Famous Players – The 2000’s

Matt Carragher

Versatile defender Matt Carragher started his playing career at Wigan Athletic and after 4 successful season and almost 150 appearances for Wigan he was signed for the Vale by John Rudge in 1997.  He made 25 appearances in 1997-98, helping the Valiants to beat Huddersfield 4–0 on the final day of the season to avoid relegation from the second tier by one point, at the expense of Manchester City and  Stoke City.   

Matt featured just 12 times in 1998-99 and was not selected once by new manager Brian Horton.  Despite this he was named as the club’s Clubman of the Year. He then went on to play 39 games the following season as Vale were relegated to the third tier.

He played 56 of the club’s 57 games in 2000-01, showing his versatility by playing as a defensive sweeper. He also captained the Valiants at the Football League Trophy final at the Millenium Stadium in April 2001, as Vale beat Brentford 2-1. He continued to lead the back line in 2001-02, making 47 appearances. Then despite making 40 appearances in 2002-03, and being one of only three settled defenders at the club he was surprisingly released by Brian Horton in May 2003.

Matt then signed for Macclesfield Town who ironically appointed Brian Horton as their manager in 2004.  Horton released Matt at the end of the 2004-05 season and he subsequently retired from playing.

Matt tragically died of cancer in December 2016 at the age of 40.