 Gilks in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Gilks[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1982-06-04)4 June 1982 (age 43)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Rochdale, England | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–2000 | Rochdale | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2007 | Rochdale | 176 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Norwich City | 0 | (0) |
| 2008–2014 | Blackpool | 182 | (0) |
| 2008 | →Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | Burnley | 0 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Rangers | 0 | (0) |
| 2017 | Wigan Athletic | 14 | (0) |
| 2017–2019 | Scunthorpe United | 42 | (0) |
| 2019 | Lincoln City | 12 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Fleetwood Town | 5 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | Bolton Wanderers | 36 | (0) |
| Total | 471 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 2012–2013 | Scotland | 3 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Matthew Gilks (born 4 June 1982) is a former professionalfootballer who played as agoalkeeper.
He played forBlackpool,Burnley,Norwich City,Rochdale,Rangers,Wigan Athletic,Shrewsbury Town,Scunthorpe United,Lincoln City,Fleetwood Town andBolton Wanderers.
Born in England, he qualified to represent Scotland. He was first selected for theScotland national team in August 2010 and made his international debut in August 2012.[4]
Born inRochdale,Greater Manchester, where he started out with Heyside Juniors,[5] Gilks joinedRochdale at the age of 13. He was promoted from their youth team in 2001. After being coached byFred Barber,[6] he eventually replacedNeil Edwards in the first team, becoming a regular starter. He made a total of 198 appearances for the club in league and cup competitions, and by the time he was 24, he was the longest-serving player at Rochdale.[7] Being anOldham Athletic fan growing up, and living about a mile fromBoundary Park, he statesAndy Rhodes andJon Hallworth as his heroes.[6]
On 1 July 2007, Gilks signed a two-year contract withChampionship clubNorwich City, moving on a free transfer due to his contract with Rochdale having expired.[7] He was unable to break into Norwich's first team, spending most of the2007–08 season sitting on the substitutes bench.[8] He also had a spell out of action with ligament damage after twisting his ankle in training in November 2007.[9]
In the summer of 2008, and without having made a first-team appearance for Norwich, Gilks signed for fellow Championship clubBlackpool as makeweight in a part-exchange deal which sawWes Hoolahan go in the opposite direction. He made his debut on 12 August 2008 in a 2–0League Cup defeat byMacclesfield Town.[10]
After failing to break into the first team, and considering quitting the game due to lack of opportunities and a self-perceived lack of ability during a training session,[6] he signed forLeague Two clubShrewsbury Town on a month's loan on 21 November to cover an injury crisis at the club.[8][11][12] He made his debut the following day in a goalless draw withLincoln City atSincil Bank.[13] He made three further appearances for Shrewsbury, with his final match coming on 13 December, a 1–0 defeat byGrimsby Town atBlundell Park,[14] before returning to Blackpool.
WhileSimon Grayson was Blackpool manager, he did not usually name a substitute goalkeeper, preferring to have five outfield players on the bench. After Grayson left the club, in late December 2008, caretaker managerTony Parkes immediately began naming Gilks as a substitute. After a number of matches as an unused substitute, Gilks made his league debut for Blackpool on 31 January 2009, afterPaul Rachubka was sent off three minutes into Blackpool's match againstCrystal Palace atSelhurst Park. Gilks was brought on and helped Blackpool to a 1–0 win.[15]
His first league start of the2009–10 season came in the 2–0 win overPlymouth Argyle atBloomfield Road on 17 October. After three consecutive clean sheets, Gilks was named in The Championship "Team of the Week", along with teammatesStephen Crainey andMarcel Seip, following his performance in Blackpool's goalless draw withSwansea City on 24 October at theLiberty Stadium.[16][17] His 200th career Football League appearance came in a 1–0 home win overIpswich Town on 6 March 2010, when he was also named Man of the Match.[18] In addition, he was again named in The Championship "Team of the Week", following his performance, which saw a fourth clean sheet in five games.[19][20]
On 13 November 2010, in a goalless draw atWest Ham United, Gilks suffered an injury to hisknee cap which kept him out much of the remainder of the2010–11 campaign.[21] After working with formerManchester United strength and conditioning coach Mick Clegg,[6] he returned to the first team on 16 April 2011, in a home defeat byWigan Athletic. Despite Blackpool's relegation from the Premier League in 2011, Gilks signed a new two-year contract with the club in July.[22] His contract with Blackpool expired at the end of the 2013–14 season.[23] He left the club to sign forBurnley, despite being offered a new contract with Blackpool.[23]
Gilks signed a two-year contract with newly promoted Premier League club Burnley in July 2014.[24][25] He made his first appearance for Burnley in a League Cup tie; Gilks initially served as a backup to established first choice goalkeeperTom Heaton.[26]
On 24 June 2016, Gilks signed forRangers on a two-year deal.[27] He made his debut for the club in aLeague Cup match againstAnnan Athletic on 19 July.[28] He played in all five of Rangers' League Cup ties, keeping clean sheets in the first four.[29] Rangers lost 1–0 toCeltic in the semi-final, but Gilks made several saves and was praised by the media and teammates for his performance.[30]
Gilks signed for Wigan Athletic on 31 January 2017.[31] On his home debut againstPreston North End he saved aJordan Hugill penalty and the resultant rebound to help his side gain a 0–0 draw.[32]
Gilks signed forScunthorpe United on 16 June 2017 on a free transfer,[33] becoming the club's first-choice goalkeeper for the 2018–19 season.
On 31 January 2019, Gilks signed for Lincoln City on a free transfer, and would go on to make twelve league appearances as Lincoln City won League Two.[34]
On 1 August 2019 Gilks signed forFleetwood Town.[35]
On 6 August 2020, Gilks signed forBolton Wanderers, as a player-goalkeeping coach.[36] His debut came on 13 November in which he was namedMan of the Match in a 2–0 win against local rivalsSalford City.[37][38] He played a total of 35 matches[39] as Bolton won promotion toLeague One[40] and finished second in Bolton's Player of the Season award voting.[41]
On 8 June 2021, Gilks signed a new one-year contract.[42] He kept his spot as first-choice goalkeeper for the first match of the 21–22 season; however, after a 3–3 draw againstMK Dons, in which he was at fault for two of MK Dons's goals, he lost his place to new signingJoel Dixon.[43][44][45] On 10 January 2022, Gilks retired as a player to focus on being a full-time goalkeeping coach.[46]
On 22 August 2010, theScottish FA confirmed that managerCraig Levein was considering Gilks for a call-up to theScotland national squad for their upcomingUEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers againstLithuania andLiechtenstein. Gilks qualifies to play for Scotland through his Scottish grandmother. Levein said of Gilks: "He is one we became aware of a while ago and have kept track of his progress. Obviously he was a key figure in Blackpool's promotion to the Barclays Premier League and while I will not name my squad until tomorrow, he is one I think we need to take a closer look at. He comes highly recommended, is playing regularly for his club and the next logical step is for our goalkeeping coach to work closely with him."[47]
Two days later he was selected in the Scotland squad, joining fellow Blackpool playerCharlie Adam.[48][49] On his call up Gilks said: "My grandmother was Scottish and they've traced the roots back and checked it. I'm eligible and it's great to be in the squad. Everybody knows that I am English but England doesn't come knocking on the door of Blackpool Football Club and I think that's a problem. They look at the bigger clubs. To be honest it was nice of Scotland to come and have a look at me and find out about me."[50]
In November 2010, Gilks had to withdraw from the Scotland squad through injury.[51] He again withdrew on 10 August 2011, hours before kick-off in a friendly againstDenmark, with an ankle injury.[52] On 15 August 2012, he made his debut for Scotland as a first-half substitute in afriendly againstAustralia.[4][53]
On 6 August 2020, Gilks signed forBolton Wanderers as a player-goalkeeping coach.[36] On 22 January 2025, managerIan Evatt left by mutual consent — with Gilks leaving his role as well.[54]
In February 2025, Gilks joinedBarnsley as goalkeeping coach.[55] He departed the club at the end of the2024–25 season.[56]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rochdale | 1999–2000[57] | Third Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000–01[58] | Third Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2001–02[59] | Third Division | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 2002–03[60] | Third Division | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 2003–04[61] | Third Division | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2004–05[62] | League Two | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| 2005–06[63] | League Two | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2006–07[64] | League Two | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 51 | 0 | |
| Total | 176 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 197 | 0 | ||
| Norwich City | 2007–08[65] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Blackpool | 2008–09[66] | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |
| 2009–10[67] | Championship | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| 2010–11[68] | Premier League | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12[69] | Championship | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| 2012–13[70] | Championship | 45 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 48 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14[71] | Championship | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 48 | 0 | ||
| Total | 182 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 200 | 0 | ||
| Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 2008–09[66] | League Two | 4 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Burnley | 2014–15[72] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2015–16[73] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Rangers | 2016–17[74] | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |
| Wigan Athletic | 2016–17[74] | Championship | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Scunthorpe United | 2017–18[75] | League One | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| 2018–19[76] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
| Lincoln City | 2018–19[76] | League Two | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Fleetwood Town | 2019–20[77] | League One | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 2020–21[39] | League Two | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| 2021–22[78] | League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 471 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 527 | 0 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 2012 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 | |
Blackpool
Lincoln City
Bolton Wanderers
Individual
