Editing Matthew Upson (section)

==Club career==
===Luton Town===
Originally at the [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] Centre of Excellence, he joined [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] as a trainee after Ipswich youth coach [[Terry Westley]] moved there.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/upson_hopes_to_show_town_fans_1_207263 |title=Upson hopes to show Town fans |first=Elvin |last=King |newspaper=Ipswich Star |date=4 August 2008 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> Upson signed professional forms in April 1996,<ref name=EFObio>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersUV/BioUpsonM.html |title=Matthew Upson |work=England Football Online |publisher=Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young |access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref> and made his sole [[English Football League|Football League]] appearance for the team as an 88th-minute substitute against [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] in August 1996.<ref name=sb9697/>

===Arsenal===
He joined [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in May 1997 in a £2&nbsp;million deal.<ref name=sb9798/> However, faced with the longevity of Arsenal's existing centre backs, [[Tony Adams]], [[Steve Bould]] and [[Martin Keown]], and struck by injury problems of his own, Upson rarely had a chance to break into the first team.<ref name=buyback>{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-i-considered-a-move-for-upson |title=Wenger – I considered a move for Upson |first=Chris |last=Harris |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |date=23 October 2009 |access-date=29 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001191742/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-i-considered-a-move-for-upson |archive-date=1 October 2016}}</ref> He played only five matches in the [[1997–98 FA Premier League|1997–98 Premier League]] season as Arsenal won the title, so did not qualify for a winners' medal.<ref name=sb9798/><ref name="PL profile" /> After spending a year out of the game recovering from an [[anterior cruciate ligament]] injury sustained in 1999,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/profiles/695/matthew-upson |title=Matthew Upson |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |access-date=29 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001192052/http://www.arsenal.com/history/profiles/695/matthew-upson |archive-date=1 October 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Upson made a handful of first-team appearance for Arsenal, in between loan spells at [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] in 2000 and [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/1080274.stm |title=Upson adds to Platt woes |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 December 2000 |access-date=29 June 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/1194744.stm |title=Upson in Palace move |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 February 2001 |access-date=23 June 2007}}</ref>

In [[2001–02 Arsenal F.C. season|2001–02]], his final full season at Arsenal, Upson made 22 appearances. These included 14 in the league,<ref name=sb0102/> which earned him a Premier League winners' medal, but a broken leg in February 2002 ruled him out for the rest of the season and Arsenal's [[FA Cup]]-winning run as they won [[Double (association football)|the Double]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/brighton-v-hull-city-fa-cup-s-till-holds-that-same-thrill-for-matthew-upson-9132479.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/brighton-v-hull-city-fa-cup-s-till-holds-that-same-thrill-for-matthew-upson-9132479.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Brighton v Hull City: FA Cup still holds that same thrill for Matthew Upson |first=Nick |last=Szczepanik |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=17 February 2014 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> After recovering from the injury, Upson joined [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] in September 2002 on a three-month loan.<ref name=Reading>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/2238300.stm |title=Reading secure Upson deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 September 2002 |access-date=26 June 2007}}</ref> It was for Reading that he scored his first professional career goal, in a 3–1 loss away to [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]] in the [[2002–03 Football League Cup|League Cup]].<ref name=sb0102/> With Arsenal's newly established centre-back pairing of [[Sol Campbell]] and [[Kolo Touré]] keeping him out of the team, he was bought by [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] in January 2003.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wenger-sorry-he-let-upson-leave-arsenal-1808235.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wenger-sorry-he-let-upson-leave-arsenal-1808235.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Wenger sorry he let Upson leave Arsenal |first=John |last=Nisbet |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=23 October 2009 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref>

===Birmingham City===
Birmingham City completed the signing of Upson from Arsenal in January 2003, for what [[BBC Sport]] thought to be an initial fee of £1&nbsp;million, potentially rising to £3&nbsp;million depending on appearances.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/2652803.stm |title=Birmingham sign Upson |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 February 2003 |access-date=23 June 2007}}</ref>

He suffered a leg injury whilst preparing for the local derby against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in April 2006 and subsequently missed the rest of the season as Birmingham City were relegated to the [[EFL Championship|Championship]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bruce-refuses-to-gamble-on-upson-26693 |title=Bruce refuses to gamble on Upson |first=Colin |last=Tattum |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=6 October 2006 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> Upson remained with the club while he worked on regaining his fitness, and returned to action in December in the 3–0 victory over [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]], scoring the second of the three goals.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/upsons-happy-to-be-selfish-29057 |title=Upson's happy to be selfish |first=Colin |last=Tattum |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=4 December 2006 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref>

===West Ham United===
[[File:MatthewUpson.jpg|thumb|upright|Upson warming up for [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] in 2009]]

On 18 January 2007, Birmingham rejected [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]'s bid for Upson of £4&nbsp;million, and turned down an improved bid of £6&nbsp;million a few days later.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/blues-reject-hammers-6m-upson-36839 |title=Blues reject Hammers' #6m Upson bid |first=Colin |last=Tattum |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=23 January 2007 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> An offer of £6&nbsp;million, with the potential to rise to £7.5&nbsp;million depending on appearances, was accepted on the last day of the [[transfer window]], and Upson agreed a four-and-a-half-year contract with West Ham.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/matthew-upson-signs-for-west-ham-united-20070131_2236884_1142186 |title=Matthew Upson signs for West Ham United |publisher=West Ham United F.C. |date=31 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911003016/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20070131/matthew-upson-signs-for-west-ham-united_2236884_1142186 |archive-date=11 September 2012}}</ref> Birmingham City's manager [[Steve Bruce]] later claimed that he did not want to sell Upson, but was forced to do so by the club's managing director [[Karren Brady]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/steve-bruce-blasts-back-karen-1462220 |title=Bruce blasts back at Karren Brady |first=James |last=Hunter |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle |date=26 October 2009 |access-date=31 December 2013}}</ref>

Upson suffered a calf injury less than 30 minutes into his West Ham United debut, a 1–0 defeat against Aston Villa.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11685_2404497,00.html |title=Curbs bemoans Upson injury |first=Lewis |last=Rutledge |publisher=Sky Sports |date=3 February 2007 |access-date=20 November 2008}}</ref> He then lasted just 11 minutes of his comeback match before coming off injured against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in a 4–3 loss at [[Boleyn Ground|Upton Park]] in March 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11685_2411340,00.html |title=Curbs: Upson spell a disaster |first=Mark |last=Buckingham |publisher=Sky Sports |date=18 April 2007 |access-date=20 November 2008}}</ref>

Upson completed his first full match for West Ham in the 2–0 home defeat to [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in August 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2890/world-cup-2010/2010/06/23/1987040/world-cup-2010-comment-slovenia-vs-england-matthew-upson-are-you- | title=West Ham skipper stepping into a cauldron of expectation... |publisher=Goal.com | date=23 June 2010 | access-date=10 April 2016}}</ref> One week later he made his first appearance as West Ham captain in the 1–0 away win against former club Birmingham City.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/08/20/birmingham-0-1-west-ham-89520-19661265/ |title=Birmingham 0–1 West Ham |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |first=James |last=Nursey |date=20 August 2007 |access-date=20 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201112903/http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/08/20/birmingham-0-1-west-ham-89520-19661265/ |archive-date=1 December 2007}}</ref> On 29 December, Upson scored for the first time in West Ham colours when he headed in the winning goal against Premier League champions [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7157432.stm |title=West Ham 2–1 Man Utd |publisher=BBC Sport |first=Mandeep |last=Sanghera |date=29 December 2007 |access-date=20 November 2008}}</ref>

In July 2008, Upson's [[squad number]] of 6 was retired by the club in memory of [[Bobby Moore]], after which he took the number 15 shirt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whufc.com/page/News/0,,12562~1357842,00.html |title=Club to retire No6 shirt |publisher=West Ham United F.C. |date=4 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808003140/http://www.whufc.com/page/News/0%2C%2C12562~1357842%2C00.html |archive-date=8 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2009, following the departure of [[Lucas Neill]], Upson was appointed captain of West Ham.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whufc.com/page/News/0,,12562~1798356,00.html |title=Upson sets captain's example |publisher=West Ham United F.C. |date=16 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923005748/http://www.whufc.com/page/News/0%2C%2C12562~1798356%2C00.html |archive-date=23 September 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He captained West Ham through a difficult 2009–10 campaign<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2017/december/29-december/where-are-they-now-night-hammers-dethroned-champions|title=Where are they now? The night the Hammers dethroned the champions {{!}} West Ham United|website=www.whufc.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-19}}</ref> in which he scored a goal in the opening match against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] and two more against [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] and [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]].<ref name=sb0910/>

Following West Ham's relegation from the Premier League in May 2011, new manager [[Sam Allardyce]] confirmed that Upson would leave the club when his contract expired.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13583587.stm | title=Sam Allardyce appointed West Ham United manager | publisher=BBC Sport | date=1 June 2011 | access-date=2 June 2011}}</ref>

===Stoke City===
Upson joined Stoke City on a two-year contract on 9 August 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14468380.stm |title=Matthew Upson joins Stoke City after West Ham release |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 August 2011 |access-date=10 August 2011}}</ref> He said that playing in the [[UEFA Europa League]] was one of the main reasons he decided to join Stoke.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stokecityfc.com.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10310~2415401,00.html |title=Europe a big attraction for Upson |publisher=Stoke City F.C. |date=10 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119100719/http://www.stokecityfc.com.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10310~2415401%2C00.html |archive-date=19 January 2016}}</ref> Upson made his debut for Stoke in a 1–0 victory over [[FC Thun]] in the Europa League,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10310~2424923,00.html |title=Upson handed City debut |publisher=Stoke City F.C. |date=19 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910182134/http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10310~2424923%2C00.html |archive-date=10 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and scored his first goal for the club in the second leg in a 4–1 victory at the [[bet365 Stadium|Britannia Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/stoke-vs-fc-thun/248533 |title=Potters ease through |publisher=Sky Sports |date=25 August 2011 |access-date=7 June 2020}}</ref> After joining Stoke, Upson and fellow summer signing [[Jonathan Woodgate]] were used as backup to first-choice centre backs [[Robert Huth]] and [[Ryan Shawcross]].{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} He was a regular in the Europa League, appearing in all six group matches, but was sent off in the last as Stoke qualified for the round of 32.<ref name=sb1112/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16064424 |title=Besiktas 3–1 Stoke |first=Saj |last=Chowdhury |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 December 2011 |access-date=27 February 2012}}</ref> He scored his first league goal for Stoke in a 2–0 home win against [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] on 26 February 2012 in a [[man-of-the-match]] performance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/swanseas-style-no-match-for-stokes-set-pieces-7441249.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/swanseas-style-no-match-for-stokes-set-pieces-7441249.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Swansea's style no match for Stoke's set-pieces |first=Phil |last=Shaw |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=27 February 2012 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> With Shawcross suspended, Upson made his first League appearance of the [[2012–13 Stoke City F.C. season|2012–13 season]] on 29 December 2012 against [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]; he scored Stoke's second goal in a 3–3 draw.<ref name=sb1213/><ref>{{cite news |title=Stoke 3–3 Southampton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20823022|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=31 December 2013 |first=Stephan |last=Shemilt |date=29 December 2012}}</ref>

===Brighton & Hove Albion===
On 31 January 2013, Upson joined Championship club [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] on loan until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21287882 |title=Matthew Upson: Stoke defender joins Brighton on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2013 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the Seagulls in a 6–1 win over [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] on 20 April.<ref name=sb1213/> Released by Stoke at the end of the season,<ref>{{cite web |title=Potters announce retained list |url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/potters-announce-retained-list-856356.aspx |publisher=Stoke City F.C. |date=6 June 2013 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> Upson joined Brighton on a permanent basis on 10 July 2013, signing a one-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11741/8816278/championship-brighton-sign-matthew-upson-on-one-year-contract |title=Championship: Brighton sign Matthew Upson on one-year contract |publisher=Sky Sports |date=10 July 2013 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> He was voted the club's Player of the Year in [[2013–14 Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. season|2013–14]].<ref name=brightonpoty>{{cite news |title=Upson delighted to win Brighton award |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27224517 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref>

===Leicester City===
On 23 May 2014, Upson agreed a one-year contract with newly promoted Premier League club [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27536312 |title=Matthew Upson: Leicester agree deal for Brighton defender |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 May 2014 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> After spending the first half of the season on the sidelines with injury, he returned to full training in late January 2015.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leicester City's injury-hit Matt Upson returns to full training |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-City-s-injury-hit-Matt-Upson-returns/story-25911831-detail/story.html |newspaper=Leicester Mercury |access-date=23 January 2015 |date=2 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215135917/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-City-s-injury-hit-Matt-Upson-returns/story-25911831-detail/story.html |archive-date=15 February 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 10 February, Upson made his Leicester debut, playing nearly an hour before being substituted, in a 2–1 defeat to his former club Arsenal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/experienced-heads-robert-huth-matt-upson-praised/story-26009867-detail/story.html |title=Experienced heads Robert Huth and Matt Upson praised by Nigel Pearson after Leicester City debut at Arsenal |first=James |last=Sharpe |newspaper=Leicester Mercury |date=11 February 2015 |access-date=29 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804005649/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Experienced-heads-Robert-Huth-Matt-Upson-praised/story-26009867-detail/story.html |archive-date=4 August 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He was released when his contract expired at the end of the season.<ref name=MKDons/>

===Milton Keynes Dons===
On 30 July 2015, Upson signed for Championship club [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] on a one-year contract.<ref name=MKDons>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11759/9929753/matthew-upson-signs-one-year-contract-with-mk-dons |title=Matthew Upson signs one-year contract with MK Dons |publisher=Sky Sports |date=30 July 2015 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> He made his debut on 11 August in the 2–1 League Cup first round win against [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]], but made only six more appearances for the club and his contract was not renewed.<ref name=sb1516/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/10278865/matthew-upson-among-players-released-by-mk-dons |title=Matthew Upson among players released by MK Dons |publisher=Sky Sports |date=12 May 2016 |access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> He retired from playing in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Simmonds |url=http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/football/luton-town/liverpool-legend-hyypia-and-ex-england-star-upson-attend-luton-training-1-7708012 |title=Liverpool legend Hyypia and ex-England star Upson attend Luton training |newspaper=Luton Today |date=1 December 2016 |access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref>