Matthew Ketchell
Ketch joined FourFourTwo as Deputy Editor in 2022 having racked up appearances at Reach PLC as a Northern Football Editor and BBC Match of the Day magazine as their Digital Editor and Senior Writer. During that time he has interviewed the likes of Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero, Gareth Southgate and attended World Cup and Champions League finals. He co-hosts a '90s football podcast called ‘Searching For Shineys’, is a Newcastle United season ticket holder and has an expensive passion for collecting classic football shirts.
Latest articles by Matthew Ketchell
![Lady seamstress stitching Admiral football shirts in the 1970s in a factory](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iMreFXHUYonBL6qZ7JYNEa-320-80.jpeg)
The birth of the replica football shirt, 50 years on
By Matthew Ketchell last updated
LONG READ It's been half a century since a small Midlands firm went from manufacturing nuns’ knickers to selling the world’s first replica football kits, just in time for Christmas
![Gareth Southgate holds a yellow packet of custard cream biscuits given to him in a Vauxhall car dealership in Milton Keynes by young fans. Match of the Day writer / presenter Matthew Ketchell looks on](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ufZCM5UMwpaFpbVa4kem7-320-80.jpg)
Custard creams, bad acting and THAT question: a lost afternoon with former England manager Gareth Southgate
By Matthew Ketchell published
LONG READ Turns out you can be nice, humble, genuine and reach the very top of English football, where sadly some of those qualities are often lacking
![the Juventus lockers room before the International Champions Cup match between Juventus and Barcelona at MetLife Stadium on July 22, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wKL9t725HeVuf6ES89s9M-320-80.jpg)
If you know, you know – the two soccer cleat essentials I cannot live without, and one has 23 per cent off in the Amazon Prime Day sale!
By Matthew Ketchell published
DEALS Prime Day is heading for overtime, but it’s not too late to snag a couple of Ws on the whistle
![England head coach Gareth Southgate celebrates victory with the fans after the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final match between Netherlands and England at Football Stadium Dortmund on July 10, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wz3zZezDfBnwAvejEgA7mB-320-80.jpg)
Get in! Amazon Prime Day just dropped an Oura ring deal – the smart ring Gareth Southgate and England players wear
By Matthew Ketchell published
DEAL The latest smart accessory, worn by professional athletes and managers, has just been made available at a great price
![fan of the Liverpool football team stands in-front of the 1278 jerseys displayed side by side on the floor during the Malaysia Book of Records event for the most number jerseys on display of a single team in Kuala Lumpur on April 11, 2018. Malaysia Book of Records announced 1,278 Liverpool jersey from collectors around Malaysia](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XLBnKMfteTH7Lr7fuxKv3P-320-80.png)
I own over 100 soccer shirts and I’m constantly recommending this device to fellow collectors
By Matthew Ketchell published
DEAL Soccer jerseys can be expensive and suffer wear and tear so this appliance is a household essential
![England supporters in Flat Iron Square in London react as they watch England score in the 2018 World Cup semi-final between England and Croatia in Moscow on July 11, 2018](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iLfKvLfeho942KBunMYdjH-320-80.jpg)
Why do England fans throw pints, and why it's Kieran Trippier’s fault
By Matthew Ketchell published
The act of throwing a pint of beer into the air when the national team score is as English as fish and chips and the 3pm blackout, but why?
![Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag celebrates after his side's FA Cup victory over Liverpool in March 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5JWZMgjjbP6Kcf5KomgWNf-320-80.jpg)
Manchester United on the verge of signing a forward responsible for possibly the worst miss in football history
By Matthew Ketchell published
Manchester United are said to be closing in on a top striker signing this summer
![An aerial CGI shot of New York City's new stadium in Queens, New York](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eifYdBEkLYvCccPGzYKz7D-320-80.jpg)
Start spreading the news... New York City is getting its first ever 'soccer' stadium
By Matthew Ketchell published
New York City is getting its first-ever soccer-specific stadium, but with a housing crisis and dozens of already established sports venues (not to mention you can’t swing a cat) how have they pulled this off?
![A masked New York City FC fans holds up a pyrotechnic before the Hudson River Derby game: New York City FC vs New York Red Bulls outside Citi Field in Queens, New York](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SKfHfDWPwmFXhDe9JFbbhL-320-80.jpg)
Can't start a fire without a spark: On the ground at the Hudson River Derby in New York City
By Matthew Ketchell published
ON THE GROUND We visited New York City to watch Major League Soccer's Hudson River Derby: New York City FC vs New York Red Bulls
![Alan Shearer speaking in front of an image of Paul Gascoigne, Alan Shearer and David Beckham training at Bisham Abbey in the 1990s for England](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m3kFdVYEWZjjFSAMCZEmce-320-80.png)
‘He was a genius. Everyone loved him, he made training really difficult but enjoyable, what Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have been doing, he was doing in 1996’ Alan Shearer on the manager who was decades ahead of his time
By Matthew Ketchell published
Exclusive Alan Shearer tells FourFourTwo about the coach whose man-management skills and tactical nous had players not wanting to leave the training field
![Visitors photograph Pariser Platz square and the Brandenburg Gate from atop a temporary viewing platform on May 19, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin is among Europe's major tourist and travel destinations. With an inset picture of Wayne Rooney taken in 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dTMtCyeK7tt5NmiPS3vVJD-320-80.jpg)
The best Englishman at Euro 2024 left Germany this week… and it wasn’t Phil Foden
By Matthew Ketchell published
More than enough football education to perform – why I’ll miss Wayne Rooney's authentic style and insight on the BBC
![Goalkeeper David Seaman of England saves a penalty from Gary McAllister of Scotland during the England v Scotland match in Group A of the European Football Championships at Wembley. England beat Scotland 2-0. With an inset of Uri Geller](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kQNxBWjyNyuWDfiQbuyhJa-320-80.jpg)
‘I didn’t see the ball move, but I remember reading all that Uri Geller nonsense’ Alan Shearer wishes as many people remembered his Euro 96 goal vs Scotland as they did the ‘phenomenon’ behind Gary McAllister’s penalty miss
By Matthew Ketchell published
EXCLUSIVE Gazza’s goal and McAllister’s moving ball overshadowed Alan Shearer’s goal vs Scotland in Euro 96, and he’s not happy about it!
![Alan Shearer of England scores England's opening goal as Teddy Sheringham (number 10) looks on during the European soccer championship game between England and Switzerland at Wembley Stadium, London. The game ended in a 1-1 draw](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mC9UTB2CMMxYGF9XjnwGFA-320-80.jpg)
Alan Shearer ‘My opening Euros goal was one of the most important I ever scored’
By Matthew Ketchell last updated
EXCLUSIVE He doubled his England goal tally in a single tournament, but going into Euro 96 the pressure on Alan Shearer could not have been higher
![England player Paul Gascoigne reacts after failing to convert a cross as Germany players (left to right) Steffen Freund, Andreas Köpke and Matthias Sammer look on during the 1996 UEFA European Championships semi final match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium on June 26, 1996 in London, England](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ifxojZ8YTHtgTNDhoFDMsm-320-80.jpg)
‘What the f*** have you stopped for!?’ Alan Shearer on one of the biggest sliding door moments in the history of English football
By Matthew Ketchell published
EXCLUSIVE Former England captain Alan Shearer admits he’s watched the Gazza-Germany Euro 96 chance back a million times
![Paul Gascoigne of England (left) practices. Behind him are teammates Alan Shearer (centre) and David Beckham (right) who are waiting their turn during England training at Bisham Abbey in Marlow. Inset picture of Paul Gascoigne pulling a face while chewing gum. With a Cathay Pacific 747 plane on the right of the image](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9AZRmxjfuoMtBbmpJcNi8W-320-80.jpg)
Alan Shearer breaks silence on the Paul Gascoigne Euro 96 aeroplane ‘slap’ that inadvertently galvanised Terry Venables’ England squad
By Matthew Ketchell published
Exclusive After 28 years Alan Shearer was asked about a prank that could have been a catalyst for England’s performances at Euro 96
![Euro 2024: Dates, fixtures, stadiums, tickets and everything you need to know](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gMYsUS2M5DFGhnhJAHDwgR-320-80.jpg)
UEFA Euro 2024: Dates, fixtures, stadiums, tickets and everything you need to know
By Matthew Ketchell, Mark White, Ryan Dabbs last updated
Euro 2024 Join FourFourTwo's Euro 2024 coverage, as we bring you information and up-to-date news from the tournament
![England Manager Gareth Southgate with Harry Kane after the international friendly match between England and Bosnia & Herzegovina at St James' Park on June 3, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tDduonNgTZTzUxcZvmRRub-320-80.jpg)
‘That was never happening’ Harry Kane’s cheeky touchline request that made Gareth Southgate smile as England dispatched Bosnia in their penultimate Euro 2024 friendly
By Matthew Ketchell published
England’s 3-0 victory was secured without any injury scares, but Southgate has a job on his hands to keep everyone happy
![Inset picture of Alan Shearer holding the official Topps Euro 2024 sticker album Jude Bellingham of England (2R) celebrates with teammates Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Phil Foden after scoring the team's second goal during the 150th Anniversary Heritage Match between Scotland and England at Hampden Park on September 12, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gSgRZuqZhvXvxR5A6TTLfK-320-80.jpg)
Alan Shearer on England’s Euro 2024 ‘X-Factor’ that will have ‘massive impact’ on their chances in Germany
By Matthew Ketchell published
England head to Germany with numerous world-class players in form, but Alan Shearer explains why one in particular could be the difference maker
![The Club World Cup trophy on a plinth with a roundel of FIFA President Gianni Infantino holding his head to his hand](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mUG9UWT4gjBuoRgnHf3GMF-320-80.jpg)
FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup could actually be brilliant next summer - but they’ve made one huge mistake
By Matthew Ketchell published
OPINION At the end of last year FIFA announced a major 32-team revamp of their club tournament and, of course, there are controversies
![Willam Bradley's FA Cup winning medal for Newcastle United](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Kj78mdWwLHeodT9zBSUTsG-320-80.png)
Incredible piece of football memorabilia, with an amazing backstory, set for auction and expected to fetch thousands
By Matthew Ketchell published
Newcastle United goalkeeper William Bradley’s 100-year-old FA Cup-winning medal and commemorative pocket watch will soon be available to buy
![Local Newcastle United players are displayed on a giant banner in the Gallowgate End of the ground prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park on April 13, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6WnLyhYnKkqZ9ugyGAhJ2g-320-80.jpg)
Why are Newcastle United’s local heroes are often ‘held to a higher standard’ by certain sections of their fan base
By Matthew Ketchell published
OPINION They say you hurt the ones you love the most. At Newcastle United this rings true at times
![Wembley Stadium](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PuuKHHx9Sz5zjSR2eX4Ryh-320-80.jpg)
Keep FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley to protect a historic football pilgrimage (and annoy fans of the big clubs)
By Matthew Ketchell published
OPINION FourFourTwo's Deputy Editor watched his club win non-Wembley semi-finals in the 90s, but wants the fixtures to remain at the national stadium
![Wrexham players celebrate promotion to League One](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CWvhmtoFsPTN8zEKmfbgU7-320-80.jpg)
Searching for Rob and Ryan at Wrexham’s League Two promotion party
By Matthew Ketchell published
ON THE GROUND The famous Welsh club with Hollywood owners secured a second successive promotion and FourFourTwo were there for the party
![Newcastle player Sean Longstaff celebrates after scoring the third goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Newcastle United FC and Paris Saint-Germain at St. James Park on October 04, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EJsmuEAimhzKZ45hPTzNBC-320-80.jpg)
Sean Longstaff scored in the Champions League vs PSG at home, then watched the away fixture in a local pub next to his old school
By Matthew Ketchell published
EXCLUSIVE Injury ruled the midfielder out of a crunch European game for Newcastle in Paris, but he didn’t want to just sit his house and watch alone