Matt_Bloomfield

Matt Bloomfield

Matt Bloomfield

English footballer

Matthew James Bloomfield (born 8 February 1984) is an English professional football manager and former footballer who is the current manager of EFL League One club Wycombe Wanderers. He played as a midfielder and spent the entirety of his playing career with Wycombe Wanderers, having started with Ipswich Town, graduating from the club's academy without making a first team league appearance. He made his senior debut in 2003, after joining Wycombe on a free transfer in the same year.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...

Bloomfield spent 19 years with Wycombe, playing for the club in League Two, League One and the Championship, and was in the team which reached the semi-final of the 2006–07 Football League Cup. At the start of the 2021–22 season, his final one with the club as a player, he was given the additional responsibility of First Team Coach. He was appointed manager of the club in February 2023 and had previously managed Colchester United in EFL League Two.

Career

Born in Felixstowe, Suffolk, Bloomfield started his career as a trainee with Ipswich Town in August 2001. At one point he was scouted by Newcastle United and also represented England at under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels.[3][4][5] But with a plethora of midfielders at Portman Road, he was released by manager Joe Royle to join Wycombe Wanderers on 22 December 2003,[6] having appeared just once for Ipswich's first team.[7]

Bloomfield's debut came in the 2–0 home defeat against Rushden & Diamonds on 28 December, and he scored his first goal for the club against Queens Park Rangers in March 2004.

In July 2008, Bloomfield finally signed a two-year contract extension. Recovering from a long-term injury at the time, Wycombe had decided not to offer him a pay rise. Bloomfield finally signed after Wycombe's new manager, Peter Taylor, said he would look to get Bloomfield a better deal when he had returned to fitness and was back in the first team.[8]

Bloomfield made his return to league football on 2 December, as part of a 4–0 win at home to Macclesfield Town.

At the end of the 2009–10 season, Bloomfield featured heavily in the side that failed to keep Wycombe in League One. Despite this, his performances persuaded manager Gary Waddock to further extend his contract until summer 2011. He has since kept his place in the team at the start of the 2010–11 season, scoring his first goal of the season against Accrington Stanley.

Bloomfield then once again extended his contract for a further year taking him into his eighth season at the club, amassing over 250 appearances. He was also part of the proud Wycombe side that reached the League Cup semi finals in 2007, drawing 1–1 in the first leg but later losing 4–0 in the return fixture against Chelsea.

On 16 July 2014, Wycombe held Bloomfield's testimonial against Chelsea, which finished 0–5 to Chelsea. The likes of John Terry, Branislav Ivanović and José Mourinho were at Adams Park to celebrate the event.

Bloomfield was part of the Wycombe side that saw promotion to the Championship in 2020, starting as captain in the final where they defeated local rivals Oxford United 2–1 at Wembley Stadium to take the side into English football's second tier for the first time in the club's history. Bloomfield made 16 appearances in the Championship for Wycombe the following season, which would prove to be his last full season as a Wycombe player, as he began to take up additional duties after being named a first team coach. The club were relegated back to League One at the end of the campaign, after which Bloomfield would make just one more appearance for the club, captaining the side in an EFL Cup first round tie against Exeter, which Wycombe would later win on penalties. Bloomfield was substituted at half time for Oliver Pendlebury, after suffering a concussion, after which the club doctor advised him that it may no longer be safe for him to play football. Bloomfield announced his retirement from active playing on February 2, 2022.[9]

Coaching career

On 30 September 2022, Bloomfield was appointed head coach of League Two side Colchester United. At the time of his appointment, Colchester were sat in 21st position, one point clear of the relegation zone after ten matches.[10] Having initially steadied the ship upon his arrival, a vital January saw Colchester pick up thirteen points from six matches and led to Bloomfield being awarded the EFL League Two Manager of the Month award.[11]

On 21 February 2023, following the departure of long-term manager Gareth Ainsworth to Queens Park Rangers, Bloomfield agreed in principle to return to Wycombe Wanderers as manager.[12]

Personal life

As of November 2010, Bloomfield was studying to complete a degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting at Staffordshire University, alongside former teammate Kevin Betsy.[13] Bloomfield regularly writes blogs for the BBC website and has appeared on regional football show Late Kick Off. He was the first footballer to sign the "Football Vs. Homophobia charter for action" in October 2011. He often takes on an ambassadorial role at the club and regularly participates in community scheme activities.

Career statistics

As of match played 28 March 2021[14]
More information Club, Season ...

Managerial statistics

As of 20 April 2024[34]
More information Team, From ...
  1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. One appearance in Football League Trophy, two appearances in League Two play-offs
  3. Appearances in EFL League One play-offs

Honours

As a player

Wycombe Wanderers

As a manager

Wycombe Wanderers

Individual

References

  1. [1]
    "Notification of shirt numbers: Wycombe Wanderers" (PDF). English Football League. p. 76. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  2. [2]
    Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  3. [3]
    "Match Results Under 18 2000–2008". England Football Online. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Match Results Under 19 1985–2010". England Football Online. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  5. [5]
    "Match Results Under 20 1981–2019". England Football Online. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  6. [6]
    "Town release duo". Sky Sports. 26 November 2003. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  7. [7]
    "Wycombe seal Bloomfield deal". Sky Sports. 22 December 2003. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  8. [8]
    "New deal for Bloomfield". Sky Sports. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  9. [9]
    "Wycombe's Matt Bloomfield retires: 'I forget simple words – it scares me' | Ben Fisher". TheGuardian.com. 2 February 2022.
  10. [10]
    "U's Appoint Bloomfield". www.cu-fc.com. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  11. [11]
    "Sky Bet EFL January Manager and Player of the Month winners". www.efl.com. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  12. [12]
    "Matt Bloomfield to become new Wycombe manager". www.wwfc.com. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  13. [13]
    Morris, Sam; Ted Woodward; Sam Fitch (19 November 2010). "Footballing classmates square up as Port Vale take on Wycombe". Staffs Live. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  14. [14]
    "England-Matt Bloomfield". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  15. [15]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  16. [16]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  17. [17]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  18. [18]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  19. [19]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  20. [20]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  21. [21]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  22. [22]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  23. [23]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  24. [24]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  25. [25]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  26. [26]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  27. [27]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  28. [28]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  29. [29]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  30. [30]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  31. [31]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  32. [32]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  33. [33]
    "Games played by Matt Bloomfield in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  34. [34]
    "England- Matthew Bloomfield - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  35. [35]
    Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2009). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2009–2010. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 45, 420–421. ISBN 978-0-7553-1948-0.
  36. [36]
    Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2011). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2011–2012. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 39, 414–415. ISBN 978-0-7553-6231-8.
  37. [37]
    Anderson, John, ed. (2018). Football Yearbook 2018–2019. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 390–391. ISBN 978-1-4722-6106-9.
  38. [38]
    Williams, Adam (13 July 2020). "Oxford United 1–2 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
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