Matty Fryatt

Walsall

Born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Fryatt rose through the ranks at youth level at Walsall. He made his first team debut as a substitute in a 3–1 League Cup second round defeat to Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on 24 September 2003, replacing Steve Corica after 67 minutes. His first appearance in The Football League came on 14 October, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Watford in the First Division. On 18 December 2003, Fryatt moved to Third Division Carlisle United on loan for a month to gain vital first team experience. He made his debut for the Cumbrians two days later, starting in a 2–0 win over Torquay United at Brunton Park, and scored his first professional goal on 3 January 2004, the winner as his team came from behind to win 2–1 against Boston United, heading in Brendan McGill's cross for the bottom-ranked club. Twelve days later, Fryatt's loan was extended by another month, and he returned to Walsall on 23 February after playing ten games. On 20 March, he scored his first goal for the Saddlers, in the first two minutes of a 2–1 win at Preston North End, but the season ended with relegation to League One. Fryatt began the 2004–05 season with a 12th-minute penalty to open a 3–2 win over West Midlands neighbours Port Vale on 7 August. A week later he netted two – including another penalty – in a 5–3 loss at Oldham Athletic. He scored 15 goals in 36 appearances across the season, including a hat-trick in a 4–3 win over Huddersfield Town on 29…

Fryatt made his debut for the England U19 team on 9 September 2004 against Republic of Ireland, coming on as a half-time substitute and assisting a goal in a 2–0 win. He went on to star in the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, scoring four goals in five games, including a hat-trick against Serbia and Montenegro.

Fryatt is currently coaching the U15 team at Walsall.

As of 9 May 2016