 Gadsby withHinckley United in 2006 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew John Gadsby | ||
| Date of birth | (1979-09-06)6 September 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Sutton Coldfield, England | ||
| Date of death | 9 September 2006(2006-09-09) (aged 27) | ||
| Place of death | Harrogate, England | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–1998 | Walsall | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2002 | Walsall | 37 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | Mansfield Town | 20 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Kidderminster Harriers | 32 | (2) |
| 2004–2006 | Forest Green Rovers | 66 | (3) |
| 2006 | Hinckley United | 7 | (1) |
| Total | 162 | (6) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Matthew John Gadsby (6 September 1979 – 9 September 2006) was an English professionalfootballer. Born inSutton Coldfield, he played forWalsall,Mansfield Town,Kidderminster Harriers,Forest Green andHinckley United as a defender and midfielder.
Born inSutton Coldfield, Gadsby began his career atWalsall, where he graduated from the youth team. He made his professional debut on 2 May 1998, replacingAdi Viveash for the final nine minutes as they lost 1–0 toWycombe Wanderers at theBescot Stadium in theSecond Division. On 30 September, he made his first career start, in a 2–0 home defeat againstReading. He was an extra-time substitute on 27 May 2001, when Walsall defeated Reading 3–2 at theMillennium Stadium to winthe play-off final for promotion to theFirst Division.[1]
After a season atMansfield Town in the Second Division, in 2003 Gadsby returned to theWest Midlands, joiningThird Division clubKidderminster Harriers.[2] On 15 November, he scored the first goal of his professional career, the only one in a victory overRochdale atSpotland.[3] He scored his only other league goal on 13 December, the winner fromBo Henriksen's cross as they came from a goal down to defeatLeyton Orient atAggborough.[4]
Ahead of the 2004–05 season, Gadsby moved to a new club in the next division down for the third consecutive year, joiningFootball Conference sideForest Green Rovers. His first goal for the club came on 9 October, equalising in a 2–1 defeat away toCanvey Island with a shot from outside the penalty area.[5] On 20 November, with another long-range goal, he began a 79th-minute comeback as Forest Green came from 2–0 down to defeatBurton Albion 3–2 atThe New Lawn.[6]
He signed forHinckley United in July 2006 from Forest Green Rovers, scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory overFarsley Celtic on 19 August.
Gadsby collapsed on the pitch on 9 September 2006, playing forHinckley United in aConference North game againstHarrogate Town. Despite efforts by paramedics to revive him,[7] he died soon afterwards in Harrogate District Hospital, three days after his 27th birthday. Medical tests revealed that Gadsby died from a heart condition known asarrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, an inherited condition that affects the muscle of the right ventricle of the heart.[8]
Hinckley United's next game away atMoor Green was postponed after his death. The club, after consultation with the Football Conference, also decided to withdraw the number 5 shirt worn by Gadsby for the remainder of the season. It was replaced by the number 18 shirt in the starting line-up. A remembrance area was set up at theMarston's Stadium by the turnstiles, and a memorial game was played on 29 October 2006, at theNewton Regis recreational ground, between Tamworth Sunday league team Newton Thistle and aLeicester City old stars side.[9]
Walsall