ENG flag Matthew Upson

Born:18 April 1979
Birthplace:Stowmarket
Weight:72 kg
Height:1.85 m
Position:Defender/Centre back

Many observers believe Arsene Wenger was rather hasty in allowing the former Luton Town centre-back to join Birmingham City.

Matthew went on to win England international honours.

Matthew spent the first part of the 2000-01 season battling back to full fitness after rupturing a cruciate ligament in December 1999.

He made a handful of appearances for Arsenal in the autumn, featuring in the defeats against Ipswich Town and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Worthington Cup and Champions' League competitions, but made only one substitute appearance in the Premiership away at Everton.

He subsequently joined Nottingham Forest on loan where he made a single appearance against Portsmouth in an unfamiliar midfield role before returning early to North London with a back injury.

He later moved to Crystal Palace for another loan period and featured regularly for the Eagles in the run-in to the end of the season, contributing to their struggle to avoid relegation.

Back at Highbury, he added a further appearance from the subs' bench when he replaced Robert Pires in the final stages of the last game of the season at Southampton.

Matthew is a strong, intelligent central defender who is comfortable on the ball and has good distribution skills.

He continued to feature in the England Under-21 squad winning a further three caps.

Matthew's contract at Birmingham City was extended to June 2008 in April 2006.

He joined West Ham United in January 2007 with a contract to June 2011.

Matthew joined Stoke City in August 2011 with a two-year contract.

Date Against Score Venue Competition Round
13 May 1997 Portugal 0-3 Angra do Heroismo AZORES UEFA U18 2nd Round Group 3
09 Sep 1997 Yugoslavia 0-0 Rotherham UEFA U18 Preliminary
11 Oct 1997 Yugoslavia 4-0 LOZNICA UEFA U18 Group 5
26 Oct 1997 Russia 1-2 MOSKVA UEFA U18 Group 5
14 Nov 1997 Russia 3-2 Gresty Road UEFA U18 Group 5
26 Mar 1998 France 3-0 Edgeley Park UEFA Under 18 2nd Round Group 3
23 Apr 1998 France 0-1 RODEZ UEFA U18 2nd Round Group 3
19 Jul 1998 Cyprus 2-1 Municipal PARALIMNI UEFA Under 18 Final Group B
21 Jul 1998 Republic of Ireland 1-0 Anagennisi DERYNIA UEFA U18 Final Group B
23 Jul 1998 Croatia 0-3 DERTYNIA CYPRUS UEFA U18 Final Group B
04 Sep 1998 Sweden 2-0 Idrottsparken SUNDSVALL UEFA U21 Group 5
09 Oct 1998 Bulgaria 1-0 Upton Park UEFA U21 Group 5
13 Oct 1998 Luxembourg 5-0 UEFA U21 Group 5
09 Feb 1999 France 2-1 Pride Park U21 -
03 Sep 1999 Luxembourg 5-0 Madejski Stadium UEFA U21 Group 5
07 Sep 1999 Poland 1-3 PLOCK UEFA Under-21 Group 5
08 Oct 1999 Denmark 4-1 Valley Parade U21 -
14 Nov 2000 Italy 0-0 Monza U21 -
27 Feb 2001 Spain 0-4 St Andrews U21 -
24 May 2001 Mexico 3-0 Filbert Street U21 -
05 Jun 2001 Greece 1-3 Athens UEFA U21 Group 9
22 May 2003 South Africa 2-1 Absa Stadium International -
03 Jun 2003 Serbia and Montenegro 2-1 Walkers Stadium International -
11 Jun 2003 Slovakia 2-1 Riverside Stadium European Championship Group 7
20 Aug 2003 Croatia 3-1 Portman Road International -
10 Sep 2003 Liechtenstein 2-0 Old Trafford European Championship Group 7
16 Nov 2003 Denmark 2-3 Old Trafford International -
17 Nov 2004 Spain 0-1 Santiago Bernabeu International -
06 Feb 2008 Switzerland 2-1 Wembley Stadium International -
10 Sep 2008 Croatia 4-1 Maksimir World Cup Europe Group 6
11 Oct 2008 Kazakhstan 5-1 Wembley Stadium FIFA World Cup Europe Group 6
15 Oct 2008 Belarus 3-1 Dinamo, Minsk FIFA World Cup Europe Group 6
19 Nov 2008 Germany 2-1 Berliner Olympiastadion International -
11 Feb 2009 Spain 0-2 Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan International -
28 Mar 2009 Slovakia 4-0 Wembley Stadium International -
06 Jun 2009 Kazakhstan 4-0 Tcentralnyi (Almaty) FIFA World Cup Europe Group 6
05 Sep 2009 Slovenia 2-1 Wembley Stadium International -
09 Sep 2009 Croatia 5-1 Wembley Stadium FIFA World Cup Europe Group 6
14 Nov 2009 Brazil 0-1 Khalifa International Stadium International -
03 Mar 2010 Egypt 3-1 Wembley Stadium International -
23 Jun 2010 Slovenia 1-0 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium FIFA World Cup Finals Group C
27 Jun 2010 Germany 1-4 Free State Stadium FIFA World Cup Round of 16