Matthew Briggs

At 33 years old, Matthew Briggs has this physical status:

Club career

Briggs was born in Wandsworth, London, and was discovered by Fulham scouts at the age of ten. Whether you're looking for a unique way to play or the left of midfield, Briggs became a regular in the under-18s after being tagged with the under-16s for the first time. He appeared at reserve level before being called up to Lawrie Sanchez's first team for a trip to Middlesbrough in May 2007. He made his debut in the 3–1 loss at the Riverside Stadium on May 13th, beating Moritz Volz after 77 minutes to become the Premier League's youngest player at the age of 16 years and 65 days old. Briggs held the record for 12 years until Harvey Elliott made an appearance, also for Fulham.

Briggs is a footballer who plays for football, so John Murtough, the club's Head of Youth Development, said after the match.

Briggs later said of the experience:

Briggs returned to school the following day to take his GCSE exams.

Briggs signed Leyton Orient, a League One club, on a one-month loan agreement that will run until February 13. On January 19th, he made his first professional appearance in two-and-a-half years as he played the entire 90 minutes in Orient's 2–0 home victory over Yeovil Town. This was to be his first game of the season.

Briggs was handed his complete debut by manager Mark Hughes in Fulham's 6–0 victory over Port Vale in the League Cup at Craven Cottage on August 25, 2010. He played for 58 minutes before being replaced by Stephen Kelly before being recalled by Stephen Kelly. With a 1–0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 10, he made his first appearance in the Premier League in the same season. He was involved in Fulham's 2–1 loss to Arsenal on December 4th, but was forced to leave early due to a calf muscle injury, which Mark Hughes hoped Briggs would have fully recovered from the injury in early 2011.

Briggs were on the sidelines for longer than expected due to a bad ankle injury, but he agreed to keep him with the club until the summer of 2014.

Briggs' 2011–12 season was the year he would be a regular starter for the Fulham first-team under new coach Martin Jol. Briggs got off to a 3–0 Europa League first qualifying round victory over Faroese club NS Runavk on June 30, 2011, with Jol putting a spotlight on a youthful team and Fulham competing in the UEFA Europa League through the Fair Play rankings. Fulham defeated Crusaders 3–1 at Seaview in Belfast on July 14th with the first goal on July 14th.

After Martin Jol made Briggs available for loan in late January 2012, he joined Peterborough United in the Championship Championships, beginning on 7 February 2012. Briggs admitted that after making the switch, he wished he'd be able to stay with Peterborough until the 2011-12 season. In Peterborough's 3–1 loss to Cardiff City on February 14, he made his debut on February 14th. During his one-month stay at London Road, he played five games.

Briggs was told by Jol that he would have to wait his chance in the first team due to the presence of regular left-back John Arne Riise on his return to Fulham. Both Peterborough and Watford inquired into Briggs' loan availability, but Briggs ruled out a return, saying he wanted to fight for the shirt." He started in Fulham's 3–2 loss to Manchester United in the Premier League on August 25th, before being loaned to Bristol City for one month on October 26, 2012. In a 2–1 home loss to Hull City on the next day, he made his debut. Fulham were planning to extend Briggs' loan if the club didn't face any more injuries, but after his loan was overturned, he was recalled to his parent club.

On March 1, 2013, Watford signed Briggs on loan until the end of the season. In Watford's 2–1 home loss to Blackpool on March 9, he made his debut on March 9th. In Watford's 4–0 victory over Blackburn Rovers on April 20, he scored his first professional league goal.

Briggs helped Watford progress to the play-offs, where he appeared in both legs of the 3–2 aggregate victory over Leicester City, transferring the club to Wembley for the final. However, Briggs was an ineffective substitute as Watford was defeated 1–0 by Crystal Palace, effectively ending their promotion to the Premier League. During his loan time, he made nine appearances for Watford.

Martin Jol planned to loan Briggs out for the 2013–14 season after his Watford loan came to an end. On August 31, he made what was supposed to be his last game for Fulham as a second-half replacement for Sascha Riether at St James' Park. He had an injury setback and needed a hernia surgery in September 2013, which Briggs described as "massive for me."

Briggs and eight other players were released from the club at the end of the 2013-2014 season when Fulham were relegated to the Championship. He had been at Fulham for 13 years.

In July 2014, Briggs joined Millwall in a Championship match. As boss Ian Holloway determined whether or not to make a move for the player, he appeared in a friendly against Dartford. Holloway said that "Briggs is growing on me" after he played in a 2–2 friendly draw with Stevenage, while Holloway said. Briggs initially turned down Millwall's deal but later began talks with Blackpool over a transfer. He turned down Blackpool and instead signed a one-year contract with Millwall on August 1, 2014. After spending a few days with Briggs, Briggs revealed that his agent had also spoken to Blackburn Rovers and also received a contract from Huddersfield Town. He said his decision was reversed because he "wanted to stay in London because my friends and relatives are here."

Briggs made his appearance in a League Cup match against Wycombe Wanderers on August 12, 2014. Briggs was a mixed game, with Kevin scoring on his debut to win Millwall by 1–0, but after 59 minutes, he was banned from returning for his second bookable offence. However, after making his debut, Holloway's chances in the first team became limited, with Holloway making adjustments to his starting lineup, totaling only 12 appearances from his debut to January 2015.

Briggs joined Colchester United on loan until the end of the season on January 22, 2015. In Colchester's 2–0 victory over Leyton Orient at the Colchester Community Stadium on January 24, he leapt straight into Colchester's starting lineup. Briggs, a footballer, was called up to the Guyana squad to face Grenada in a friendly while playing for Colchester. Briggs was suspended for the second time in the 2014–15 season as he received his second yellow card during Colchester's 2–2 away draw with Gillingham on March 21. With a victory over promotion hopefuls Preston North End on Sunday, he made 18 appearances for the United States in the closing stages of the season, helping the team remain in League One for another season.

Briggs was released at the end of the 2014-15 season after his deal with Millwall came to an end.

On June 22, 2015, Colchester United announced Briggs on a permanent basis. Following his loan spell at the end of the 2014–15 season, he signed a two-year contract with the club.

In his second appearance for the club in their 2nd day draw with Blackpool on August 8th, he played 79 minutes before being replaced by Kane Vincent-Young. He played in his first full season with the team, with 32 first-team appearances to his name.

Briggs was forced to do surgery early in the 2016-17 season, which would keep him out of action for several months. In Colchester's 1–1 draw with Blackpool on February 4, 2017, he returned to competitive action. Despite his injury, Briggs ended the season with 15 appearances in League Two.

On the expiration of his deal, he was not offered a new one by Colchester and was announced on May 10, 2017.

Briggs went to Lincoln City on trial in July 2017.

Briggs joined Chesterfield, EFL League Two, in August 2017 on a short-term deal. When he was caring for his ill spouse, he travelled between Colchester and Chesterfield every day, a 10-hour round trip.

Briggs was out of work after 11 appearances, according to boss Jack Lester in January 2018.

Briggs joined Barnet on a non-contract basis on March 10, 2018. He made one appearance, home to Port Vale, but Briggs' new boss Martin Allen announced that he had left the team because there wasn't enough space for him due to the team's size.

Briggs joined Maldon & Tiptree in the 2018-19 season after being on a construction site. In his first year, he received the Player of the Year award.

Following a brief stint at Coggeshall Town, Briggs joined Danish 1st Division side HB Kge in August 2019. Briggs was one of the club's first half previews. Briggs did not return from his winter holiday, however. In the beginning, it was announced that he would like to spend more days with the family, but the club did not allow this. He had been on sick leave until then, according to reports. However, the club revealed on March 2nd that he had ended his deal by mutual agreement.

Briggs joined Dartford in March 2020 for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

Briggs returned to Denmark and signed with newly promoted Danish Superliga team Vejle Boldklub following a trial, on a contract that will not be confirmed until 2022. In the team's 3–0 victory over Randers on October 30, he made his debut for the team, replacing Wahid Faghir.

Vejle announced on July 20, 2021, that the Briggs deal had been terminated by mutual consent after five appearances for the club.

Briggs returned to England on July 23, 2021, as part of Gosport Borough's Southern League Premier Division South team.

International career

Briggs is eligible to play for both England and Guyana. He qualifies to play for Guyana through his grandmother.

Briggs was first called up to the England under-16 squad on November 9, 2006, where he was playing in England's 3–0 victory over Northern Ireland in the Victory Shield. This was his first game for the under-16s.

During a 4–1 away win over Norway's Norwegian counterparts on April 8, Briggs made his first appearances for the England under-17s on Saturday, defeating them in a 4–1 away victory. He competed in 13 games for the under-17s, drew five, and lost just once, in his last game against Israel on March 30, 2008, a match that ended 2–2.

Briggs made his debut for the under-19s on October 13th, 2008, after losing by Serbia at The Showgrounds in Newry, Northern Ireland, 4–1. Briggs was a key member of England's squad that reached the tournament final in Donetsk, Ukraine, in 2009. He was a late addition to the team, having to fly back from Fulham's pre-season tour of Australia to connect with his teammates in Ukraine.

Briggs had been in England's 2–1 elite qualification victory over Scotland over the weekend at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, ahead of the tournament. He started in all England's games leading up to the final, including England's 1–1 draw with Switzerland on July 21th, the 2nd draw with Ukraine on July 27th, and Slovenia's 7–1 victory over Slovenia on July 27th, securing their place in the semi-finals with France. He was instrumental in the 3-1 triumph on July 30th, which put England and Ukraine in the final, which was a rematch with Ukraine. After being defeated 2–0 in Donetsk, England finished as runners-up to Ukraine.

Briggs made further appearances for the under-19s in the 2010 elite qualifying round in Kyiv, defeating the Republic of Ireland 1–0 and Ukraine's 1–1 draw in Borodyanka on May 26, 2010. Briggs played only once in the French finals, beginning in England's 3–2 victory over Austria on July 18th. This was to be his last appearance for the under-19s.

Briggs traveled with the under-20 team in Egypt in September 2009. He made his debut in England's 1–0 loss to Uruguay on September 26 in Ismalia. In Suez, he made his second and final appearance in the 1–1 draw with Uzbekistan.

Briggs played in two 2013 European Under-21 Championship Group 8 qualifiers, the first of which was a 6–0 victory over Azerbaijan, and his second and final England under-21 appearance came at Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavk, as England defeated Iceland 3–0.

Briggs was called up by the Guyana national team in March 2015, a few weeks before their friendlies against Saint Lucia and Grenada. The Golden Jaguars defeated Grenada 2–0 on March 29, making him his full international debut. He returned to the Guyana team for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup after four years away from the national team-up. During a CONCACAF Nations League match on the 15th of November 19, Briggs scored his first international goal after tapping in from six yards from an indirect free kick by Kadell Daniel.

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