Joseph William Mattock is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for League One club Rotherham United. Mattock is a graduate of the Leicester City youth academy and has also represented England youth teams at nearly every level.
Mattock was a regular for the Leicester under-18 side as well as England U17s. He was part of the U18 squad that won the FA Premier Academy League by beating Sunderland U18s 4–3 on penalties in the 2006–07 season, and was voted Leicester's academy player of the season. He made his senior debut for Leicester in a 2–1 home defeat to Norwich City on 14 April 2007, replacing Gareth McAuley in the 78th minute at left back. He was given the number 30 shirt worn the year before by another promising youngster, James Wesolowski. Mattock went on to start three games against Birmingham City, Preston North End and Barnsley during the close of the 2006–07 season. On 9 November 2007, during the 2007–08 season, Mattock signed a new three-year contract with Leicester. The club rejected a bid from an unnamed Premier League club for Mattock on 14 January 2008. Following Leicester's relegation in the 2007–08 season, Aston Villa became interested in Mattock and then-teammate Richard Stearman. While Stearman left for Wolves in the July transfer window, Mattock remained at the club for another year. He did, however, hand in a transfer request during pre-season, but was unable to secure a deal with any club. Mattock suffered ligament damage to his left ankle in a 1–0 League Cup win over Stockport County on 12 August 2008. Fortunately, there was no fracture, meaning he would be out for several weeks instead of months. On 28 August, three days before the close of the transfer window, Leicester rejected seven-figure offers from two unnamed clubs for Mattock. He scored his first and only goal for Leicester in a 2–0 win over Yeovil Town on 19 January2009. Leicester went on to regain promotion to the Championship by finishing the season as league champions.
On 6 August, while away on international duty, Mattock was ecstatic when informed by his agent that West Bromwich Albion were interested in him. Eager to leave Leicester, he submitted his transfer request to chairman Milan Mandarić. The manner in which Mattock made the request infuriated manager Nigel Pearson. He signed a three-year contract with West Brom four days later for a fee of £1 million, citing Richard Stearman as his motivation for leaving Leicester. The comment angered many Leicester fans and he was booed upon his return to the Walkers Stadium in November. Mattock made his debut for Albion in the 2–0 League Cup win over Bury. In January 2011, he joined Sheffield United on loan until end of the 2010–11 Football League Championship season making his first start for the Blades away at Coventry City a couple of days later. He went on to make 13 appearances for the Yorkshire club but was unable to help prevent them from being relegated at the end of the season. In November of the same year, Mattock joined Championship team Portsmouth on a loan deal lasting until 2 January 2012, alongside George Thorne. He made his debut two days later, starting in the 1–1 draw against Leicester City. On 31 January 2012, Mattock signed for Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion on a loan deal lasting until the end of the season. On 17 March, he scored in a 3–1 away defeat to Blackpool. In total, Mattock made 15 league appearances for the Seagulls during his loan spell. On 16 May 2012, Mattock was released by West Bromwich Albion after his contract was not renewed.
In June 2012, Mattock was expected to complete a permanent transfer to Brighton following his successful loan spell, but instead agreed a three-year contract at newly promoted Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. At the end of the 2014–15 season, Mattock was one of eleven players released from their contracts by the club.
Rotherham United
On 12 June 2015, Mattock signed for Championship club Rotherham United. He made his debut in a 2–1 defeat against Nottingham Forest on 15 August 2015 and scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 defeat to Brentford on 17 October 2015. On 24 May 2017, Mattock signed a two-year extension to his contract, keeping him at the club until June 2019.
International career
After making his first team debut, Mattock was named in the England squad for the U17 Championships in Belgium. On 3 October 2007, Mattock was called up to the England U19 squad for the 2008 European U19 Championship. On 12 November, Mattock was called up to the England U21 squad alongside former clubmate Richard Stearman for the 2009 European U21 Championship qualifiers, making his debut in a 2–0 win over Bulgaria U21 on 16 November. In doing so he became the second youngest player to represent the England U21, behind Theo Walcott. However, he did not make the final squad for the tournament and instead played at the U19 European Championships. He scored his first ever international goal in the group stage and helped England to the final where they lost out to the hosts, Ukraine.
Personal life
Mattock grew up in the Eyres Monsell area of Leicester. On 2 September 2009, he was charged with assaulting four people in the Churchgate area of Leicester. In July 2011, Mattock pleaded guilty to a charge of affray and on 23 October 2011 he was sentenced to ten months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,500 costs.
