Matt Crowell
Encyclopedia
Matthew Thomas Crowell is a Welsh
footballer who is currently playing for Spanish Tercera División
club CD Ourense
, Crowell grew up in Coychurch
. As a teenager he was part of the youth system at Swansea City
before being persuaded to follow Swansea youth coach Malcolm Elias
to Southampton
at the age of 16 in 2000. Swansea took the case to the Football League appeals committee seeking compensation of £1.5 million. The committee later ordered Southampton to make an immediate payment of £100,000 to Swansea, as well as a further £100,000 when Crowell had made 10, 20, 30 and 40 appearances in the future and 20% of any future transfer fee that the club received for Crowell. Swansea chairman Neil McClure later stated "£500,000 is significantly more than Southampton ever offered at any stage and that must be regarded as satisfactory" However, Crowell never made a first team appearance at Southampton and was released in 2003.
, Crowell later joined Wrexham, having impressed in a trial spell, and made his professional debut for the club on 9 August 2003 as a substitute in place of Stephen Thomas
during a 0–0 draw with Chesterfield
. In his third season at the Racecourse Ground he made six appearances in the clubs Football League Trophy
victory, beating Southend United
2–0 in the final. However, he later found himself plagued with injuries in his later years at the Racecourse Ground
and, after playing on a six-month contract with the Welsh side in an attempt to show his fitness, he was released in January 2008 having made over 100 appearances for the club.
on non-contract terms. In July 2009, Crowell left Northwich. He attended a trial with NSW Premier League side Sydney Olympic, but later returned to Britain to sign for Altrincham
on a short term contract, stating that "It was hard at Northwich last season with the club's difficulties but I am pleased to join Altrincham".
on a one year deal until the end of the 2009–10 season. He made 13 appearances for the club before returning to England.
before he joined Welsh Premier League club Port Talbot Town in July 2011 after a trial. He played all of the club's league games prior to his next move.
side and has also scored once for the side, against Azerbaijan U21
in 2004.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
footballer who is currently playing for Spanish Tercera División
Tercera División
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
club CD Ourense
CD Ourense
Club Deportivo Ourense, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Ourense, in the autonomous community of Galicia. Founded in 1952, it plays in Tercera División - Group 1, holding home games at Estadio O Couto, which has a capacity of 5,625....
Southampton
Born in BridgendBridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
, Crowell grew up in Coychurch
Coychurch
Coychurch is a small village that sits between Pencoed and Bridgend in Wales, bordering with Bridgend Industrial Estate.It has a longstanding religious association, with an early Christian church having been built there possibly as long ago as the 8th century CE. The current church of St...
. As a teenager he was part of the youth system at Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
before being persuaded to follow Swansea youth coach Malcolm Elias
Malcolm Elias
Malcolm Elias is the Head of Talent ID and Recruitment at Fulham Academy. He holds a UEFA A license.-Early career:Prior to joining Southampton, he was a youth development officer at Oxford United and Swansea City...
to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
at the age of 16 in 2000. Swansea took the case to the Football League appeals committee seeking compensation of £1.5 million. The committee later ordered Southampton to make an immediate payment of £100,000 to Swansea, as well as a further £100,000 when Crowell had made 10, 20, 30 and 40 appearances in the future and 20% of any future transfer fee that the club received for Crowell. Swansea chairman Neil McClure later stated "£500,000 is significantly more than Southampton ever offered at any stage and that must be regarded as satisfactory" However, Crowell never made a first team appearance at Southampton and was released in 2003.
Wrexham
After spending time on trial with Bristol RoversBristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
, Crowell later joined Wrexham, having impressed in a trial spell, and made his professional debut for the club on 9 August 2003 as a substitute in place of Stephen Thomas
Stephen Thomas (footballer)
Stephen Thomas is an English-born, Welsh former professional footballer who played for Wrexham and Darlington as a midfielder. He played 153 league games scoring 14 league goals in 7 years for the Robins between the years of 1997–2004...
during a 0–0 draw with Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
. In his third season at the Racecourse Ground he made six appearances in the clubs Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
victory, beating Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
2–0 in the final. However, he later found himself plagued with injuries in his later years at the Racecourse Ground
Racecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
and, after playing on a six-month contract with the Welsh side in an attempt to show his fitness, he was released in January 2008 having made over 100 appearances for the club.
Non-league
In January 2008, Crowell signed for Northwich VictoriaNorthwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
on non-contract terms. In July 2009, Crowell left Northwich. He attended a trial with NSW Premier League side Sydney Olympic, but later returned to Britain to sign for Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
on a short term contract, stating that "It was hard at Northwich last season with the club's difficulties but I am pleased to join Altrincham".
Central Coast Mariners
In September 2009, Crowell joined A-League team Central Coast MarinersCentral Coast Mariners FC
Central Coast Mariners Football Club is a professional football club based on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. They participate in the A-League and are one of three teams from the state of New South Wales playing in the competition...
on a one year deal until the end of the 2009–10 season. He made 13 appearances for the club before returning to England.
Return to Non-league
He then rejoined Altrincham before in December 2010 Farnborough announced that he had joined them, apparently on non-contract terms. He left the club after only two appearances.Port Talbot Town
In May 2011, Crowell had a two week trial with China's Chengdu BladesChengdu Blades
Chengdu Blades F.C. is a professional football club based in Chengdu, PR China who currently plays in the 42,000 seater Chengdu Sports Centre in the Chinese Super league...
before he joined Welsh Premier League club Port Talbot Town in July 2011 after a trial. He played all of the club's league games prior to his next move.
International career
A former captain of the Wales under-15 side, Crowell later went on to represent Wales at under-17 and under-19 levels. He has also played numerous times for the Wales U21Wales national under-21 football team
The Wales national under-21 football team, also known as the Wales U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
side and has also scored once for the side, against Azerbaijan U21
Azerbaijan national under-21 football team
The Azerbaijan national under-21 football team are a feeder team to the Azerbaijan Senior team.- UEFA U-21 Championship Record:* 2002: Did not qualify. Finished 5th of 6 in qualification group....
in 2004.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Wrexham | 2003–04 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| 2004–05 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| 2005–06 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 3 | |
| 2006–07 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 1 | |
| 2007–08 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 93 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 107 | 5 | |
| Northwich Victoria Northwich Victoria F.C. Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of... |
2007–08 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| 2008–09 2008–09 in English football The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while... |
41 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 4 | |
| Subtotal | 56 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 5 | |
| Altrincham Altrincham F.C. Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:... |
2009–10 2009–10 in English football The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League... |
5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 2009–10 2009–10 in Australian association football The 2009-10 season is the 127th season of competitive football in Australia.-Friendly matches:-2011 AFC Asian Cup Qualification:-Group D:-Table:Rules for classification:1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored.... |
13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Altrincham Altrincham F.C. Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:... |
2010–11 2010–11 in English football The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 169 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 183 | 11 | |