Matt Piper
Encyclopedia
Matthew James "Matt" Piper (born September 29, 1981 in Leicester
, England
) is an English
former footballer. He played as a winger. He is now coaching the Leicester Under 15's.
Piper was educated at Rawlins Community College
, and came through the youth ranks of hometown club Leicester City
. After signing a professional contract in 2000, he made his first team debut in the League Cup
on 9 October 2001, playing the whole of a 6-0 home defeat to Leeds United
. After another appearance in a 4-1 league defeat to Liverpool
, he was loaned to Mansfield Town
, for whom he played 8 times. He impressed there, and scored his first senior goal against Swansea City
. On his return in January 2002, Piper played 27 games as Leicester fought relegation from the Premier League. Although Leicester were ultimately relegated with a mere five league wins all season, Piper made his mark in the club's history by scoring the last ever competitive goal at Filbert Street
against Tottenham Hotspur as Leicester won 2-1.
Sunderland signed Piper from Leicester
in August 2002, for a fee of £3,500,000. Despite initially impressing, Piper's time at Sunderland was mostly an unhappy one, suffering a number of serious injuries, resulting in him having 10 operations in 3 years. It was later found that Piper had a rare and previously undiagnosed condition in his knee, meaning he missed most of the 2003-04
and 2004-05
seasons due to injury and rehabilitation.
Following Sunderland's
promotion to the Premiership in the 2004-05
, Piper was included in Sunderland's squad for the pre-season tour of USA and Canada, playing in two friendlies against American opposition. Although Piper was said to be fit, Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy
was reluctant to rush Piper back into the first team, and made just one start against Cheltenham Town
in the Carling Cup. This was to be Piper's final appearance for Sunderland, and his contract was terminated by mutual consent in January 2006 following an unsuccessful trial with Coventry City
. He had made just 29 appearances, including 15 starts, in three and a half years at Sunderland.
In the summer of 2007 Piper participated in pre-season training at Mansfield Town
, in an attempt to rebuild his fitness. However, he decided to retire before the start of the 2007-08
season. In March 2008 he started training with local side Anstey Nomads
. He managed just one appearance before retiring from football completely Matt is now in charge of the clubs under 15's at Leicester. In 2011 Matt Piper returned to local football when signing for Oadby Town of the East Midlands Counties League along with another former Leicester City player Jon Stevenson.
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, England
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...
) is an English
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 footballer. He played as a winger. He is now coaching the Leicester Under 15's.
Piper was educated at Rawlins Community College
Rawlins Community College
Rawlins Community College is a secondary school of about 1500 students situated in Quorn, Leicestershire, England.-Admissions:Rawlins has Media Arts College status and is partnered with the Number 2 Middle School in Luzhou, China....
, and came through the youth ranks of hometown club Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
. After signing a professional contract in 2000, he made his first team debut in the League Cup
League Cup
In association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946/47 and was entitled the Scottish...
on 9 October 2001, playing the whole of a 6-0 home defeat to Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
. After another appearance in a 4-1 league defeat to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, he was loaned to Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, for whom he played 8 times. He impressed there, and scored his first senior goal against 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...
. On his return in January 2002, Piper played 27 games as Leicester fought relegation from the Premier League. Although Leicester were ultimately relegated with a mere five league wins all season, Piper made his mark in the club's history by scoring the last ever competitive goal at Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Filbert Street, in Leicester, England, was a football stadium, and the home of Leicester City from 1891 to 2002. Although officially titled "The City Business Stadium" in the early 1990s, it remained known almost exclusively by its address, like many English football stadia.- Early years :The club,...
against Tottenham Hotspur as Leicester won 2-1.
Sunderland signed Piper from Leicester
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in August 2002, for a fee of £3,500,000. Despite initially impressing, Piper's time at Sunderland was mostly an unhappy one, suffering a number of serious injuries, resulting in him having 10 operations in 3 years. It was later found that Piper had a rare and previously undiagnosed condition in his knee, meaning he missed most of the 2003-04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
and 2004-05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
seasons due to injury and rehabilitation.
Following Sunderland's
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
promotion to the Premiership in the 2004-05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
, Piper was included in Sunderland's squad for the pre-season tour of USA and Canada, playing in two friendlies against American opposition. Although Piper was said to be fit, Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
was reluctant to rush Piper back into the first team, and made just one start against 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...
in the Carling Cup. This was to be Piper's final appearance for Sunderland, and his contract was terminated by mutual consent in January 2006 following an unsuccessful trial with Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. He had made just 29 appearances, including 15 starts, in three and a half years at Sunderland.
In the summer of 2007 Piper participated in pre-season training at Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, in an attempt to rebuild his fitness. However, he decided to retire before the start of the 2007-08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season. In March 2008 he started training with local side Anstey Nomads
Anstey Nomads F.C.
Anstey Nomads F.C. are a football club based in Anstey, near Leicester, Leicestershire, England.The Nomads were formed in 1947 and were champions of the Leicestershire Senior League in the seasons 1951-52 and 1953-54. The following season the Club recorded it’s highest ever attendance of 4,500...
. He managed just one appearance before retiring from football completely Matt is now in charge of the clubs under 15's at Leicester. In 2011 Matt Piper returned to local football when signing for Oadby Town of the East Midlands Counties League along with another former Leicester City player Jon Stevenson.