Matty Pattison

Matty Pattison

Personal information
Full name	Matthew Joseph Pattison
Date of birth	27 October 1986 (1986-10-27)
Place of birth	Johannesburg, South Africa
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Engen Santos
Number	7
Youth career
2000–2005	Newcastle United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2008	Newcastle United	10	(0)
2007–2008	→ Norwich City (loan)	10	(0)
2008–2009	Norwich City	41	(3)
2009–	Mamelodi Sundowns	56	(4)
2012	→ Engen Santos (loan)	0	(0)
National team‡
2010–	South Africa	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 January 2012. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 31 January 2012

Matthew Joseph "Matty" Pattison (born 27 October 1986) is a South African association footballer who plays for Engen Santos in the Premier Soccer League.

Early life

Pattison, who was born in Johannesburg, began to play football at an early age. He and his family then moved to England in 1997, when he was eleven years old. He joined Newcastle Youth Academy at the age of fourteen.

Club career

Newcastle United

He got his first taste of senior football in a pre-season friendly match against Celtic in August 2004. Unfortunately, Pattison was put on the sideline for the whole 2004–05 season with two knee ligament injuries that threatened to end his career. However, he showed his resilience and made his competitive first team debut on February 25, 2006 in a Premier League match against Everton, coming on as a substitute. Pattison made his first start for the club later in the same season against West Bromwich Albion, before being substituted after 80 minutes. Pattison was later named man of the match for the impressive contribution he made during the 3–0 win.

Norwich City

Pattison joined Norwich City for a short loan period in November 2007, following ex-manager Glenn Roeder. After making 10 appearances and impressing, the deal was made permanent once the transfer window opened on January 4, 2008 for an undisclosed fee, on a three and a half year contract. In a bizarre incident, it was reported on March 19, that Pattison had been arrested by police after being caught not only drink-driving, but doing so whilst only wearing underwear. However it was revealed during his resulting court case that he was fully clothed at the time of his arrest.

Pattison did not score during his first year with Norwich City, despite striking the goal frame on a number of occasions. His first goal finally came in the 2–1 win at Nottingham Forest on November 22, 2008, and was quickly followed up with another against Crystal Palace three days later. He then scored the second goal against local rivals Ipswich Town on December 7 to take his tally to three in four games.

Mamelodi Sundowns

On 3 August 2009 Pattison was reported by South African media to be leaving Norwich to play in South Africa, either for Mamelodi Sundowns or Orlando Pirates. On the 6th August Pattison returned to his native South Africa to join Mamelodi Sundowns for an undisclosed fee in hope of breaking into the South African national team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Matty was on trial at Npower Championship side Leeds and had scored two goals in two friendly games, putting in some hard working performances in his quest to secure a permanent move back to English football. Leeds saw Matty as a potential solution to their midfield problems following the sale of Jonny Howson. On the 27th of January Leeds United Manager Simon Grayson said he will not be offering Matty a deal at the club. He also had a trial with Scottish club Hibernian in January 2012.

International career

Although having been called up to the senior squad several times, Pattison was first capped off the bench against the USA in November 2010. Pattison was selected for the World Cup 29-man squad for a training camp in Durban from January 15–28, 2010, playing in an unofficial friendly match against Swaziland.

Pattison came off the bench to win his second cap against Kenya in February 2011.

Awards

Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament: 2010

External links

• Matty Pattison career stats at Soccerbase
• http://www.football365.co.za/player/0,25236,14311_180855,00.html