Matthew Urwin

Matthew Urwin (born 28 November 1993) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Chorley.

Blackburn Rovers
Born in Blackpool, Urwin began his career with Blackburn Rovers, featuring in both legs of the club's 4–1 aggregate loss to Chelsea in the 2011–12 FA Youth Cup final. In late 2012, he was sent on a month-long youth loan to Taunton Town. At the conclusion of the 2012–13 season, Urwin was one of a number of young players offered a new deal, which he confirmed on Twitter that he had signed. The following season he was loaned to Conference North side Stalybridge Celtic, where he impressed, making seventeen appearances. Urwin was released at the conclusion of the 2013–14 season, following the expiration of his contract.

Bradford City
Following his release by Blackburn, Urwin went on to join Bradford City; initially signing on non-contract terms in August 2014, he extended his deal until the end of the season the following month. During his time with the club, he was on the bench for Bradford's famous win against Premier League side Chelsea in the FA Cup, but would remain the back-up goalkeeper to both Jordan Pickford and Ben Williams. He was named as a substitute in Bradford City's 2–0 EFL Cup loss to MK Dons, with a number of sources, including the BBC, reporting that he replaced Mason Bennett in the second half. However, it was actually Mark Yeates who replaced Bennett.

Fleetwood Town
Having been released by Bradford City at the conclusion of the 2014–15 season, Urwin joined National League North side AFC Fylde, where he spent one season before moving to League One side Fleetwood Town. He featured briefly for the club's development squad, even captaining the side, before being loaned to National League North side Telford United in early 2017. However, less than a month after joining, he suffered an injury to his hip, and returned to Fleetwood Town.

Chorley
Unable to break into the Fleetwood Town first team, making nine appearances on the bench towards the end of the 2016–17 season, Urwin was loaned to National League North side Chorley in August 2017. Following Chorley's 4–3 win against Boston United in the fourth qualifying round of the 2017–18 FA Cup, the club were drawn against Fleetwood Town in the first round proper. Urwin, alongside fellow loanee Nick Haughton, were unable to play against their parent club, with Chorley issuing a mock-plea for players to join the club at short notice to replace the pair.

Having been named Chorley's young player of the year, he returned to Fleetwood Town, where he was tipped to potentially challenge for the first-choice goalkeeper role. However, he returned to Chorley on another year-long loan in August 2018. In Chorley's FA Cup first round game against Doncaster Rovers, Urwin helped his side to an unexpected 2–2 draw, forcing a replay, and earned praise from Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann, who stated "I thought the keeper was outstanding for Chorley. I'm going to find out what his contract details are because he was outstanding."

In January 2019, having impressed while on loan, Urwin joined Chorley on a permanent basis, having mutually agreed to the termination of his contract with Fleetwood Town. Having established himself as Chorley's first-choice goalkeeper, Urwin was involved in the club's 2020–21 FA Cup run, where he helped his side to famous wins over League One sides Wigan Athletic and Peterborough United, before taking advantage of Championship side Derby County's COVID-19-hit squad to win 2–0 in the third round. However, he could not help his side past Premier League opposition Wolverhampton Wanderers, who ran out 1–0 victors courtesy of a goal from Vitinha in the fourth round tie. Urwin signed a contract extension with the club in May 2021.

Coaching career
While playing, Urwin took up a position in Blackpool's academy as a goalkeeping coach.

Career statistics

 * Notes