Matt Reilly

Playing career Reilly was born in Donnybrook, Dublin and played Gaelic football in his youth. He joined the Royal Artillery and while serving in Glasgow took up association football as a goalkeeper with Junior side, Benburb. He was described in the local press as a "brilliant" player, who was both quick and sure in his handling and kicking. he was snapped up by manager Frank Brettell and joined Portsmouth who had been founded a year earlier and were elected as members of an expanded Southern League for the 1899–1900 season. During Reilly's five seasons at Fratton Park, Portsmouth were one of the dominant teams in the Southern League, winning the championship in 1901–02, and never finishing outside the top four. He was awarded a benefit match, played against West Ham United, on 29 April 1901.

Reilly was recognised for his form with selection for Ireland on two occasions, both narrow defeats by England in 1900 and 1902. For the first match, played at Lansdowne Road, Dublin on 17 March 1900, the England team were confidently expecting an easy match after five successive victories, including winning 13–2 the previous year. The England selectors chose five debutantes, including Reilly's Portsmouth colleague, Dan Cunliffe, who made his solitary England appearance at inside right. In the event, the game was far more difficult than expected, with England only managing a 2–0 victory,

Reilly was not selected for the 1901 match against England, played at The Dell, but was called up again for the 1902 match, played at the Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast on 22 March 1902. This time, England's margin of victory was even narrower, with the only goal coming from Jimmy Settle with less than five minutes remaining, after England's goalkeeper, Billy George, had saved a penalty from Robert Milne.

Later career In 1904, after five season with Portsmouth, Reilly moved to Scotland where he spent a season with Dundee, managing only three appearances. ).

In October 1906, he returned to the Southern League, after a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £100. After a season in London, Reilly returned to Dublin to play for Shelbourne, helping them reach the 1908 Irish Cup Final, where he finished on the losing side to Dublin rivals, Bohemians, going down 3–1 in a replay.

On his retirement, he returned to Hampshire, becoming a publican in Southsea. He remained fondly remembered at Fratton Park and was amongst the guests who celebrated Portsmouth's fiftieth anniversary in 1948.

He died in his native Dublin in December 1954, aged 80.

Honours Royal Artillery FA Amateur Cup runners-up: 1896 Southern League Division Two champions: 1897–98

Portsmouth Southern League champions: 1901–02

Shelbourne Irish Cup runners-up: 1908