Following our story about Aberdeen FC goalkeeper David Preece’s hopes to become a journalist when he hangs up his football boots, we decided to profile some former players who now write the news instead of making it…

Gary Matthews, managing director of Herts and Essex Newspapers, has been a journalist since the age of 17.

During the early days of his career, Gary was also a promising footballer in the West Midlands and ended up making a name for himself in the semi-professional leagues – even playing in a Wembley final.

He told Holdthefrontpage: “I was a Wolves junior from 1970 to 1973 but never signed professionally for them. I moved to Willenhall Town in the West Midlands League and we eventually reached the Premier South League, now the Dr Martens League.”

In 1981, Gary played in what was perhaps the biggest game of his career – the FA Vase final at Wembley.

He said: “Unlike many professionals, I’ve actually played on the hallowed turf and I think I’m right in saying that I’m the only player to have ever worn three different shirts at Wembley during a game.

“Our goalkeeper was carried off so I had to go in goal and my other shirt was taken back to the dressing room. We were down 3-2 so I then came back out of goal but wore a different shirt. I ended up wearing numbers nine, one and four.”

Unfortunately for Gary, Willenhall couldn’t pull back the deficit and lost 3-2 after extra time to Wickham.

Gary said: “We were 2-0 up, and I guess it’s a bit sad really, but I’ve never actually looked at my loser’s medal.

“But not many non-league footballers get to play at Wembley and in 1981 Wembley was part of folklore as it was only 15 years after the World Cup final there.

“It was a fantastic experience being able to look up to the Royal box and see my family.”

Despite having offers to play from Everton, Sheffield United and Torquay United, Gary retired from football in 1986. He finished as one of the top ten non-league leading goalscorers with 410 goals in more than 500 games.

He said: “I was scoring about two goals every three games.”

Gary worked his way up the ranks at the Wolverhampton Express and Star before working as launch editor of the Chronicle series in 1981. He then worked for Travel News, now Travel Weekly, and joined Herts and Essex Newspapers in 1988.

He said: “I joined Herts and Essex Newspapers as group editor and worked up through editor-in-chief, publishing director and became managing director in January 2000.

“I love football and I love journalism and had I turned a professional footballer, I may never have been able to play at Wembley.

“I was lucky to be a good footballer and to combine this with journalism. There was not the money in football in those days and really; I couldn’t afford to play professionally. But I’ve got some good memories.”

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