Matt Bodkin
Encyclopedia
Matthew James "Matt" Bodkin (born 16 September 1983) is an English
footballer, who plays as a winger for Margate
.
, turning professional in May 2003. He failed to make the first team with Forest and was released in May 2004. In August 2004, Bodkin joined Gillingham
, making his debut in the 1–0 FA Cup
defeat away to Portsmouth
on 8 January 2005. His league debut came the following week when he replaced Andy Hessenthaler
as a second-half substitute in the 1–0 win at home to Plymouth Argyle
. He made one further appearance, away to Leicester City
on 22 January before being released by Gillingham at the end of the season, joining Welling United
in August 2005. His form for Welling was impressive enough to earn an invitation to join pre-season training with Gillingham in 2006, but a move back to The Football League
did not materialise.
Bodkin left Welling to join Grays Athletic
in December 2006, attracted by a return to full-time football. In February 2007, he was allowed to join Conference South
side Thurrock
on loan.
On 21 August 2007, Bodkin was sent on loan to Dartford
, dropping down three leagues to the Isthmian League Division One North. Exactly a month later he rejoined Thurrock on loan until the end of the season. He made a further two appearances for Grays Athletic at the start of the 2008–09 season, before being sent out on loan to Eastleigh
until January 2009. On 3 February 2009, Bodkin joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Dover Athletic
on a free transfer until the end of the season. He made his debut in a 3–0 victory over Hendon
and scored his first goal in a 6–0 victory over Sutton United
. Despite being a regular first-team player in the run-in to Dover's championship winning season, he was not offered a new contract and was subsequently released. Shortly afterwards he signed a one year contract with former loan club Thurrock.
Bodkin signed a one-year deal with Margate
of the Isthmian League Premier Division on 16 July 2011. Four days later, he accepted an offer to extend his contract by a further year.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer, who plays as a winger for Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
.
Career
Bodkin began his career as a trainee with Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, turning professional in May 2003. He failed to make the first team with Forest and was released in May 2004. In August 2004, Bodkin joined Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, making his debut in the 1–0 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
defeat away to Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
on 8 January 2005. His league debut came the following week when he replaced Andy Hessenthaler
Andy Hessenthaler
Andrew "Andy" Hessenthaler is an English football manager and former player, currently in his second spell as manager of Gillingham. Hessenthaler began his career in non-league football and did not turn professional until he joined Watford at the age of 26...
as a second-half substitute in the 1–0 win at home to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
. He made one further appearance, away to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
on 22 January before being released by Gillingham at the end of the season, joining Welling United
Welling United F.C.
Welling United Football Club are an English football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley. They currently play in the Conference South. The 2010–11 season was not a good one for them as the club had financial problems, nearly going bankrupt but lots of supporters chipped in and...
in August 2005. His form for Welling was impressive enough to earn an invitation to join pre-season training with Gillingham in 2006, but a move back to The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
did not materialise.
Bodkin left Welling to join Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
in December 2006, attracted by a return to full-time football. In February 2007, he was allowed to join Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
side Thurrock
Thurrock F.C.
Thurrock F.C. are an English football club based in Aveley, Thurrock, Essex. Known as Purfleet until 2003, the club are currently members of the Conference South and play at Ship Lane.-History:...
on loan.
On 21 August 2007, Bodkin was sent on loan to Dartford
Dartford F.C.
Dartford F.C. are an English football club based in Dartford, Kent. After finishing as champions of the Isthmian League Division One North in the 2007–08 season, they compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division. They finished in 8th position in their first season...
, dropping down three leagues to the Isthmian League Division One North. Exactly a month later he rejoined Thurrock on loan until the end of the season. He made a further two appearances for Grays Athletic at the start of the 2008–09 season, before being sent out on loan to Eastleigh
Eastleigh F.C.
Eastleigh Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Silverlake Stadium.-History:...
until January 2009. On 3 February 2009, Bodkin joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Dover Athletic
Dover Athletic F.C.
Dover Athletic Football Club is an association football team based in the town of Dover, Kent, England. The club was formed in 1983 after the dissolution of the town's previous club, Dover, whose place in the Southern League was taken by the new club...
on a free transfer until the end of the season. He made his debut in a 3–0 victory over Hendon
Hendon F.C.
Hendon Football Club are an English football club based in Hendon, in the London Borough of Barnet. They currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division.In the 2003-04 season they finished fourth in the Isthmian League Premier Division...
and scored his first goal in a 6–0 victory over Sutton United
Sutton United F.C.
Sutton United Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Conference South. They are based in Sutton, London, and play their home games at the Borough Sports Ground in Gander Green Lane....
. Despite being a regular first-team player in the run-in to Dover's championship winning season, he was not offered a new contract and was subsequently released. Shortly afterwards he signed a one year contract with former loan club Thurrock.
Bodkin signed a one-year deal with Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
of the Isthmian League Premier Division on 16 July 2011. Four days later, he accepted an offer to extend his contract by a further year.