Matthew Upson

Written by Dave Allan

England Player Profiles

Matthew James Upson was born in Suffolk on 18th April 1979 and started his career at youth level with Luton Town.

For most the players the move after this to Arsenal would have been a dream come true but after some six years at the club and having made only 35 starts the player had to make the difficult decision to move away from Highbury and make a fresh start elsewhere. Upson found himself behind Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure and felt it was more important to play first team football rather than hang around a club however successful it was.

Upson made the right decision and after life in North London on the periphery put himself in the spotlight as a regular first team starter with Birmingham. His subsequent move to West Ham has also provided over 100 first team starts in the Premier League.

Being able to test yourself in arguably the best league in the world has allowed Upson to improve as a player and the 6ft 1in central defender soon forced his way into the England reckoning. Upson is not a player who hogs the limelight on or off the pitch but it a solid dependable professional who knows what is required of him and always gives of his best. A good all-rounder Upson lacks that vital last piece of the jigsaw that would propel him into the top class and he is unlikely to play unless there are massive injury problems. 
 

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