New Career

**MattGardner15** · 07-16-2007 11:49 PM

My name is Matt Gardner and I am a footballer for Wigan Athletic. I used to play for non-league side Halifax Town but Wigan persuaded me to join them for the 2007/2008 season. In my two glourious years at Halifax I made 61 appeaances for the club scoring 39 goals, including 22 in my final year. In both seasons I won winners medals as we were promoted twice and I moved on for £3 million, which solved Halifax's financial problems. I struggled to get used to the pace of the Premier League, playing against the elite, and I spent most of the year on the bench or not being included in the squad. One of our regular strikers picked up an injury and would miss a few games, so I saw this as an oppurtunity. I worked my butt off in training and the manager rewarded me with a place in the starting 11 against Aston Villa. I made a bit of and impact on a defence that had conceded just 15 goals in 18 games. I run at the centre backs who happened to be Micheal Dawson and Matthew Upson who I rate as very good centre backs. But they could not handle my pace. But being nervous I could not capitalise on the chances that were laid before me and I could not find my debut goal. In the next game I was confident that I could turn in a high quality performance and the manager had already declared himself pleased with my debut. I toiled away alongside my strike partner Svetoslav Todorov and he laid me in with the perfect oppurtunity. I hit the ball cleanly and the swerve took it away form the keepe. GOOOOOAL! I had started to do what I had done regularly in the lower leagues. My form continued and I scored twice more in the next three games. I was hardly expecting that kind of start to my career, but I was even more amazed to find out that I had a call-up to the England Squad. I was going to be able to play alongside the likes of Gerrard and Rooney. It was an amazing experience. But even more amazing was my debut against the old enemy... The Germans.

After going a goal down (typical England) we controlled the rest of the match. Rooney levelled it up and Rio Ferdinand popped up from a corner to head home. I was thinking that I had made a decent start to my international career as the clock ticked down. In the final minute a sloppy back pass fell into my path and I sprinted clear of a tiring German defence to finish off the scoring. 3-1 against the Germans at Wembley and I had scored. It had to be a dream, but it wasn't. This was really happening to me and I'm a national hero. wow!

I went back to Wigan and we where on a bad run of form. We had slipped from fourth and challenging for Europe to seventh and out of the race. I had scored 4 goals when we played at home to Liverpool, who where second and trying to hold on to there title which they had battled hard to claim. We knew that we would be lucky to scrape anything from that game on our current form. With only a few games of the season remaining we knew that we couldn't let a European place slip away and we decided to give every game, everything we had and against Liverpool we knew it would be tough. We started badly, conceding to a Peter Crouch header, how can you stop him from heading a ball, its impossible. 4 minutes later I levelled the match and it stayed that way till half time, actually it stayed that way till 20 minutes from the end. Dirk Kuyt scored a screamer and we all thought that that was it. We hadn't given up on a single game all season and we weren't going to against the champions. I managed to get on the end of an overhit clearance and slide the ball to Todorov who did the rest. 15 minutes to go 2-2. A point would have been good we thought and then Gerrard does, what he normally does and scrambles home the winner... or so everyone thought. Straight from kick off I runn at Liverpool and I get into the area when I'm hacked down by Carragher the referee blows his whistle and Dao steps up to convert the penalty. 3-3, 6 minutes left what a nail-biter. No-one looked like scoring again until a deflected cross bounced off the crossbar and rebounded into play. The keeper, who had tried to tip the ball over was floored and I raced in ahead of everyone to toe poke the ball home in the final seconds of the game. What a feeling. Newspapers described it as the game of the season and I was glad to be a part of it, we had won 4-3 against the Champions and I had been involved in all four goals. It was amazing and I couldn't believe it. The fans sang my name as we left the pitch and I could not believe the noise that filled the JJB that night. It was simply the best. I felt a part of the team for the first team and knew that following that performance we could beat anyone, but, ohhh no. Barely a week after the shock victory we were in action in the cup and I was a villian. After holding on for the last 20 minutes at the Emirates in a cup semi, we conceded to a fluke goal. The ball bounced over keeper as he slipped and rolled across the line. God, Wigan have no luck. There was no point in Extra Time we may have well as gone straight to penalties. There wasn't a single shot as two exhausted teams decide on a shoot out. We missed our first two pens and the missed there first, but then scored there second and we converted the next two. They scored their thrid and missed no.4. I was left with the task of making sure that they needed to convert there last pen to stay in the game. I stepped up to take the kick and hit it cleanly to the left of the keeper. He dived... to his left and got a fingertip onto the ball. It came back off the post and I had missed. I was distraught. I knew they would score there last pen and I would rather have given them the game then watch that last penalty go in. I walked off the pitch. My miss had cost us a place in the final. I sat in the dressing room filled with emotion. I had never been so angry with myself. The team knew how I felt and left me to do my own thing. I was a wreck for the week after. My confidence had gone and I was left out of the squad for the next game. I played my last game of the season, three weeks before the campaign finished and I didnt get a chance to say bye to the fans. I was stretchered of against Arsenal. They seemed to carry some kind of Jinx. I ended up in hospital and was told I had damaged my Achilles and would miss the end of the season. I had scored twice against Arsenal and my season total had finished at 10 league goals in only 15 appearances. I knew that I needed to be better next season. The team won their remaining games and finshed in our highest ever posistion 5th. It was a great year but a rotten end for me. I missed England's final qualifier but was told I'd be fit in time for the European Championship's, my first major international tournament. A week before the tournament the manager named his squad. There were no suprises in the squad except one. A player who had played 15 game and 1 for his country was included in the final squad. ME. I was IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Euro 2008: Will England Go All The Way?

**MattGardner15** · 07-17-2007 10:17 PM

Euro 2008

England went into this tournament with in a rich vein of form. The squad was confident and everyone was training well. The draw for the first round was two days before the tournament was due to start. The whole squad sat and watched in silence as our name was pulled from the hat.... who would our opponents be? We all held our breath as the next ball came out.... Poland, we would play Poland for a place in the Quarter Final against Spain or Portugal.

The night before the game the team seem unworried by the thought of the game. I on the other hand was filled with nerves. Normally the squad would do something of an evening but I was unable to concentrate on anything.... so I sat in my hotel room and fell asleep. I woke up in the morning unaware of what was about to happen. One of my best friend at Wigan amongst the playing staff is Pawel Buskiiwicz. He is Polish and was amongst the first people I spoke to after the draw and told me that if I scored the goals that knocked his country out of the competetion then he would buy me anything that I liked, lucky for him, he is the biggest earner at Wigan and has turned out to be a big coup when we signed him from Germany for £3 million.

The coach ride to the Stadium in Austria. (joint tournament between Swiss and Austria). We had to play our match in cold weather even though it was supposed to be summer. That coach ride took an age and I was beggining to wonder whether we'd make it in time. When we arrived at the stadium, Steve Mclaren told us what to do we normally did and have a look at the pitch while he sticks the team up on the changing room door. Every time he has done that, we have played well and won I have been told. Being only my third time on England duty I was starting to get an idea of what it was like for these players. I was sad that Pawel was not playing for Poland (a knee injury had reacted badly to an early comebcak and would miss the beggining of the 2008/2009 season), but i also felt a sense of relief as he is an extremly talented player. He scores goals for fun and change the game in a blink of en eye, against any opposistion.

After looking at the pitch we returned to see who had made the team.
This was the England team that lined up on that cold summers night in Austria:

1. Robinson Subs

2. Paranby 12. Foster
3. Neville 14. A.Cole
4. Terry 15. Defoe

5. Ferdinand 16. J.Cole
6. Downing 17. King
7. Gerarrd
8. Spring
9. Gardner
10. Rooney
11. Pennant

It was a team that was based on form and performance in training. I felt sorry for the players on the bench because many are more talented than the players in the 11 men who would start the game. I was delighted to start but doubted whether I would make an impact.

We walked out onto the pitch to the roar of England fans. I walked out holding the mascots hand, thinking " ******* hell its freezing out here". Poland where more used to the colder whether although we had a much better side on paper. Me and Wayne took our places in the centre circle. The ref blew his whistle and we were off.

England V Poland

1 min: England have kept possesion since kicking off and are starting to display some nice touches. 89 minutes to go though.

3 min: SO CLOSE! England are dispossesed in midfield and are helplessly trying to get back and centre forward Matt Gardner blocks the ball. It loops up in the air and looks to have beaten Robinson, but for the lucky keeper rebounds onto the bar and out of play.

After that I thought that it wasn't going to be my day but luckily,

8 mins: GOAL! AND WHAT A GOAL! Matt Gardner picks the ball up and plays a one-two with Rooney, Gardner flicks the ball wide and stands still on the edge of the box. Downing crosses from the left towards the unmarked striker and without a moments hesitation slams the ball past the despairing keeper. No Chance. English 1-0 Poles

Yes, we where ahead and I had just scored the best goal I will ever score in my life. Poland began to get back into it but couldn't fashion a chance until just after Half-Time when:

47 mins: HOW HAS HE MISSED FROM THERE! Poland have the best chance of the match a deep cross is headed back across goal Niedzalien is 2 yards out, he tries to direct a volley away from Robinson but instead spoons it up and over, big confidence loss for the Poles.

What a lucky escape and the Poles faded out of the game. With minutes left they seemed to have given up until I lost my head

83 mins: Big mistake from Gardner. He's been England's hero tonight but he nearly turned into a villian. He is dispossesed 20 yards out but shows persistence to win back the ball. He then tries to squeeze a ball back to Robinson but succeeds in hitting it to Niedzalien who is put clean through. He shots across the Spurs keeper who is beaten. England fans hold there breath as the ball rebounds off the post. ANOTHER LUCKY ESCAPE FOR US!

85 mins: ANOTHER ONE FOR ENGLAND! Game over! 2-0 England. After he lost his head near his own goal, he then keeps his head to slot in the rebound after a Gerrard free-kick comes back off the. He nips in ahead of the Polish defence and heads home from a yard out. England fans are chanting his name, they love 'im.

86 mins: What a reception Gardner gets as he makes way for Defoe, I think thats a precaution for the next match, but he leaves the pitch to applause and cheers from all parts of the ground.

90 mins: News is coming through from Switzerland. Spain have beaten Portugal 3-2 and will play England barring some ort of miracle.

92 mins: 3-0! WHAT A GOAL FROM ROONEY! He shows that there are two heros in this team and they've both produced magic tonight. This time Rooney beats two people on the left and cuts inside and send a curling shot to the near post. No chance for the hapless Pole in goal and they are going home.

93 mins: Full-Time: England progress without coming out of first gear and they will go through to face the Spainards, join us for live coverage of that game, which should be a cracker. A stunning performance from England's Young Guns, Gardner and Rooney. They could certainly help us win this. Goodbye.

We where with the result never in question from the moment I struck the volley. We were off and running and me and Rooney where gonna take England all the way.

The Quarter Final: Decision Time For Steve.

**Master Chief123** · 07-17-2007 10:24 PM

Did you have to beat Poland so bad?

Well what do you expect, it was Niedzielan FW, not like they're gonna score. XD

Well written, good story. Looking forward to more. Sounds like you scored a great goal.

**MattGardner15** · 07-19-2007 03:23 PM

Lol thanks Master Cheif, I dont think I will ever score a goal like it and too make things worse I didnt save it to show off....

. Sorry but Poland suck lol i had it on expert and they couldnt score and england were playing a poor defence, lol. Will write about my quarter final soon.

**MattGardner15** · 07-19-2007 04:26 PM

England V Spain: Euro 2008 Quarter Final

My second coach ride in a week to the same stadium in Austria did not take as long. After the demolition job we produced on the Poles we knew that we would have to come out of first gear against the Spainish. Me, Rooney and Defoe had all produced good performances in training and I had destroyed the Poles. I felt certain that me and Wayne would start the game. I hoped I would start. We walked out onto that pitch and hoped I could produce another great performance on this Arena.

We all walked back into the tunnel and went to out changing room, we're saw the Spain team enter their dressing room. How could they look so calm. This was a major tournament and they were playing a team on fire. I was amazed. These were all players that I had dreamed of playing against. I was more star struck than my first England training session. All the other players had read the team sheet. I hadn't, when I looked this was the sight that meet me

1. Robinson Subs
2. Parnaby 12. Green
3. A.Cole 14. Ferdinand
4. Terry 15. Gardner
5. King 16. Lampard
6. Downing 17. Neville
7. Gerrard
8. Spring
9. Rooney
10. Defoe
11. Pennant

Why? Why was I not picked. I had scored the goals that put us through and me and Wayne were looking sharp. I was furious I walked in the changing room and told the boss what I thought. I didn't give him a chance to reply and stormed out and I immediatly regretted it. I sat in the dug-out with my head in my hands. Terry Venables came up behind me and told me that he knew how I felt, and the boss understood why I was angry, typical Steve he wouldn't yell he would just tell you what he was doing and if you didn't agree then he understood why. He was certain that I would be more of a threat against a tired Spainish defence, and I understood that I wasn't being dropped, I was a weapon to use againt the Spainards.

I went back to the changing room and made my apology to the gaffer and the team he smiled and nodded and I took my place and got changed. I walked out behind the team and immediatly Raul came up to me and asked why I wasn't playing and I laughed and told him he would find out at some point in the game.

I took my place on the bench. It was a warm night and I knew that I could perform if I was given the chance. I had scored 3 goals in 3 games for England. And one was against the Germans, and I had proved that I could play well against big teams.

0 min: Spain get us underway and the big suprise is teenage superstar Matt Gardner only being on the bench for England. Is this tactical from Steve Mclaren or will he regret it?

I hoped not...

4 mins: Defoe is on fire. He's twice tested Casillas in the first 5 minutes and looks like a big threat. Can England get an early goal?

Please God, let us score I found myself thinking....

8 mins: OH NO! Disaster Miguel Mista has scored. Spain have gone a goal up and it's poor defending from Terry. Which is a first. He fails to clear a ball and then tries to win it back but is barged away. England protest that he was fouled, and I have to say it looked like he had a hold of Terry's shirt. Somewhat controversial but England can't complain, poor defending.

15 mins: HOW CLOSE CAN YOU GET! Robinson is beaten and the ball must skim the outside of the post. What a stike from Xavi and England are rattled.

34 mins: How are England not more than a goal down. Spain are a pain in England's Side and are a constant threat. Mista has forced more saves form Robinson and he looks thouroughly annoyed about it.

45 mins: Half-Time and England will be glad that it's come at this time. They will be happy to only be glad to go in at 1-0 down. Surely we will see Gardner soon

We went back to the dressing room with heads down and the manager came it and didn't say a word until five minutes before we had to go back out and in those five minutes he gave an inspiring team talk. The team went back out confident and bouyant. I resumed my place on the bench and within 5 minutes was told to start warming up.

49 mins: England are the better side now and what has Mclaren said at half time. Rooney had twice forced Casillas to concede a corner. A powerful drive straight at him was to hard to hold and he was forced to tip it over. Gardner had started warming up.

I was told to get ready after 5 minutes and I soon found myself up front alongside Defoe

55 mins: On comes Gardner, but not what we thought would happen, he's taken Rooney off. He has been England's best player but no where near good enough.

56 mins: SO CLOSE! Immediatly Gardner has Spain worried and he hits a shot just over from the edge of the box. Positive from Gardner.

I was enjoying myself and knew that Spain would crack.

58 mins: He's been on the pitch under five minutes and had more of an impact than the whole team. He looks determined and fired up. Gardner is rampant.

65 minutes: OFF THE POST!!!!! He's so unlucky this time Gardner. His golabound shot beats Casillas but hits the post, he then tries to get to the rebound but his shot is hacked off the line. Not England's day.

66 mins: HOW HAS THIS HAPPENED! SPAIN HAVE SCORED! ENGLAND ARE GOING HOME! Oh my god, that goal line clearance turned into a through ball ans Mista raced through to finish and add insult to injury.

66 mins: As England kick-off Gardner is rallying the other ten men around him on the pitch. He's more a captain then Terry at the minute.

75 mins: BACK IN IT!!! Gerrard is England's hero, Gardner is involved as he plays a one-two with the midfielder who hammers the ball past Casillas.

76 mins: England are throwing the kitchen sink at Spain. The Spainards look so tired. COME ON ENGLAND!

80 mins: YESSSSS!!!!! YOU BEAUTY!!!!!! Gardner has turned this game on his head! This time Gerrard returns the favour and slides in Gardner for a cool finish. Spain look shattered. England can win this now.

85 mins: This is heading for extra-time. Gardner is so influential will Mclaren regret not starting him.

89 mins: England are so close to going through. Gardner curls a free kick over wall but it lands on top of the goal. CLOSE!

91 mins: IT'S OVER! SPAIN HAVE SCORED A THIRD! Unbelievable he scores twice and they leave Mista open to head home Raul's cross. He completes his hat-trick, but is then sent off for taking his shirt off, he had already been booked.

92 mins: England have one last try as Gardner squeezes a weak shot at goal. Casillas collects and clears.

93 mins: FULL-TIME. ENGLAND CRASH OUT! A terrible performance from England who have Matt Gardner to thank and Gerrard to stop this game being embarassing. That said England came so close to the Semi's. The players are in tears. Gardner is furious and had walked straight off the pitch and gives the Spainish fans a gesture that shocks everyone in side the stadium as they boo him off. He'll pay for that.

I was angry and the Spainish fans disgusted me. I walked off dejected.

What next in my career?