685 Matt Edeson

Biography

Matthew Kirk Edeson was born in Beverley, raised in Bransholme, educated at Peronet Thompson High School and played for Hull Schoolboys throughout his younger years before joining the Tigers’ YTS scheme in June 1992 and scoring an August 1992 hattrick for City’s Juniors against Leeds United. The striker made City history in October 1992 when he made his senior debut as substitute against Fulham at Craven Cottage – at 16 years and 60 days old Edeson became the youngest player to appear in a league match for the Tigers.

Over the next three seasons Matt learned his trade in the Reserves and made a few more substitute appearances, but was unable to fulfil his early promise and left the club in May 1995, three months before his ninteenth birthday.

In July 1995 Edeson dropped into the non-league scene, signing initially for Northern Premier League side Guiseley. Despite being linked with a move to North Ferriby United at the end of the 1995/96 season, Matt stayed with Guiseley at the start of the 1996/97 season before moving to divisional rivals Lincoln United in November 1996. By July 1997 Matt had returned to Hull and signed for Northern Counties East League side Hall Road Rangers and in the first half of the 1997/98 season he netted 28 goals including multiple hattricks – but the goals dried up as Rangers’ title bid faltered.

In the 1998 close season Edeson switched to Northern Counties East League side North Ferriby United but by January 1999 he had switched to divisional rivals Pontefract Collieries. In July 1999 he joined Goole, another Northern Counties East League side, but within a month he moved on to a third NCEL side Bridlington Town. After two months of fine form Matt returned to Goole in October 1999 and saw out the 1999/2000 at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds. In July 2000 Matt headed to Derbyshire and signed for Northern Counties East League side Alfreton Town but two months later in September 2000 he returned to Holderness and rejoined Bridlington Town. In December 2001 he returned to Goole and had a season and a half at the NCEL side before joining Central Midlands League side Barton Town at the start of the 2002/03 season. By March 2003 he had returned to Bridlington Town for a third spell on the East Coast before returning to Hall Road Rangers in the early weeks of 2004, going on to become Rangers’ manager during the 2005/06 season.

As well as playing for many Saturday sides Matt was a key figure in the Hull Sunday League, playing several seasons for Northwood and Brighams – in April 1997 he represented Northwood in the FA Sunday Cup final.

Matt’s penchant for the livelier side of life, fuelled by earning reasonable money at a young age, caught up with him and he stopped playing in the mid 2000s while still in his late-twenties. Subsequently he struggled with alcoholism and depression and became active in local charities in Hull that helped tackle those illnesses.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 11 August 1976, Beverley
Hull City First Game: 10 October 1992, Fulham A (League Division 2), 16 years, 60 days old
Hull City Final Game: 6 May 1995, Blackpool A (League Division 2), 18 years, 268 days old

Clubs

Hull City (1992-1995). Guiseley (1995-1996), Lincoln United (1996-1997), Hall Road Rangers (1997-1998), North Ferriby United (1998), Pontefract Collieries (1998-1999), Goole (1999), Bridlington Town (1999), Goole (1999-2000), Alfreton Town (2000), Bridlington Town (2000-2001), Goole (2001-2002), Barton Town (2002-2003), Bridlington Town (2003-2004), Hall Road Rangers (2004-2006)

Hull City Record

Career: 6 apps, 0 goals