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{{Short description|English footballer (born 1979)}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matthew Spring
| image = spring,matthew.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Spring warming up for [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] in 2009
| fullname = Matthew John Spring<ref name=Hugman1011>{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11 |year=2010 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |location=Edinburgh |isbn=978-1-84596-601-0 |page=390}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|11|17|df=y}}<ref name=Hugman1011/>
| birth_place = [[Harlow]], England
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}<ref name=Hugman1011/>
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1997
| youthclubs1 = [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
| years1 = 1997–2004
| clubs1 = [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
| caps1 = 250
| goals1 = 26
| years2 = 2004–2005
| clubs2 = [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| caps2 = 13
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2005–2007
| clubs3 = [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
| caps3 = 45
| goals3 = 8
| years4 = 2007–2009
| clubs4 = [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
| caps4 = 58
| goals4 = 10
| years5 = 2008–2009
| clubs5 = → [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] (loan)
| caps5 = 11
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2009–2010
| clubs6 = [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
| caps6 = 25
| goals6 = 2
| years7 = 2010–2012
| clubs7 = [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]]
| caps7 = 80
| goals7 = 6
| years8 = 2012–2014
| clubs8 = [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]]
| caps8 = 30
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2014–2015
| clubs9 = [[St Neots Town F.C.|St Neots Town]]
| caps9 = 37
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2015–2018
| clubs10 = [[Hemel Hempstead Town F.C.|Hemel Hempstead Town]]
| caps10 = 63
| goals10 = 5
| years11 = 2017
| clubs11 = [[Hitchin Town F.C.|Hitchin Town]] (dual registration)
| caps11 = 2
| goals11 = 1
| years12 = 2018
| clubs12 = [[Hitchin Town F.C.|Hitchin Town]] (dual registration)
| caps12 = 9
| goals12 = 0
| years13 = 2018–2019
| clubs13 = [[Hitchin Town F.C.|Hitchin Town]]
| caps13 = 10
| goals13 = 0
| totalcaps = 633
| totalgoals = 60
| club-update = 17:18, 24 January 2022 (UTC)
}}
'''Matthew John Spring''' (born 17 November 1979) is an English semi-professional [[Association football|footballer]] and [[Coach (sport)|coach]] who last played as a [[midfielder]] for {{English football updater|HitchinT}} club [[Hitchin Town F.C.|Hitchin Town]]. He previously played for [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]], [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], [[Watford F.C.|Watford]], [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]], [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]], [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]], [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]], [[St Neots Town F.C.|St Neots Town]] and [[Hemel Hempstead Town F.C.|Hemel Hempstead Town]].

==Career==
===Luton Town===
Spring started his career at [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]], making his debut as a [[half-time]] [[Substitute (association football)|substitute]] in a 3–0 defeat to [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] on 27 September 1997.<ref name=sb9798/> He went on to make 12 further appearances in the [[1997–98 Luton Town F.C. season|1997–98 season]].<ref name=sb9798/> Spring established himself as a first-team regular in the [[1998–99 Luton Town F.C. season|1998–99 season]], making 54 appearances, scoring three goals.<ref name=sb9899/> In the [[2000–01 Luton Town F.C. season|2000–01 season]], he made 51 appearances, scoring four goals,<ref name=sb0001/> as Luton were relegated to the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] for the first time in 33 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Luton 0–1 Rotherham |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1292229.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 April 2001 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> Luton bounced straight back in the [[2001–02 Luton Town F.C. season|2001–02 season]], finishing runners-up and were promoted back to the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]], with Spring making 43 appearances, scoring six goals.<ref name=sb0102/> Spring was beset by injuries during the latter half of the [[2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season|2003–04 season]], causing him to miss the last three months of the season, restricting him to 30 appearances, scoring one goal.<ref name=sb0304/> Spring's contract was due to expire at the end of the season and he looked set to leave Luton, with [[EFL Championship|Championship]] clubs [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] and [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] both interested in securing his services.<ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Pearson |title=Hatters resigned to Spring exit |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11715/2303103/hatters-resigned-to-spring-exit |publisher=Sky Sports |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> In total he made 289 appearances for Luton, scoring 30 goals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Matthew Spring |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=12593 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=4 October 2016}}</ref>

===Leeds United===
After leaving Luton, Spring was on the verge of joining Nottingham Forest and linking back up with former Luton manager [[Joe Kinnear]] until Leeds made a late bid to sign him.<ref name=Forest&Leeds>{{cite news |title=Leeds sign Spring |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/3856001.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 July 2004 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> He was signed by newly appointed Leeds manager [[Kevin Blackwell]] on a [[Bosman ruling|Bosman transfer]], as he re-modelled his newly relegated team.<ref name=Forest&Leeds/> Spring described the turn of events as "a bit of a shock because I was lined up to go to Forest and I was pleased with that. Then a couple of days later Leeds came in with an offer. I had a decision to make but as soon as I saw [[Elland Road]] and thought about the atmosphere of 35,000 fans at every home game my mind was made up."<ref name=Forest&Leeds/> Spring's first season in the Championship was an unhappy one, with a combination of injuries and personal problems restricting him to just 15 appearances and one goal against [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]].<ref name=sb0405/>

===Watford===
As the [[2005–06 Watford F.C. season|2005–06 season]] commenced [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] manager [[Adrian Boothroyd]], who had worked with Spring when he was first team coach at Leeds, brought the midfielder to [[Vicarage Road]] to be part of his reshaped team for a transfer fee of £150,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leeds' Spring makes Watford move |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/4165802.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 August 2005 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> Spring scored on his debut, coming off the bench to put in a late third in a 3–1 victory over [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] on 20 August 2005.<ref>{{cite news |title=Watford 3–1 Burnley |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4148298.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 August 2005 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> As Boothroyd's team flew high in the Championship, Spring, a regular in the team, scored seven further goals from central midfield by the end of January.<ref name=sb0506/> However, he did not score again until Watford reached the play-offs in May, when he scored the third goal in the 3–0 victory over [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] in the first leg of the semi-final.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crystal Palace 0–3 Watford |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4972624.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 May 2006 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> Spring played in the 3–0 [[2006 Football League Championship play-off Final|Championship play-off final]] win over Leeds United at the [[Millennium Stadium]], with Watford earning promotion to the [[Premier League]].<ref name=POF2006>{{cite news |title=Leeds 0–3 Watford |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4771857.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 May 2006 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref>

During Watford's Premiership campaign, Spring's first team opportunities were limited after falling down the pecking order behind new signing [[Damien Francis]] and [[Alhassan Bangura|Al Bangura]] at Vicarage Road. As a result, he made only nine appearances for the club during the first half of the [[2006–07 Watford F.C. season|2006–07 season]].<ref name=sb0607/>

===Return to Luton Town===
On 18 January 2007, after struggling to establish himself in the first team at Watford, Spring rejoined Luton on a two-and-a-half-year contract for a transfer fee of £200,000 (rising to £300,000).<ref>{{cite news |title=Watford man Spring rejoins Luton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/6274751.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 January 2007 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> His first game since returning to the club came on 30 January in the 1–0 away defeat to [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Coventry 1–0 Luton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/6305171.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 January 2007 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> At the end of the season, Luton were relegated to [[EFL League One|League One]] after two seasons in the Championship,<ref>{{cite news |title=Derby 1–0 Luton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/6555423.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 April 2007 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> with Spring making 14 appearances, scoring one goal.<ref name=sb0607/> During the [[2007–08 Luton Town F.C. season|2007–08 season]], Spring made 54 appearances, scoring 12 goals,<ref name=sb0708/> as Luton were relegated again to [[EFL League Two|League Two]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Luton 1–2 Brighton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7332121.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref>

On 31 July 2008, Spring joined Championship club [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] on a season-long [[Loan (sports)|loan]] deal, with a view to a permanent move.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blades on verge of triple swoop |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/7535893.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 July 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> He made his debut for the club on 13 August in the first round of the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]], a 3–1 victory at home over [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheff Utd 3–1 Port Vale |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/7551379.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2008 |accessdate=16 August 2008}}</ref> Injuries initially hampered his time at [[Bramall Lane]], but by October, he began to feature regularly for the first team, scoring his first goal for the club on 25 November, a 3–1 defeat at home to [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Spring's goal consolation |url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Reactions/0,,10418~1467488,00.html |publisher=Sheffield United F.C. |date=26 November 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218035107/http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Reactions/0%2C%2C10418~1467488%2C00.html |archivedate=18 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 9 January 2009, Spring was released from his loan deal with Sheffield United to allow him to seek a permanent move elsewhere, as agreed before the loan commenced.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spring loan finished |url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/PlayerFeatures/0,,10418~1514655,00.html |publisher=Sheffield United F.C. |date=9 January 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218035410/http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/PlayerFeatures/0%2C%2C10418~1514655%2C00.html |archivedate=18 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Charlton Athletic===
On 9 January 2009, Spring joined Championship club [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] from Luton on an 18-month contract for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{cite news |title=Spring seals Addicks move |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11683/4771406/spring-seals-addicks-move |publisher=Sky Sports |date=9 January 2009 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the club on 17 January, a 4–1 away defeat to [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheff Wed 4–1 Charlton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7815960.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 January 2009 |accessdate=12 April 2010}}</ref> He scored his second goal just ten days later in a 1–0 win over rivals Crystal Palace in only his third game for his new employers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Charlton 1–0 Crystal Palace |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7845592.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 January 2009 |accessdate=12 April 2010}}</ref> Spring finished the [[2008–09 Charlton Athletic F.C. season|2008–09 season]] making 13 appearances, scoring two goals,<ref name=sb0809/> as Charlton were relegated to League One.<ref>{{cite news |title=Charlton 2–2 Blackpool |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7990049.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 April 2009 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref>

Spring failed to score in 15 appearances for Charlton during the [[2009–10 Charlton Athletic F.C. season|2009–10 season]].<ref name=sb0910/> Charlton chose not to offer Spring a new contract and so he left the club at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Charlton release six players with more set to follow |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/8700652.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref>

===Leyton Orient===
On 30 June 2010, Spring signed a two-year contract with League One club [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Orient bring in Spring |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12875/6239280/orient-bring-in-spring |publisher=Sky Sports |date=30 June 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> He made his debut for the club on 7 August, a 2–1 defeat away to [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Yeovil 2–1 Leyton Orient |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8842136.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> Spring scored his first goal for Leyton Orient in a 3–2 defeat away to [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Notts County 3–2 Leyton Orient |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8968129.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 September 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> He finished the [[2010–11 Leyton Orient F.C. season|2010–11 season]] making 50 appearances, scoring two goals.<ref name=sb1011/>

During the [[2011–12 Leyton Orient F.C. season|2011–12 season]], Spring scored his first goal on 12 November 2011, a 3–0 win over [[Bromley F.C.|Bromley]] in the [[FA Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Leyton Orient 3–0 Bromley |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/15604807.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 November 2011 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> He scored his first league goal of the season on 31 December, a 1–0 win over his former employers and League One leaders Charlton.<ref>{{cite news |title=O's Spring a big surprise |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/leyton-or-vs-charlton/239076 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=31 December 2011 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> He finished the season making 45 appearances, scoring five goals.<ref name=sb1112/> Spring was not offered a new contract by Leyton Orient and left the club at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Bass |title=Spring joins Chairboys |url=http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/sport/leytonorient/9793892.Spring_joins_Chairboys/ |newspaper=Guardian Series |location=Walthamstow |date=2 July 2012 |accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref>

===Wycombe Wanderers===
On 2 July 2012, it was announced that Spring had signed a two-year contract with [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]].<ref name=Wycombe>{{cite news |title=Gary Doherty & Matthew Spring head five Wycombe signings |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18679621 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 July 2012 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> He arrived as one of five new signings after a transfer embargo was lifted from the club.<ref name=Wycombe/> Spring made his debut for the club on 11 August, a 1–0 away defeat to former club Watford.<ref name=sb1213/> His first and only goal for Wycombe during the [[2012–13 Wycombe Wanderers F.C. season|2012–13 season]] came on 3 November, a 4–1 away defeat to [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] in the FA Cup.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crewe 4–1 Wycombe |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20107461 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 November 2012 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref> Spring ended the season making 29 appearances for Wycombe.<ref name=sb1213/>

Spring made only eight appearances for Wycombe during the [[2013–14 Wycombe Wanderers F.C. season|2013–14 season]], failing to score in any of them.<ref name=sb1314/> He was among a number of players released at the end of the season having fallen out of favour with [[Gareth Ainsworth]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Wycombe Wanderers release Leon Johnson and eight others |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27408945 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2014 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref>

===St Neots Town===
Following his release by Wycombe Wanderers, Spring signed for [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] Premier Division club [[St Neots Town F.C.|St Neots Town]] in August 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=New faces for Histon and St Neots Town |url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/new-faces-histon-st-neots-town/story-22820983-detail/story.html |newspaper=Cambridge News |date=8 August 2014 |accessdate=4 October 2016}}{{dead link|date=March 2018}}</ref>

After a re-shuffle of the coaching staff early in the [[2014–15 Southern Football League#Premier Division|2014–15 season]], Spring was appointed player-assistant manager.<ref>{{cite web |title=St Neots Town FC First Team |url=http://www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/blteam/46/2.html?layout=players |publisher=St Neots Town F.C. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224020953/http://www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/blteam/46/2.html?layout=players |archivedate=24 December 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Despite playing an important role in the St Neots Town team that made the Southern Premier Division play-off final, Spring was one of several players released by the club at the end of the 2014–15 season.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Plummer |title=Four shown the St Neots Town door |url=http://www.huntspost.co.uk/sport/football/four-shown-the-st-neots-town-door-1-4076432 |newspaper=The Hunts Post |date=16 May 2015 |accessdate=31 March 2018}}</ref>

===Hemel Hempstead Town and Hitchin Town===
After his release from St Neots Town, Spring moved up a division to sign with [[National League South]] club [[Hemel Hempstead Town F.C.|Hemel Hempstead Town]] in June 2015.<ref>{{cite news |title=Frendo signs from the Saints as Tudors rebuild for next season |url=https://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/sport/football/hemel-town-fc/frendo-signs-from-the-saints-as-tudors-rebuild-for-next-season-1-6777271 |newspaper=Hemel Today |date=3 June 2015 |accessdate=31 March 2018}}</ref>

Spring signed a dual registration deal with Southern League Premier Division club [[Hitchin Town F.C.|Hitchin Town]] on 6 March 2017, scoring on his debut later that day in a 2–1 victory at home to [[Cirencester Town F.C.|Cirencester Town]], having entered the match as a substitute.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hitchin Town 2 Cirencester Town 1 |url=http://hitchintownfc.club/reports/2016_17/CirencesterHSLP.shtml |publisher=Hitchin Town F.C. |date=6 March 2017 |accessdate=7 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308133702/http://hitchintownfc.club/reports/2016_17/CirencesterHSLP.shtml |archive-date=8 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He re-signed for Hitchin on dual registration on 23 March 2018.<ref>{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Whitney |title=Spring comes to Hitchin |url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/headlines/spring-comes-hitchin/ |website=Pitchero Non-League |date=23 March 2018 |accessdate=31 March 2018}}</ref> Spring signed for Hitchin permanently as a [[player-coach]] on 24 May on a one-year contract.<ref>{{cite web |title=One rejoins permanently and another departs |url=https://hitchintownfc.club/one-rejoins-permanently-and-another-departs/ |publisher=Hitchin Town F.C. |date=24 May 2018 |accessdate=5 August 2018}}</ref>

==Rivalry==
Spring is one of the few players to have played for both Luton and their arch-rivals Watford. On 10 September 2002, he scored a 30-yard goal for Luton in a 2–1 victory over Watford in the League Cup, the first meeting of the two clubs for over three years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Watford 1–2 Luton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2239191.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 September 2002 |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{{updated|match played 21 November 2018}}

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season
!colspan=3|League
!colspan=2|[[FA Cup]]
!colspan=2|[[EFL Cup|League Cup]]
!colspan=2|Other
!colspan=2|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan=8|[[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
|[[1997–98 Luton Town F.C. season|1997–98]]<ref name=sb9798>{{soccerbase season|12593|1997|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|12||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||13||0
|-
|[[1998–99 Luton Town F.C. season|1998–99]]<ref name=sb9899>{{soccerbase season|12593|1998|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|Second Division
|45||3||2||0||7||0||0||0||54||3
|-
|[[1999–2000 Luton Town F.C. season|1999–2000]]<ref name=sb9900>{{soccerbase season|12593|1999|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|Second Division
|45||6||5||2||1||0||1{{efn|name=FLT|Appearance(s) in [[Football League Trophy]]}}||0||52||8
|-
|[[2000–01 Luton Town F.C. season|2000–01]]<ref name=sb0001>{{soccerbase season|12593|2000|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|Second Division
|41||4||5||0||4||0||1{{efn|name=FLT}}||0||51||4
|-
|[[2001–02 Luton Town F.C. season|2001–02]]<ref name=sb0102>{{soccerbase season|12593|2001|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]
|42||6||1||0||0||0||0||0||43||6
|-
|[[2002–03 Luton Town F.C. season|2002–03]]<ref name=sb0203>{{soccerbase season|12593|2002|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|Second Division
|41||6||2||1||2||1||1{{efn|name=FLT}}||0||46||8
|-
|[[2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season|2003–04]]<ref name=sb0304>{{soccerbase season|12593|2003|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|Second Division
|24||1||3||0||2||0||1{{efn|name=FLT}}||0||30||1
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!250!!26!!19!!3!!16!!1!!4!!0!!289!!30
|-
|[[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
|[[2004–05 Leeds United A.F.C. season|2004–05]]<ref name=sb0405>{{soccerbase season|12593|2004|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|[[EFL Championship|Championship]]
|13||1||0||0||2||0||colspan=2|—||15||1
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
|[[2005–06 Watford F.C. season|2005–06]]<ref name=sb0506>{{soccerbase season|12593|2005|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|Championship
|39||8||0||0||2||0||3{{efn|Appearances in [[EFL Championship play-offs|Championship play-offs]]}}||1||44||9
|-
|[[2006–07 Watford F.C. season|2006–07]]<ref name=sb0607/>
|[[Premier League]]
|6||0||0||0||3||0||colspan=2|—||9||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!45!!8!!0!!0!!5!!0!!3!!1!!53!!9
|-
|rowspan=3|Luton Town
|[[2006–07 Luton Town F.C. season|2006–07]]<ref name=sb0607>{{soccerbase season|12593|2006|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|Championship
|14||1||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||14||1
|-
|[[2007–08 Luton Town F.C. season|2007–08]]<ref name=sb0708>{{soccerbase season|12593|2007|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|[[EFL League One|League One]]
|44||9||5||0||4||2||1{{efn|name=FLT}}||1||54||12
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!58!!10!!5!!0!!4!!2!!1!!1!!68!!13
|-
|[[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] (loan)
|[[2008–09 Sheffield United F.C. season|2008–09]]<ref name=sb0809/>
|Championship
|11||1||colspan=2|—||2||0||colspan=2|—||13||1
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
|[[2008–09 Charlton Athletic F.C. season|2008–09]]<ref name=sb0809>{{soccerbase season|12593|2008|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|Championship
|13||2||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||13||2
|-
|[[2009–10 Charlton Athletic F.C. season|2009–10]]<ref name=sb0910>{{soccerbase season|12593|2009|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|League One
|12||0||0||0||1||0||2{{efn|name=FLT}}||0||15||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!25!!2!!0!!0!!1!!0!!2!!0!!28!!2
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]]
|[[2010–11 Leyton Orient F.C. season|2010–11]]<ref name=sb1011>{{soccerbase season|12593|2010|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|League One
|39||2||7||0||2||0||2{{efn|name=FLT}}||0||50||2
|-
|[[2011–12 Leyton Orient F.C. season|2011–12]]<ref name=sb1112>{{soccerbase season|12593|2011|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|League One
|41||4||2||1||2||0||0||0||45||5
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!80!!6!!9!!1!!4!!0!!2!!0!!95!!7
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]]
|[[2012–13 Wycombe Wanderers F.C. season|2012–13]]<ref name=sb1213>{{soccerbase season|12593|2012|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|[[EFL League Two|League Two]]
|25||0||1||1||1||0||2{{efn|name=FLT}}||0||29||1
|-
|[[2013–14 Wycombe Wanderers F.C. season|2013–14]]<ref name=sb1314>{{soccerbase season|12593|2013|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
|League Two
|5||0||1||0||1||0||1{{efn|name=FLT}}||0||8||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!30!!0!!2!!1!!2!!0!!3!!0!!37!!1
|-
|[[St Neots Town F.C.|St Neots Town]]
|[[2014–15 Southern Football League#Premier Division|2014–15]]<ref name=Aylesbury/>
|[[Southern Football League|Southern League]] Premier Division
|37||0||2||0||colspan=2|—||8{{efn|Two appearances in Southern League Premier Division play-offs, four appearances and one goal in [[FA Trophy]], one appearance in [[Huntingdonshire Senior Cup|Hunts Senior Cup]], one in [[Southern Football League Cup (England)|Southern League Cup]]}}||1||47||1
|-
|rowspan=4|[[Hemel Hempstead Town F.C.|Hemel Hempstead Town]]
|[[2015–16 National League#National League South|2015–16]]<ref name=Aylesbury/><ref>{{cite web |title=Whitehawk vs. Hemel Hempstead Town |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2016/03/22/england/conference-n--s/whitehawk-fc/hemel-hempstead-town-fc/2066476/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |accessdate=31 March 2018}}</ref>
|[[National League South]]
|31||5||2||0||colspan=2|—||3{{efn|One appearance in [[Herts Charity Cup]], one in FA Trophy, one in [[Herts Senior Cup]]}}||0||36||5
|-
|[[2016–17 National League#National League South|2016–17]]<ref name=Soccerway>{{cite web |title=M. Spring: Summary |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/matthew-spring/2556/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |accessdate=5 August 2018}}</ref>
|National League South
|15||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||15||0
|-
|[[2017–18 National League#National League South|2017–18]]<ref name=Aylesbury/>
|National League South
|17||0||3||0||colspan=2|—||4{{efn|One appearance in Herts Senior Cup, one appearance and one goal in Herts Charity Cup, two appearances in FA Trophy}}||1||24||1
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!63!!5!!5!!0!!colspan=2|—!!7!!1!!75!!6
|-
|rowspan=4|[[Hitchin Town F.C.|Hitchin Town]]
|[[2016–17 Southern Football League#Premier Division|2016–17]]<ref name=Aylesbury/>
|Southern League Premier Division
|2||1||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|Appearance in Herts Charity Cup}}||0||3||1
|-
|[[2017–18 Southern Football League#Premier Division|2017–18]]<ref name=Aylesbury/><ref>{{cite web |title=Kings Langley vs Hitchin Town |url=http://hitchintownfc.club/event/1068/ |publisher=Hitchin Town F.C. |date=2 April 2018 |accessdate=5 August 2018}}</ref>
|Southern League Premier Division
|9||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|Appearance in Southern League Cup}}||0||10||0
|-
|[[2018–19 Southern Football League#Premier Division Central|2018–19]]<ref name=Aylesbury>{{cite web |title=Player profiles: Matthew Spring |url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/matthew-spring |publisher=Aylesbury United F.C. |accessdate=11 December 2018}}</ref>
|Southern League Premier Division Central
|10||0||7||0||colspan=2|—||3{{efn|One appearance in Herts Charity Cup, one in Southern League Cup, one in FA Trophy}}||0||20||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!21!!1!!7!!0!!colspan=2|—!!5!!0!!33!!1
|-
!colspan=3|Career total
!633!!60!!49!!5!!36!!3!!35!!4!!753!!72
|}

{{notelist}}

==Honours==
'''Luton Town'''
*[[Football League Third Division]] runner-up: [[2001–02 Football League#Third Division|2001–02]]<ref name=sb0102/><ref>{{cite web |title=Football League Third Division: 2001/02: Latest table |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=246 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=31 March 2018}}</ref>

'''Watford'''
*[[Football League Championship play-offs]]: [[2006 Football League play-offs#Championship|2005–06]]<ref name=POF2006/>

'''Individual'''
*[[Luton Town F.C. Player of the Season#Young Player of the Season|Luton Town Young Player of the Season]]: [[1997–98 Luton Town F.C. season|1997–98]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Leeds United F.C. History |url=http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/players_profiles/S/SpringMJ.php |publisher=ozwhitelufc.net.au |accessdate=27 March 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://hitchintownfc.club/player/matthew-spring/ Matthew Spring profile] at the Hitchin Town F.C. website
*{{Soccerbase}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spring, Matthew}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Harlow]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Watford F.C. players]]
[[Category:Leeds United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Leyton Orient F.C. players]]
[[Category:Luton Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sheffield United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players]]
[[Category:Wycombe Wanderers F.C. players]]
[[Category:St Neots Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Hemel Hempstead Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Hitchin Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Southern Football League players]]
[[Category:National League (English football) players]]

Matthew Spring - Revision history

imported>GiantSnowman: clean up (via WP:JWB)