Jack Matthews: From Plymouth Argyle mascot to first-year professional

Jack Matthews grew up as a young Plymouth Argyle fan being dazzled by the playmaking ability of Graham Carey and Ruben Lameiras.

Now the 18-year-old defender is one step closer to emulating the likes of Sonny Bradley and Curtis Nelson, two more of his favourite ever Pilgrims' players, after signing his first professional contract with the Championship club. A regular for the history-making Argyle under-18s side which won both the EFL Youth Alliance South West Division and Merit League One last season, the teenage prospect from Newquay has already had a very brief taste of first team action.

That was as a 119th minute substitute in Argyle's 4-1 defeat after extra-time by Leeds United in a FA Cup fourth round replay, live on BBC One, at a sold-out Home Park in February. It has only whetted his appetite for more.

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Matthews told Plymouth Live: "I can't believe I'm going to be a professional footballer for the club I support and in the Championship, it's a dream come true. Obviously, now you have got to come off cloud nine and start working hard to prove why I'm here.

"People keep reminding me I can't slack, I have got to keep on top of it and keep trying hard to impress. Just because you have got a contract it doesn't mean you have made it. Hopefully, I can make myself known and keep myself in the squad."

He continued: "I have been going (to watch Argyle) with my dad since I was a little boy. It has been good to see how the club has progressed since getting relegated, to now being in the Championship. You are proud to see the club you play for, and support, come this far. It's good to see.

"You had players like Graham Carey and Ruben Lameiras when I was a young boy. As a defender myself, you had Sonny Bradley and Curtis Nelson. I remember being a mascot once and walking out with Curtis Nelson. Hopefully I can mirror what he did, but we will see."

Coming from the north Cornwall seaside town of Newquay, it has taken a significant commitment from Matthews - and his parents - to get him to where he is now.

He said: "I got signed for Argyle when I was 10 so a lot of travelling from Newquay to Plymouth for the last six, eight years of my life but it was definitely worth it in the end. It paid off, but I have just got to be thankful to my parents (Deborah and Anthony) for believing in me and sacrificing however much they did to take me up to training every day. I'm so grateful."

Matthews added: "It's definitely a lot harder being a Newquay lad compared to a city boy because you are so far out in the sticks, not many people will know or hear of you. I have been lucky to be offered the opportunity.

"I played for Newquay Colts from young until I got a trial for Argyle. I have got a lot of friends that used to play for them, I went to secondary school with them, and I'm still in touch with them so it's nice. I haven't just left the club behind me."

On his preferred playing role, Matthews said: "I would definitely say I'm best in defence. I'm comfortable stepping into midfield as I played there when I was younger in the academy. I feel I'm more of a defender now. I have had a lot of time to learn the position."

Matthews had some exposure to being part of Argyle's first team squad last pre-season when he played as a substitute in their games against Blackpool, Torquay United, Forest Green Rovers and Swindon Town, which should stand him in good stead this year.

It also came after a very difficult period for him because he had been kept out of action for seven months by a stress fracture to his back.

Matthews said: "That pre-season was the first time I was back as I had an injury at the end of my first year as a scholar. I didn't play for seven months so coming into the first team in the pre-season was a good insight for hopefully how this year will go.

"When you get injured it's so easy just to give up, but being given the opportunity to play with the first team it was a lot more motivation to keep going. An injury will set you back but you have got to be hungry for more and keep going."

Matthews takes a lot of satisfaction from the double title-winning success of the Argyle under-18s squad last season. "It has never been done before, so to be history makers is such a proud feeling," he said.

"All the boys, I know, are so proud of it and they will definitely talk about it to everyone, even their kids in 20 years time. There are some really good teams in that league and we have come back from losing positions. We have got so many memories of celebrating after a game, and long trips from Plymouth to places like Oxford.

"It's a long journey so celebrating on the way back as a team, singing and chanting, it's a good laugh and it's memory that will live with you forever."

Unfortunately, one of the realities of under-18s football is that many of the scholars do not get the chance to make the step up to the professional ranks like Matthews has done. "It will be sad not to see your best friends for the last eight years not be with you every day," he said.

"I'm sure they are all motivated enough to go somewhere else in life, maybe progress at a different football club, but I will definitely miss the lads."

On making his first team debut against Leeds in the FA Cup, Matthews recalled: "No feeling can ever top that, I was on cloud nine for the first two weeks after, I felt I was walking with my chest out. It makes you more hungry, for it not to just be a one-off."