Matthew Upson

Matthew James Upson (born 18 April 1979) is an England Association football player who plays for West Ham United F.C.. Matthew Upson is a Defender (association football) Centre back.

Club career

Luton Town

Upson was born in Hartismere, Suffolk. Matthew Upson joined Luton Town F.C. as a trainee in 1994. Matthew Upson signed professional forms in April 1996, making Matthew Upson sole appearance for the senior team against Rotherham United F.C. in August 1996.

Arsenal

Matthew Upson joined Arsenal F.C. in May 1997 in a £2 million deal.

In 2001–02 in English football, Matthew Upson final full season at Arsenal however, Upson did make 22 appearances; these included 14 in the league, earning Matthew Upson a Premier League winners' medal, but a broken leg in February 2002 ruled Matthew Upson out for the rest of the season and Arsenal's FA Cup-winning run as they won the Double. After recovering from Matthew Upson broken leg, Upson joined Reading F.C. in September 2002 on a three-month loan. With Arsenal's newly-established centre back pairing of Sol Campbell and Kolo Touré keeping Matthew Upson out of the side, Matthew Upson was bought by Birmingham City F.C. in January 2003. In total Matthew Upson played 56 times for Arsenal, 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.

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

West Ham United

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. However, Upson suffered a calf injury less than 30 minutes into Matthew Upson West Ham United debut against Aston Villa, which West Ham lost 0–1. Matthew Upson then lasted just 11 minutes of Matthew Upson comeback game before coming off injured against Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in a 4–3 loss at Boleyn Ground in March 2007.

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

In July 2008, Upson's squad number of 6 was retired by the club in memory of Bobby Moore, after which Matthew Upson took the number 15 shirt.

International career

Upson won twelve caps for the England national under-21 football team and scored two goals. Matthew Upson performances for Birmingham City in the FA Premier League 2002–03 led to Matthew Upson selection for the England senior squad and Matthew Upson made Matthew Upson debut for England national football team against South Africa national football team in May 2003. Matthew Upson won seven full caps while a Birmingham player. Matthew Upson was named in the starting line-up to partner Rio Ferdinand, winning Matthew Upson eighth England cap nearly four years after Matthew Upson last appearance. Matthew Upson was named in the starting line-up against Kazakhstan national football team for Matthew Upson 10th cap, after John Terry picked up an injury, playing for the full 90 minutes.

Upson scored Matthew Upson first goal for England on 19 November 2008 in a friendly match against Germany national football team. The match finished 2–1 to England and Upson picked up ITV Sport's man of the match award.

International goals