Matt Preston (footballer)

Matt Preston
Personal information
Full name Matthew Eric Preston[1]
Date of birth (1995-03-16) 16 March 1995 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Hereford
Number 5
Youth career
–2014 Walsall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Walsall 41 (3)
2014 → ÍBV (loan) 0 (0)
2014 → Barwell (loan) 12 (1)
2017–2018 Swindon Town 21 (2)
2018–2020 Mansfield Town 61 (4)
2020–2021 Barnet 15 (0)
2021–2023 Solihull Moors 7 (0)
2022 → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 6 (0)
2023 → Brackley Town (loan) 9 (0)
2023–2024 Kidderminster Harriers 18 (1)
2024– Hereford 18 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:39, 18 December 2024 (UTC)

Matthew Eric Preston (born 16 March 1995) is an English footballer who plays as a centre-back for National League North club Hereford.

Career

Walsall

Preston was captain of the Walsall youth team when he signed an 18-month professional contract with Walsall in January 2013.[3]

In January 2014 he joined up with Icelandic side ÍBV—managed by former Walsall player Sigurður Ragnar Eyjólfsson—on loan.[4] He played in a 2–1 loss against Stjarnan in a pre-season tournament, but was not taken on by ÍBV and subsequently returned to Walsall.[5] After his brief spell in Iceland, Preston spent two-months on loan at Northern Premier League side Barwell making twelve appearances and scoring one goal.[6][7] He made his debut for the "Saddlers" in the Football League on 10 February 2015, coming on for Michael Cain 89 minutes into a 3–2 victory over Rochdale at the Bescot Stadium.[8]

Preston's contract with Walsall expired at the end of the 2016–17 season.[9]

Swindon Town

Following his release from Walsall, Preston joined Swindon Town in September 2017, on a deal until the end of the campaign.[10]

On 30 September 2017, he made his Swindon debut during their 2–0 home victory against Cambridge United, featuring for the entire 90 minutes.[11] A week later, Preston scored his first Swindon goal during their 2–1 away defeat against Cheltenham Town, netting the Robins' equaliser in the 53rd minute.[12] On 31 October 2017, he went onto score the winner in Swindon's EFL Trophy tie against Wycombe Wanderers, netting in the 88th minute.[13] During Swindon's 1–0 victory over Mansfield Town, Preston suffered a serious knee injury ruling him out for the remainder of the 2017–18 campaign.[14]

Mansfield Town

On 29 May 2018, Preston reunited with former manager, David Flitcroft at Mansfield Town[15] after rejecting a new three-year deal at Swindon.[16] He was released by Mansfield at the end of the 2019–20 season.[17]

Barnet

Preston signed for Barnet on 1 October 2020.[18] He left the club by mutual consent in July 2021 after 16 appearances.[19]

Solihull Moors

Preston joined Solihull Moors on a two-year deal on 20 July 2021.[20]

Kidderminster Harriers (loan)

In January 2022, Preston joined National League North side Kidderminster Harriers on a two-month loan deal.

On 5 February 2022, he played in the Harriers' 4th round FA Cup tie against Premier League side West Ham United, where he was awarded the BBC Man of the Match award by pundit Dion Dublin.

Preston's loan spell was cut short on 19 February 2022, after receiving a serious ankle injury from a tackle against Alfreton Town. The match itself ended up being abandoned due to the injury.

Brackley Town (loan)

On 21 March 2023, Preston joined National League North side Brackley Town to help with the promotion run. He helped Brackley Town all the way to the final before losing out to former side Kidderminster Harriers.[21]

Kidderminster Harriers

Following his release from Solihull Moors, Preston began training with former side Kidderminster Harriers before penning a deal for the season ahead on 21 July 2023.[22] He was released by Kidderminster at the end of his contract after the club's relegation from the National League.[23]

Hereford

On 11 July 2024, Preston signed for Harriers' divisional and local rivals Hereford.[24]

Career statistics

As of match played 17 December 2024
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Walsall 2014–15[25] League One 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2015–16[26] League One 10 2 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 13 2
2016–17[27] League One 30 1 1 0 1 0 4[a] 0 36 1
Total 41 3 2 0 2 0 5 0 50 3
Barwell (loan) 2013–14[28] Northern Premier League 12 1 0 0 — 0 0 12 1
Swindon Town 2017–18[29] League Two 21 2 2 0 0 0 3[a] 1 26 3
Mansfield Town 2018–19 League Two 39 3 2 0 0 0 4 0 45 3
2019–20 League Two 22 1 2 0 0 0 3 0 27 1
Total 61 4 4 0 0 0 7 0 72 4
Barnet 2020–21 National League 15 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
Solihull Moors 2021–22 National League 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
2022–23 National League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 2021–22 National League North 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Brackley Town (loan) 2022–23 National League North 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
Kidderminster Harriers 2023–24 National League 18 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 19 1
Hereford 2024–25[30] National League North 18 1 3 0 — 1[b] 0 22 1
Career total 208 12 14 0 2 0 16 1 237 10
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance in FA Trophy

References

  1. ^ "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 62. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Matt Preston". 11v11. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Matt Preston surprised to sign pro deal at Walsall FC". Express & Star. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  4. ^ Magnús Már Einarsson (8 January 2014). "Þrír frá Walsall með ÍBV í Fótbolta.net mótinu" [Three from Walsall with ÍBV in Fótbolti.net tournament] (in Icelandic). Fótbolti.net. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  5. ^ Hafliði Breiðfjörð (11 January 2014). "Siggi Raggi: Möguleiki að skoða fleiri leikmenn Walsall" [Siggi Raggi: A possibility of taking a look at more Walsall players] (in Icelandic). Fótbolti.net. Retrieved 1 June 2014.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ Poole, Andrew (20 February 2014). "Emerging central defender links up with Barwell..." saddlers.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Matt Preston Central Defender". Pitchero: Barwell. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Walsall 3–2 Rochdale". BBC Sport. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Jon Whitney: No guarantees Matt Preston will sign with Saddlers". Express & Star. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  10. ^ "BREAKING: Town Bring In Preston". Swindon Town Official Site. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Swindon Town 2-0 Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Cheltenham Town 2-1 Swindon Town". BBC Sport. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Swindon Town vs. Wycombe Wanderers". Soccerway. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Preston Out For The Season". Swindon Town Official Site. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  15. ^ "Stags strengthen defence with new signing". Mansfield Town Official Site. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Luke Norris: Swindon Town extend striker's contract". BBC Sport. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Mansfield Town announce retained list". Mansfield Town F.C. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Welcome to Barnet, Matt Preston". www.barnetfc.com. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  19. ^ Matt Preston departs
  20. ^ Preston checks in at Moors
  21. ^ "Defender Preston signs on loan".
  22. ^ "Matt Preston returns". 21 July 2023.
  23. ^ "Kidderminster Harriers reveal retention list for 2024-25". The Shuttle. 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Bulls Sign Defender Matt Preston". Hereford FC - The Official website of Hereford FC. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Games played by Matt Preston in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  26. ^ "Games played by Matt Preston in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  27. ^ "Games played by Matt Preston in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  28. ^ "Matt Preston". Barwell Official Site. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  29. ^ "Games played by Matt Preston in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  30. ^ For FA Cup 2nd qualifying round: Holloway, George (16 September 2024). "Ceesay saves Hereford's blushes following Ilkeston scare". Hereford Times. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
    Lawrence, David (17 September 2024). "Adam Rooney's winner sends Hereford FC through in FA Cup". Hereford Times. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
    For FA Cup 3rd qualifying round: Holloway, George (30 September 2024). "Hereford FC suffer the blues in away FA Cup defeat". Hereford Times. Retrieved 9 October 2024.