Matthew Fox (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Christopher Fox (born 13 July 1971) is an English
former professional footballer who played in the Football League
for Birmingham City
and Northampton Town
. He played as a centre back
.
Fox was born in the Sheldon
district of Birmingham
. When he left school in 1987, he joined Birmingham City
as a YTS trainee
, and turned professional two years later. Fox, described as a "dogged defender, hard in the tackle and quick to cover", made his debut in the Second Division
on 25 February 1989, deputising for Vince Overson
in the starting eleven for a goalless draw away at West Bromwich Albion
. He played twice more in the league that season, and then missed the entire 1989–90 season through injury. He played seven times in the league in 1990, then spent a month on loan at Cheltenham Town
of the Conference
, but was unable to establish himself in the first team on his return. He joined Division Two
(third tier) club Northampton Town
towards the end of the 1992–93 season, but played only once before being released. After an unsuccessful trial with Shrewsbury Town
, he moved into non-league football
with Bridgnorth Town
.
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...
former professional footballer who played in 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...
for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
. He played as a centre back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Fox was born in the Sheldon
Sheldon, West Midlands
Sheldon is an area of eastern Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. It is close to the border with the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull and Birmingham International Airport....
district of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. When he left school in 1987, he joined Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
as a YTS trainee
Youth Training Scheme
The Youth Training Scheme was the former name in the United Kingdom of an on-the-job training course for school leavers aged 16 and 17, managed by the Manpower Services Commission...
, and turned professional two years later. Fox, described as a "dogged defender, hard in the tackle and quick to cover", made his debut in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
on 25 February 1989, deputising for Vince Overson
Vince Overson
Vincent David "Vince" Overson is an English former footballer who played as a central defender...
in the starting eleven for a goalless draw away at West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. He played twice more in the league that season, and then missed the entire 1989–90 season through injury. He played seven times in the league in 1990, then spent a month on loan at Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
of the Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
, but was unable to establish himself in the first team on his return. He joined Division Two
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
(third tier) club Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
towards the end of the 1992–93 season, but played only once before being released. After an unsuccessful trial with Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, he moved into non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with Bridgnorth Town
Bridgnorth Town F.C.
Bridgnorth Town F.C. are a football club based in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. They joined the Worcestershire Combination in 1938 and have twice reached the 5th round of the FA Vase...
.