Matthew James Bodkin (born 16 September 1983) is an English footballer, who plays as a winger for Chatham Town.

Matt Bodkin
Personal information
Full name Matthew James Bodkin
Date of birth (1983-09-16) 16 September 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth Chatham, England
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
000?–2003 Nottingham Forest
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Nottingham Forest 0 (0)
2004–2005 Gillingham 2 (0)
2005–2006 Welling United 54 (4)
2006–2009 Grays Athletic 14 (0)
2007Thurrock (loan) 5 (1)
2007Dartford (loan) 1 (0)
2007–2008Thurrock (loan) 28 (8)
2008–2009Eastleigh (loan) 17 (9)
2009 Dover Athletic 12 (1)
2009–2011 Thurrock 79 (16)
2011–2014 Margate ? (?)
2014–2016 Maidstone United 31 (0)
2016–2017 Hastings United 1 (1)
2017–2018 Margate
2018–2024 Chatham Town 140 (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:09, 23 July 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Bodkin began his career as a trainee with Nottingham Forest, turning professional in May 2003.[1] He failed to make the first team with Forest and was released in May 2004. In August 2004, Bodkin joined Gillingham,[2] making his debut in the 1–0 FA Cup defeat away to Portsmouth on 8 January 2005.[3] His league debut came the following week when he replaced Andy Hessenthaler as a second-half substitute in the 1–0 win at home to Plymouth Argyle. He made one further appearance, away to Leicester City on 22 January before being released by Gillingham at the end of the season,[4] joining Welling United in August 2005.[5] His form for Welling was impressive enough to earn an invitation to join pre-season training with Gillingham in 2006,[6] but a move back to The Football League did not materialise.

Bodkin left Welling to join Grays Athletic in December 2006, attracted by a return to full-time football.[7] In February 2007, he was allowed to join Conference South side Thurrock on loan.[8]

On 21 August 2007, Bodkin was sent on loan to Dartford, dropping down three leagues to the Isthmian League Division One North. Exactly a month later he rejoined Thurrock on loan until the end of the season. He made a further two appearances for Grays Athletic at the start of the 2008–09 season, before being sent out on loan to Eastleigh until January 2009. On 3 February 2009, Bodkin joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Dover Athletic on a free transfer until the end of the season.[9] He made his debut in a 3–0 victory over Hendon and scored his first goal in a 6–0 victory over Sutton United. Despite being a regular first-team player in the run-in to Dover's championship winning season, he was not offered a new contract and was subsequently released. Shortly afterwards he signed a one-year contract with former loan club Thurrock.[10]

Bodkin signed a one-year deal with Margate of the Isthmian League Premier Division on 16 July 2011. Four days later, he accepted an offer to extend his contract by a further year.

Bodkin signed with Maidstone United of the Isthmian League Premier Division on 8 May 2014.[11] On 25 May 2016, Bodkin was released by Maidstone.[12]

Honours

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Chatham Town

References

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  1. ^ "ESSEX NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL – Playing Staff". Thurrock. 6 August 2004. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Bodkin agrees Gills deal". BBC Sport. 6 August 2004. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Portsmouth 1–0 Gillingham". BBC Sport. 8 January 2005. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Gillingham let three players go". BBC News. 7 June 2005. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Saunders coup for Pennock". Non-League Daily. 9 September 2005. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "Gills return for Bodkin?". Non-League Daily. 13 May 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ "Bodkin gets his move". Non-League Daily. 14 December 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ "Grays duo loaned out". Non-League Daily. 3 February 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ "Hess gets a top Bod". Dover Athletic F.C. 3 February 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  10. ^ "Matt Bodkin signs". Thurrock F.C. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  11. ^ "Saunders makes his first summer signing". Maidstone United. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  12. ^ "Stones bid farewell to Bodkin". 25 May 2016.
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