Matthew Upson

Matthew Upson
Matthew-Upson-2009.jpg
Personal information
Full name Matthew James Upson
Date of birth 18 April 1979 (1979-04-18) (age 31)
Place of birth Hartismere, Eye, Suffolk, England
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Central defender
Club information
Current club West Ham United
Number 15
Youth career
1994–1996 Luton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1996–1997 Luton Town 1 (0)
1997–2003 Arsenal 35 (0)
2000 → Nottingham Forest (loan) 1 (0)
2001 → Crystal Palace (loan) 7 (0)
2002 → Reading (loan) 14 (0)
2003–2007 Birmingham City 113 (5)
2007– West Ham United 101 (4)
National team‡
1998–2000 England U21 12 (2)
2003– England 21 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:13, 27 June 2010 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:13, 27 June 2010 (UTC)

Matthew James Upson (born 18 April 1979) is an English professional footballer who plays for Premier League club West Ham United. He is a central defender and the current captain having taken over after the departure of Lucas Neill. Upson has played for England at full international level including at the 2010 World Cup.

Contents

Club career

Luton Town

Upson was born in Hartismere, Eye, Suffolk. He joined Luton Town as a trainee in 1994.[1] He signed professional forms in April 1996,[2] making his sole appearance for the senior team as an 88th minute sub against Rotherham United in August 1996.

Arsenal

He joined Arsenal in May 1997 in a £2 million deal.[1] However, faced with the longevity of Arsenal's existing centre backs, Tony Adams, Steve Bould and Martin Keown, and struck by injury problems of his own, Upson rarely had a chance to break into the first team. After spending a year out of the game recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in 1999, Upson only made a handful of first team appearance for Arsenal, in between loan spells at Nottingham Forest in 2000 and Crystal Palace in 2001.[3][4]

In 2001–02, his final full season at Arsenal however, Upson did make 22 appearances; these included 14 in the league, earning him a Premier League winners' medal, but a broken leg in February 2002 ruled him out for the rest of the season and Arsenal's FA Cup-winning run as they won the Double. After recovering from his broken leg, Upson joined Reading in September 2002 on a three-month loan.[5] It was at Reading where Upson scored his first professional career goal, in a 3–1 loss at Cambridge United in the League Cup.[6] With Arsenal's newly-established centre back pairing of Sol Campbell and Kolo Touré keeping him out of the side, he was bought by Birmingham City in January 2003. He played 57 times for Arsenal in all competitions, never scoring.

Birmingham City

Birmingham City completed the signing of Upson from Arsenal in January 2003, for a fee of £1 million rising to £3 million depending on appearances.[7]

He suffered a leg injury whilst preparing for the local derby against Aston Villa in April 2006 and subsequently missed the rest of the season as Birmingham City were relegated to The Championship. Upson remained with the club while he worked on regaining his fitness and returned to action in December in the Blues' 3–0 victory over Plymouth Argyle, scoring the second of the three goals.

West Ham United

Upson warming-up for a West Ham game, October 2009

On 18 January 2007, Birmingham rejected West Ham United's bid for Upson of £4 million, also rejecting an improved bid of £6 million a few days later. An offer of £6 million, with the potential to rise to £7.5 million depending on appearances, was accepted on the last day of the transfer window, and Upson agreed a four-and-a-half-year contract with West Ham.[8] Birmingham City's manager Steve Bruce later claimed that he did not want to sell Upson, but was forced to do so by the club's managing director Karren Brady.[9]

Upson suffered a calf injury less than 30 minutes into his West Ham United debut against Aston Villa, which West Ham lost 0–1.[10] He then lasted just 11 minutes of his comeback game before coming off injured against Tottenham Hotspur in a 4–3 loss at Upton Park in March 2007.[11]

Upson completed his first full game for West Ham in the 2–0 home defeat to Manchester City in August 2007. One week later he made his first appearance as West Ham captain in the 1–0 away win against former club Birmingham City.[12] On 29 December 2007 Upson scored his first goal in West Ham colours when he headed in the winning goal against Premier League champions Manchester United.[13]

In July 2008, Upson's squad number of 6 was retired by the club in memory of Bobby Moore, after which he took the number 15 shirt.[14] In August 2009, following the departure of Lucas Neill, Upson was appointed captain of West Ham.[15] He captained West Ham through a difficult 2009/2010 campaign in which he scored a goal in the opening game against Wolves and two more against Stoke City and Portsmouth.

International career

Upson won twelve caps for the England U21 team and scored two goals.[16][17] His performances for Birmingham City in the 2002–03 season led to his selection for the England senior squad and he made his debut for England against South Africa in May 2003. He won seven full caps while a Birmingham player.[2]

Upson was named in Fabio Capello's first provisional England squad for the February 2008 friendly against Switzerland at Wembley.[18] He was named in the starting line-up to partner Rio Ferdinand, winning his eighth England cap nearly four years after his last appearance. He was named in the starting line-up against Kazakhstan for his 10th cap, after John Terry picked up an injury, playing for the full 90 minutes.

Upson scored his first goal for England on 19 November 2008 in a friendly match against Germany.[19] The match finished 2–1 to England and Upson picked up ITV's man of the match award. Upson was included in England's squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. On 23 June, making his World Cup debut, he played in the third match of the group stage, against Slovenia after being an unused substitute in the first two games.[20] On 27 June he scored the only England goal against Germany in the 2010 World Cup, in a 4-1 defeat which eliminated England from the tournament in the round of 16. It was Upson's second goal for England and his second against Germany, having previously scored in a friendly in 2008. This goal also made him England's joint top scorer for the 2010 World Cup, tying with Steven Gerrard and Jermain Defoe on one goal each. [21]

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 19 November 2008 Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany  Germany 0–1 1–2 Friendly
2 27 June 2010 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa  Germany 2–1 4–1 2010 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Arsenal

Personal life

Upson's girlfriend is British runner Ellie Darby. They have one son together, called Elijah.[22]

Career statistics

Club

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
1994–95 Luton Town Division One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1995–96 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1996–97 Division Two 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Luton Town total 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1997–98 Arsenal Premier League 5 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 8 0
1998–99 5 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 9 0
1999–2000 9 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 13 0
2000–01 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 4 0
2000–01 Nottingham Forest (loan) Division One 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2000–01 Crystal Palace (loan) 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
2001–02 Arsenal Premier League 14 0 1 0 1 0 6 0 22 0
2002–03 Reading (loan) Division One 14 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 15 1
2002–03 Arsenal Premier League 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Arsenal total 35 0 4 0 8 0 10 0 57 0
2002–03 Birmingham City Premier League 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
2003–04 30 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 33 0
2004–05 36 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 40 2
2005–06 24 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 29 1
2006–07 Championship 9 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 12 2
Birmingham City total 113 5 8 0 7 0 0 0 128 5
2006–07 West Ham United Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2007–08 29 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 33 1
2008–09 37 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 41 0
2009–10 33 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 35 3
West Ham United total 101 4 5 0 5 0 0 0 111 4
Career total 272 9 17 0 21 1 10 0 320 10
As of 10:10, 13 April 2010[23]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Matthew Upson". Soccerbase. The Racing Post. http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=8918. Retrieved 13 June 2007. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Matthew Upson Profile". England Football Online. http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersUV/BioUpsonM.html. Retrieved 20 November 2008. 
  3. ↑ "Upson adds to Platt woes". BBC Sport. 20 December 2000. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/1080274.stm. Retrieved 29 June 2007. 
  4. ↑ "Upson in Palace move". BBC Sport. 28 February 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/1194744.stm. Retrieved 23 June 2007. 
  5. ↑ "Reading secure Upson deal". BBC Sport. 5 September 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/2238300.stm. Retrieved 26 June 2007. 
  6. ↑ "Cambridge 3–1 Reading". BBC. 10 September 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2239144.stm. Retrieved 3 November 2009. 
  7. ↑ "Birmingham sign Upson". BBC Sport. 11 February 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/2652803.stm. Retrieved 23 June 2007. 
  8. ↑ "Matthew Upson signs for West Ham United". West Ham United F.C.. 31 January 2007. http://www.whufc.com/articles/matthew-upson-signs-for-west-ham-united-20070131_2236884_1142186. Retrieved 31 January 2007. 
  9. ↑ Hunter, James (26 October 2009). "Bruce blasts back at Karren Brady". Evening Chronicle (Newcastle). http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/sunderland-afc/safc-news/2009/10/26/steve-bruce-blasts-back-at-karen-brady-72703-25016549. Retrieved 29 October 2009. 
  10. ↑ Rutledge, Lewis (3 February 2007). "Curbs bemoans Upson injury". Sky Sports. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11685_2404497,00.html. Retrieved 20 November 2008. 
  11. ↑ Buckingham, Mark (18 April 2007). "Curbs: Upson spell a disaster". Sky Sports. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11685_2411340,00.html. Retrieved 20 November 2008. 
  12. ↑ Nursey, James (20 August 2007). "Birmingham 0–1 West Ham". Daily Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/08/20/birmingham-0-1-west-ham-89520-19661265/. Retrieved 20 August 2007. 
  13. ↑ Sanghera, Mandeep (29 December 2007). "West Ham 2–1 Man Utd". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7157432.stm. Retrieved 20 November 2008. 
  14. ↑ "Club to retire No6 shirt". West Ham United F.C.. 4 August 2008. http://www.whufc.com/page/News/0,,12562~1357842,00.html. Retrieved 4 August 2008. 
  15. ↑ Upson sets captain's example www.whufc.com
  16. ↑ "England Under-21 Caps". The Football Association (The FA). http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/01/AllTime_Caps.htm. Retrieved 20 November 2008. 
  17. ↑ "England Under-21 Goalscorers". The FA. http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/02/AllTime_Goalscorers.htm. Retrieved 20 November 2008. 
  18. ↑ "Capello names squad". The FA. 31 January 2008. http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2008/01/EnglandSwitzerland_squad.htm. Retrieved 20 November 2008. 
  19. ↑ McKenzie, Andrew (19 November 2008). "Germany 1–2 England". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7737012.stm. Retrieved 20 November 2008. 
  20. ↑ "Upson stars for England". Whufc.com. http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100623/upson-stars-for-england_2236884_2077318. Retrieved 2010-06-24. 
  21. ↑ McNulty, Phil. "Germany 4-1 England". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_51. Retrieved 2010-06-28. 
  22. ↑ Lawrence, Julia; Topham, Laura (17 June 2010). "WORLD CUP 2010: Here come the WAGs... glossier, richer and more soaked in scandal than ever!". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1283339/WORLD-CUP-2010-Here-come-England-WAGs.html. Retrieved 24 June 2010. 
  23. ↑ "Matthew Upson". Soccerbase (Centurycomm). http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=8918. Retrieved 13 April 2010. 

External links

Preceded by
Lucas Neill		 West Ham United Captain
2009		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
England squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup
1 James • 2 Johnson • 3 A. Cole • 4 Gerrard (c) • 5 Dawson • 6 Terry • 7 Lennon • 8 Lampard • 9 Crouch • 10 Rooney • 11 J. Cole • 12 Green • 13 Warnock • 14 Barry • 15 Upson • 16 Milner • 17 Wright-Phillips • 18 Carragher • 19 Defoe • 20 King • 21 Heskey • 22 Carrick • 23 Hart • Coach: Capello
 England
West Ham United F.C. – current squad

1 Green · 2 Reid · 3 Ben Haim · 4 Gabbidon · 5 Tomkins · 7 Dyer · 8 Parker · 9 Cole · 10 Collison · 11 Hitzlsperger · 12 Barrera · 13 Boa Morte · 14 Kováč · 15 Upson (c) · 16 Noble · 17 McCarthy · 18 Spector · 20 Faubert · 21 Behrami · 22 Da Costa · 23 Ilunga · 24 Nouble · 25 Stanislas · 26 Hines · 27 Spence · 28 Kurucz · 29 Štěch · 30 Piquionne · 31 Boffin · 33 Obinna · 34 Lee · 36 Edgar · 37 Jacobsen · 44 Brown · Manager: Grant