Irish mother. West Ham were promoted to the First Division in 1991–92 and Rush made ten appearances, scoring two goals, both against Norwich City
in April 1992, as West Ham battled against relegation and ultimately went down into the First Division again. His only appearances in the 1992/93 season against Cosenza
and Pisa
in the Anglo-Italian Cup
in December 1992 as manager Billy Bonds
preferred experience to youth in a successful bid to get West Ham promoted again. Unable to break into the first-team, Rush joined Cambridge United
on loan in March 1993 until the end of the season, where he made ten appearances.
West Ham were promoted to the Premiership at the end of the 1992–93 season but injuries and competition for places meant that Rush made only one appearance as substitute in the first half of the 1993–94 season. Billy Bonds sent him out on loan to Swansea City in January 1994, where he helped Swansea to progress to the semi-finals of the Autoglass Trophy
. He was recalled to West Ham in March and started the final nine games of the season, scoring in the first against Ipswich Town
with a strike from 25 yards. He signed a three-year contract in the summer of 1994, turning down interest from Kevin Keegan
and Newcastle United
. He made 26 league and cup appearances in the 1994–95 season, scoring twice. At the end of the season, manager Harry Redknapp
was willing to release Rush and he joined Norwich City
in August 1995.
for five months in October 1996, where he made 13 appearances, scoring three goals. His first-team opportunities at Norwich were limited by his injury and a change of managers and he made just three appearances for Norwich before he was released in March 1997.
in April 1998 and he was forced to retire from professional football at the age of 27.
, graduated with a degree in Sports Development and took up a post at a sports college in Manchester in 2001. While studying, he played football for non-league teams Dulwich Hamlet
and Dagenham & Redbridge
, and joined Droylsden
in May 2002 as he wished to carry on playing on a part-time basis while working.
West Ham United
Rush signed apprentice forms with West HamWest Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in 1988 and professional forms in March 1990. He made his debut for the first-team as a substitute in a 7–1 win over Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
in a Second Division match in October 1990. He made five league appearances and one in the League Cup in the 1990–91 season, and also gained two caps for the Éire Under 21 team, for whom he qualified through his Irish mother. West Ham were promoted to the First Division in 1991–92 and Rush made ten appearances, scoring two goals, both against Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in April 1992, as West Ham battled against relegation and ultimately went down into the First Division again. His only appearances in the 1992/93 season against Cosenza
A.S. Cosenza Calcio
Nuova Cosenza Calcio is an Italian football club, based in Cosenza, Calabria. The team's official colours are red and blue.-Early times and Serie B:...
and Pisa
Pisa Calcio
Associazione Calcio Pisa 1909 is an Italian association football club, based in Pisa, Tuscany. The club was founded in 1909 as Pisa Sporting Club and refounded in 1994 as A.C. Pisa , after the cancellation of the old one because of economical troubles...
in the Anglo-Italian Cup
Anglo-Italian Cup
The Anglo-Italian Cup is a defunct European football competition that was played intermittently between 1970 and 1996 between clubs from England and Italy. Founded by Gigi Peronace in 1970, following the success of the Anglo-Italian League Cup, it was played as a professional tournament until 1973...
in December 1992 as manager Billy Bonds
Billy Bonds
William Arthur "Billy" Bonds MBE is a former professional footballer and manager, who is most often associated with West Ham United with whom he spent 27 years as player and manager...
preferred experience to youth in a successful bid to get West Ham promoted again. Unable to break into the first-team, Rush joined Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
on loan in March 1993 until the end of the season, where he made ten appearances.
West Ham were promoted to the Premiership at the end of the 1992–93 season but injuries and competition for places meant that Rush made only one appearance as substitute in the first half of the 1993–94 season. Billy Bonds sent him out on loan to Swansea City in January 1994, where he helped Swansea to progress to the semi-finals of the Autoglass Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
. He was recalled to West Ham in March and started the final nine games of the season, scoring in the first against Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
with a strike from 25 yards. He signed a three-year contract in the summer of 1994, turning down interest from Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
and Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. He made 26 league and cup appearances in the 1994–95 season, scoring twice. At the end of the season, manager Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
was willing to release Rush and he joined Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in August 1995.
Norwich City
Rush joined Norwich City in August 1995 for a fee of £350,000. Three days later, he badly ruptured his knee on his debut against Sunderland. He was loaned out to NorthamptonNorthampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
for five months in October 1996, where he made 13 appearances, scoring three goals. His first-team opportunities at Norwich were limited by his injury and a change of managers and he made just three appearances for Norwich before he was released in March 1997.
Oldham Athletic
Rush joined Oldham in March 1997 for a fee of £165,000. He made 30 league and cup appearances for Oldham until he sustained cruciate ligament injuries in a match against CarlisleCarlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
in April 1998 and he was forced to retire from professional football at the age of 27.
Later career
Rush enrolled on a sports science course at the UELUniversity of East London
The University of East London is a university located in the London Borough of Newham, East London, England, based at two campuses in Stratford and Docklands areas...
, graduated with a degree in Sports Development and took up a post at a sports college in Manchester in 2001. While studying, he played football for non-league teams Dulwich Hamlet
Dulwich Hamlet F.C.
Dulwich Hamlet Football Club is an English football club who play at Champion Hill stadium in Dulwich, in the London Borough of Southwark. Formed in 1893, they joined the Isthmian League a few years later, winning it a total of 4 times, between 1920 and 1949, and wear a famous pink and blue...
and 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...
, and joined Droylsden
Droylsden F.C.
Droylsden F.C. is an English football club based in Droylsden, near Manchester. As of the 2011–12 season, they play in the Conference North.-History:...
in May 2002 as he wished to carry on playing on a part-time basis while working.