Frank Matthews

Football career Matthews was born at Wallsend and as a teenager played for various colliery teams in his native north east before starting his professional career with Blackpool of the Football League Second Division in May 1922. With Matt Barrass well established at inside-left, Matthews was unable to break into the first team and moved on to Second Division rivals, Barnsley, in the summer of 1923.

For the following season, manager Arthur Chadwick embarked on a massive team rebuilding and signed several new players, including Dick Rowley, Alf Bishop and Sammy Taylor all of whom could play in either of the inside-forward positions. After trying first Rowley and then Bishop at inside-left, Chadwick recalled Matthews for three games in September, before moving Taylor over from the right, with Rowley returning at inside-right. Taylor retained his place for the rest of the season, at the end of which Matthews was transfer listed for a fee of £50.

In the summer of 1927, Matthews was recruited by the former Southampton team captain Alec Campbell as one of his first signings following his appointment as manager of Chesterfield of the Third Division North. After making only two appearances for Chesterfield, Matthews returned to the north east, dropping back into non-league football.