Matt Derbyshire

Matthew Anthony "Matt" Derbyshire (born 14 April, 1986 in Blackburn, England) is an England Football (soccer) currently playing for Blackburn Rovers F.C. as a striker. He is also a father to twin boys.

Club career

Derbyshire joined his boyhood team Blackburn Rovers from local club Great Harwood Town F.C. in 2003 for a small fee, having scored 18 goals in nine appearances. He had previously worked in the club's community office, coaching young children. He rejected a move to Manchester United F.C. in favour of Blackburn as he felt his first team opportunities would be greater there.

He has had loan spells at Plymouth Argyle F.C. but did not manage to score in any of his 13 games, resulting in Mark Hughes ending the player's loan early. He then joined Wrexham A.F.C. on loan for the final three months of the season where he made a name for himself hitting the net on 10 occasions from 16 appearances.

He opened his senior goal account for the first team in a 3–0 against Wigan Athletic on 1 January 2007 before extending his tally further with the opener away to Everton FC in a 4–1 FA Cup Third Round victory on 7 January. He made his first Premiership start against Arsenal F.C. on the 13 January. He scored his third goal in four games against Manchester City on 20 January 2007.

He continued his impressive form for Blackburn scoring two goals against Luton Town F.C. in the FA Cup 4th Round on 27 January 2007 and providing an assist for another. Derbyshire has also scored against Manchester United taking advantage of a Michael Carrick error and slotting the ball in to give Rovers a 1–0 lead although they went onto lose the match 4–1.

He finished his first Premiership season with 9 goals in all competitions, during 14 starts and 16 substitute appearances. In the 2008 Premier League, Derbyshire scored in the first match of the season, against Middlesbrough F.C., coming on as a substitute to score a winner for the Rovers. The match ended with a 2–1 victory for Blackburn Rovers.

On 1 March 2008, he scored a late late stoppage time winner against Newcastle United by slotting the ball past Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper. The match ended 1–0.

On 20 September 2008, he again scored another late winner against Fulham FC by putting away a poachers goal assisted by Roque Santa Cruz. The match ended 1-0.

International career

On 1 February2007, Derbyshire was called up to the England national under-21 football team squad by new manager Stuart Pearce, for the match against Spain national under-21 football team on Tuesday 6 February 2007. He was subsequently injured (thigh strain) playing for Blackburn against Sheffield United F.C. on 3 February, and therefore missed joining up with the squad.

However, Derbyshire was fit enough to be included in England's Under-21 match against Italy national under-21 football team at the new Wembley Stadium on 24 March 2007. He scored England's third goal in a thrilling 3–3 draw. During the group stage of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, he was the scorer of a controversial goal against the Serbia national under-21 football team. He did not kick the ball out when Serbian defender Slobodan Rajković was down injured and went on to score England's second goal of the game; in his defence, Derbyshire claimed he did not see the injured player.

Club career statistics

Personal life

On the 27 February 2008, Derbyshire's fiancé, Melissa O'Higgins-Norman, gave birth to twin boys, Callum and Breidín. His close friend Scott Parsons has been appointed chief babysitter in the Derbyshire household.