Jason Matthews

Career Born in Paulton, Somerset, Matthews started playing in goal at an early age and soon won a place at Millfield's Centre of Excellence.

Bristol Rovers signed him up on schoolboy terms but he was released just before he left school. Matthews then spent six years playing for a number of clubs in the Screwfix League including Welton Rovers, Paulton Rovers and Mangotsfield United, before signing for Western Football League Premier Division club Taunton Town in 1998. Shortly after, he joined Geoff Butler's Salisbury City in the Southern Football League in August 1998.

The following season Matthews signed for Nuneaton Borough in early June 1999 without making a single competitive appearance after pre-season. This is because in August 1999, he joined Exeter City where he spent the 1999–2000 season, giving him his only taste of Football League action.

He followed this by moving over the Welsh border to Aberystwyth Town for a year before joining Clevedon Town. It was from Clevedon that Geoff Butler signed him for Weymouth in 2002, where he has stayed (and stayed almost unrivalled #1 keeper) for nearly five whole seasons.

On 17 March 2007, he scored his first ever career goal for Weymouth in a Conference National match against Southport. It was all the more remarkable as it was from his own penalty area, in the last minutes of the game, and was the winning goal. It was the first ever goal a Weymouth goalkeeper has scored from open play in the entire history of the club.

Matthews made his Eastleigh debut in the 5–0 away win over Maidenhead United on 8 March 2008 before making his home debut a week later in the 4–1 home defeat at the hands of Hayes & Yeading United a week later.

Adie Britton brought Matthews to Bath City on 22 June 2011. It has been stated that Matthews will start off as second choice keeper but both player and manager are hoping he puts pressure on current first team keeper Glyn Garner.

Matthews signed a one-year contract at Dorchester Town in May 2012. In June 2013 Matthews returned to Weymouth on non contract terms for the 2013–14 season. When Brendon King was sacked he was made temporary Player/Manager at Weymouth. On 12 January 2014, Matthews was appointed player/manager on a full-time basis, after winning four of his seven games.

In the summer of 2021, Matthews signed for Brislington aged 46 playing part-time also working as an electrician, debuting on 17 August 2021 during the 1–0 victory against Cadbury Heath.

In 2022 he rejoined Weymouth and retired in 2024 while only making a single appearance. He came out of retirement in February 2026 and was backup for Max Evans. Evans was shown a red card in the 1–0 loss against Havant & Waterlooville meaning Matthews made one more appearance for Weymouth at the age of fifty. He became assistant head coach in January 2018, supporting Gary Horgan.

In June 2022, Matthews joined Salisbury as goalkeeping coach.

On 27 March 2024, following the surprise departure of Bobby Wilkinson, Matthews was appointed interim manager of Weymouth.

He became the interim manager of Weymouth again after Mark Molesley was sacked on 28 November 2024.

Career statistics

Player

Honours

Player Mangotsfield United

Gloucestershire Challenge Trophy: 1996–97

Taunton Town

Western Football League Premier Division: 1998–99

Salisbury City

Wiltshire Premier Shield: 1998–99

Clevedon Town

Somerset Premier Cup: 2001–02 Southern Football League Cup (England): 2011–12

Weymouth

Football Conference South: 2005–06 Dorset Senior Cup: runner-up 2002–03

Manager Weymouth

Dorset Senior Cup: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17