Matthew Dolan (footballer)

Matthew Alexander Dolan (born 11 February 1993) is an English footballer who plays for National League North club Spennymoor Town.

Born in Hartlepool, Dolan started his career with Middlesbrough, signing his first professional contract in July 2010. He had a loan spell with Yeovil Town where he made an appearance in the 2013 Football League One play-off final win. Dolan then had a loan spell with his home town club Hartlepool United and then Bradford City. After leaving Middlesbrough in 2014, he signed permanently with Bradford where he would spend one season. After another loan spell with Hartlepool, he re-joined Yeovil Town. He departed Yeovil in 2017, signing for Newport County. Dolan spent six seasons with Newport, earning the Player of the Year award in his fourth. He also played in two unsuccessful League Two play-off finals for the club. After another loan spell with Hartlepool, he moved there permanently in 2023. He left Hartlepool in 2024, signing for Spennymoor Town.

Middlesbrough
Dolan began his career at Middlesbrough and in July 2010 was awarded a four-year professional contract with the club, and was captain of their U21 side.

On 4 January 2013, Dolan joined Football League One side Yeovil Town on a months loan deal, and made his debut as a substitute in their Football League Trophy area semi-final defeat against Leyton Orient. He played his first League One match for the club in the 2–0 win at Sheffield United. Dolan only managed five appearances for Yeovil in his first spell on loan before returning to the Riverside due to injury. On 27 March 2013, Dolan unexpectedly returned to Yeovil for a second loan spell this time until the end of the 2012–13 season. On 29 March 2013, Dolan made his first appearance of his second loan spell for Yeovil as a second-half substitute in a goalless draw against Walsall. On 1 April, he scored his first goal in professional football in the 2–1 away win at Notts County, with a goal scored direct from a free kick. Dolan appeared as a second-half substitute in the 2013 League One play-off final as Yeovil beat Brentford 2–1 to secure promotion to the Football League Championship. Dolan returned to Middlesbrough having made nine appearances for Yeovil, in all competitions, in a loan spell hampered by injuries.

In August 2013, Dolan joined his home-town team Hartlepool United on a one-month loan deal, linking up with former Middlesbrough coaches Colin Cooper and Craig Hignett. This loan was extended in October. Dolan then scored his first goal for the club, in a 3–1 win over AFC Wimbledon on 22 October 2013. This was followed up his second came on 26 December 2013, in a 1–1 draw against Chesterfield. In January, Dolan returned to Middlesbrough. He made 24 appearances in all competitions for Hartlepool, scoring twice.

Under the management of Aitor Karanka, Dolan was the among players to be offload as part of Karanka's reducing the squad size. So on 1 September 2014 Dolan agreed to join Bradford City on loan until the end of the season.

Bradford City
On 6 May 2014, Dolan agreed to join Bradford City on a one-year contract. He moved on loan to Hartlepool United on 27 November 2014. He made only two appearances for Pools when he was recalled to Bradford City due to an injury. Dolan struggled for game time with Bradford and made only 13 league appearances and was released at the end of the 2014–15 season.

Yeovil Town
Following his release from Bradford City, Dolan agreed to sign for League Two side Yeovil Town on a two-year deal from 1 July 2015 – the club he had previously played for on loan in 2013. On 8 August 2015, Dolan scored on his first game back for the club in a 3–2 defeat against Exeter City. He made headlines in August 2016 after he scored from inside his own half in a 2–1 EFL Cup win against Walsall. In his two years with Yeovil, Dolan played 94 times in all competitions and scored eight times.

Newport County
On 7 June 2017, Dolan rejected the offer of a new contract from Yeovil to sign for fellow League Two side Newport County on a two-year contract. He made his debut for Newport on the opening day of the 2017–18 season, in a 3–3 draw at Stevenage. On 10 November 2017, Dolan scored his first goal for Newport in the 1–1 draw against Port Vale in League Two. On 26 January 2019 Dolan scored the equalising goal in the 93rd minute against Championship club Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fourth round 1–1 draw. Newport won the replay 2–0 and progressed to the FA Cup fifth round home tie against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. Manchester City won the match 4–1. Dolan scored the winning goal in the 2018–19 League Two play-off semi-final penalty shoot-out against Mansfield Town. In the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2019, Dolan was a 72nd minute substitute as Newport lost to Tranmere Rovers 1–0 after a goal in the 119th minute.

In June 2019, Dolan signed a two-year contract extension with Newport County. In April 2021, Dolan was named as the 2021 EFL League Two Player in the Community for his "exceptional attitude to County in the Community initiatives". Also in April 2021, Dolan extended his Newport contract until the end of the 2022–23 season. Dolan played for Newport in the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 31 May 2021 which Newport lost to Morecambe, 1–0 after a 107th-minute penalty. In June 2021 Dolan was selected as the Newport County Player of the Year for the 2020–21 season. He was released by Newport at the end of the 2022–23 season.

Hartlepool United
On 5 January 2023, Dolan moved on loan to Hartlepool United until the end of the 2022–23 season. At the end of the season, he signed for Pools on a permanent basis. On 15 February 2024, Dolan left Hartlepool United via mutual consent following the termination of his contract.

Spennymoor Town
On 15 February 2024, Dolan signed for National League North club Spennymoor Town. As part of his contract, Dolan would also take on a coaching role at the club's academy.

Honours
Yeovil Town
 * Football League One play-offs: 2013

Individual
 * Newport County Player of the Year: 2020–21