Matthew Thomas Crowell (born 3 July 1984) is a Welsh retired footballer who last played for NSW Premier League side Central Coast Mariners Academy.

Matt Crowell
Personal information
Full name Matthew Thomas Crowell
Date of birth (1984-07-03) 3 July 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth Bridgend, Wales
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
000–2000 Swansea City
2000–2002 Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Southampton 0 (0)
2003–2008 Wrexham 93 (4)
2008–2009 Northwich Victoria 56 (5)
2009 Altrincham 5 (1)
2009–2010 Central Coast Mariners 13 (0)
2010 Altrincham 9 (0)
2010 Farnborough 2 (0)
2011 Port Talbot Town 4 (0)
2011–2012 CD Ourense 20 (0)
2012–2013 Port Talbot Town 24 (1)
2013–2015 CCM Academy 44 (2)
2016 Maitland FC 4 (1)
2018–2019 Central Coast United 32 (1)
Total 306 (15)
International career
2001 Wales U17 2 (0)
2002 Wales U19 3 (0)
2003–2005 Wales U21 7 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Southampton

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Born in Bridgend, 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.[1] 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"[2] However, Crowell never made a first team appearance at Southampton and was released in 2003.

Wrexham

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After spending time on trial with Bristol Rovers,[3] Crowell later joined Wrexham, having impressed in a trial spell,[4] and made his professional debut for the club on 9 August 2003 as a substitute in place of Steve Thomas during a 0–0 draw with Chesterfield. In his third season at the Racecourse Ground he made six appearances in the club's Football League Trophy victory, beating Southend United 2–0 in the final.[5] 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,[6] he was released in January 2008 having made over 100 appearances for the club.

Non-league

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In January 2008, Crowell signed for Northwich Victoria on non-contract terms.[7] In July 2009, Crowell left Northwich. He attended a trial with NSW Premier League side Sydney Olympic,[3] 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".

Central Coast Mariners

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In September 2009, Crowell joined A-League team Central Coast Mariners on a one-year deal until the end of the 2009–10 season.[8] He made 13 appearances for the club before returning to England.

Return to Non-league

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He then rejoined Altrincham before in December 2010 Farnborough announced that he had joined them, apparently on non-contract terms.[9] He left the club after only two appearances.

Port Talbot Town

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In May 2011, Crowell had a two-week trial with China's Chengdu Blades before he joined Welsh Premier League club Port Talbot Town in July 2011 after a trial.[10] He played all of the club's league games prior to his next move.

CD Ourense

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He signed a full-time contract with Spanish club CD Ourense in September 2011 where he made 20 appearances for the club.[11]

Return to Port Talbot Town

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In July 2012 Crowell returned to Wales and his former club Port Talbot Town ahead of the 2012/13 Welsh Premier League season. Crowell's first goal in his second spell at the club came in a 5–0 win away at Aberystwyth FC where he scored a penalty.

Central Coast Mariners Academy

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In March 2013 Crowell signed for the Central Coast Mariners Academy, feeder seed for Central Coast Mariners FC of the A-League where he had a previous stint in the 2009–10 season.[12]

Retirement

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Crowell retired from professional football in August 2019[13]

International career

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A former captain of the Wales under-15 side,[2] Crowell later went on to represent Wales at under-17 and under-19 levels. He has also played numerous times for the Wales U21 side and has also scored a screamer with his left foot for the side, against Azerbaijan U21 in 2004.[14]

Career statistics

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As of 2 September 2010.
Club 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 2007–08 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 1
2008–09 41 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 41 4
Subtotal 56 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 56 5
Altrincham 2009–10 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
Central Coast Mariners 2009–10 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
Altrincham 2010–11 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 169 10 2 0 3 0 9 1 183 11

Honours

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Wrexham

References

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  1. ^ "Charles out of Swans youth job". Daily Mirror. 1 August 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Swans get Crowell compensation". BBC Sport. 26 September 2000. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Departed players and staff 2009–10". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  4. ^ "Four in race to replace Ferguson". Liverpool Daily Post. 25 November 2003. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  5. ^ "Southend 0-2 Wrexham". BBC. 10 April 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Crowell is ready to seize chance". BBC Sport. 16 June 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
  7. ^ "Three is the magic number for Dino". Northwich Guardian. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  8. ^ [1] Archived 13 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Farnborough Football Club". Farnboroughfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  10. ^ [2] Archived 31 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "WelshPrem news from Welsh Premier League – Welsh Premier League". Welshpremier.com. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  12. ^ Tucker, Steve (16 May 2016). "What became of the young Welsh boys who played with Gareth Bale". WalesOnline. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Central Coast United". 12 August 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2021 – via Facebook.
  14. ^ "Azerbaijan U21 0–1 Wales U21". BBC Sport. 3 September 2004. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
  15. ^ "Southend 0–2 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 10 April 2005. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
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