Post by bigfudge on Jan 7, 2016 20:37:34 GMT
1. First of all, you spent a lot of time at County from 2008 until 2011 and then again in 2012. Despite having played for other teams since then, do you still ever look out for the County results?
County is the first result I look for! I consider County my home in football. I spent 4 year there as a pro and worked with some great people! I'm just waiting and hoping for them to return to where they belong...The Football League!
2. In 2011 a few months after you had left County for the first time, you got a call from Jim Gannon, who of course gave you your professional debut, asking you to come back to the club. Was there any hesitation in coming back to County or did you know immediately that you wanted to rejoin?
No there was no hesitation at all! When I signed for Hull City they told me they wanted to send me out on loan to pick up my match fitness. Jim Gannon had just been reappointed as manager of County and going in touch with me asking if I wanted to come back. I had a couple of enquiries from Football League clubs but my mind was made up. I have a fantastic relationship with Jim, he gave me my professional start in the game and I think he is a tactical genius, not to mention a workaholic!
3. Your last club was Stalybridge Celtic and you played against County in a 3-2 win for Celtic when things got a bit heated on the pitch and in the stands. Did this experience sour your view of County at all or did you just dismiss it as 'one of those things'?
The Celtic Vs. County game did slightly heated, but it's to be expected! It didn't change my view on County at all, I still think they have a fantastically loyal fanbase.
4. It's been well publicised recently that you have made the switch from Football to Boxing. How did such a drastic change in career come about?
As odd as it sounds, I've always had a mad passion for boxing...even more so than Football, however I don't have any amateur experience! I was introduced to Matthew Hatton during last Summer's break through a mutual friend of ours and he agreed to have a look at me on the pads and told me I had a lot of natural talent. I was over the Moon with that obviously as I'd only ever seen him on TV! We arranged some sparring sessions as he said he wanted to see how I coped with someone hitting me back and the sessions went well, I felt so at home in the ring. After a couple more sessions he asked my feelings on him taking me under his wing full time and I bit his hand off and haven't looked back.
5. Obviously you had your first fight in 2015, which you won. Where does this leave you now? Would the ideal scenario to be contend for professional titles or would it to become an Olympic Standard amateur?
Once you turn professional you can't box in the amateurs! My goal is to fulfill my potential as a pro and go as high as possible in the professional ranks! I'd love more than anything to win titles in the sport and that is ultimately my aim.
6. The vast majority of County fans supported you as one of their own in your debut. Was it a surreal feeling having thousands supporting you as a footballer and the same people still following you and supporting you in a sport that some of them may know very little about?
It's fantastic that the County fans got behind me in my debut! The amount of messages I received via Twitter was unbelievable and I am so grateful.
7. Going back to Football now. A lot of us were at Edgeley Park that day you suffered that horrible injury Vs. Grimsby Town. You missed a whole seasons because of it. Were there ever times you thought you'd never play again and when you did play again for the first time were you nervous of every tackle?
The injury was a shocker and to be honest when I looked at my leg in half on the pitch, I did have my doubts! It's not easy having to learn to walk, jog and sprint again over a period of months...but I think that has given me so much mental strength that I can now take into the ring with me.
8. Did the injury play any part in your decision to get into Boxing?
No the injury was nothing to do with my decision to jump sports. Like I said, I've always secretly loved boxing more. I'd come home from football training and watch old fights on DVD. It was only a matter of time before the temptation got the better of me.
9. Are there any current or ex-County players you still keep in touch with?
I keep in touch with quite a few to be honest...I consider Liam Dickinson, Lewis King, Paul Turnbull and Scott Spencer some of my best friends. I keep in touch with lads from all over the country in football.
10. Who is the best County player you've ever played with?
The best County player I've played with...I'm on the fence for this one! In football everybody brings something different to the table and are cogs in a wheel if you like. It's difficult to pick out a best player, but quite a few of the League 1 side have gone on to play in the Premiership, which is brilliant and shows the strength of the squad we had!
11. Who is the best player you ever played against?
I have played against some great players! Ricky Lambert, Jermaine Beckford, Grant Holt, Jason Puncheon and the list goes on and on!
12. In boxing do you have any heroes that you look up to from modern day or the old boxers?
Yes of course, I'm a big fan of Mike Tyson, I'm a huge fan of Tommy Hearns and obviously Floyd Mayweather takes some beating! In the sport right now my favourite fighter is Guillermo Rigondeaux. I think he's a genius inside them ropes and technically I think nobody comes close to him, he is the fighter I watch and study the most.
13. Your story is a bit of a 'Rocky story' in the way that it started out of the blue and a bit later than people will usually start training. Do you feel your football career has helped you transition into the boxing world easier than if you just started from scratch?
Yeah of course, being a full time footballer for so many years has given me that base fitness to build on! Not to mention the fact that I'm now used to competing in front of big crowds and being under pressure.
14. Were you ever interested in going professional in any other sports or are the only sports you were ever interested in football and boxing?
No it's just boxing and football for me! I can't get a break over 12 in snooker, I can't do the 100m in 9 seconds and I do well not to drown when I'm the pool! Football and boxing all the way for me!
15. When you played for County in your first year, the club were doing very well before going into administration and Edgeley Park was a bit of a fortress. Did the crowd play a big role in the great home form?
The crowd played a huge part in our success, not just in that year but even to this day! I've always said they are the best fans in the country, they travelled far and wide to watch us even when the results weren't going our way!
16. In your time at County did you ever learn any of the County songs and if so, which was your favourite?
The Scarf My Father Wore is a great song! Maybe an idea for a future ring entrance...?
17. Do you ever miss playing in front of pretty big crowds every week and the camaraderie of being part of a team?
Yeah I used to love playing at different stadiums every week. It did take a little time to adjust to the fact that everything I do is now just me and Matthew, instead of having a squad of players around me day in day out. But to be honest I've always been the type of person to rely on me and me only.
18. After switching to boxing was there ever a time when you questioned if you made the right decision?
No not at all, I feel so at home in the ring!
19. Which gym do you do your training at?
We train at a fantastic facility called metro fitness in the heart of Stockport in Mersey Way shopping centre...so you could say I never really left! It's only been open for 3 years I think. There's a great vibe there and it's really good value for those wanting to oin and get in shape. I urge anyone in the Stockport area to get involved and join the hype!
20. Finally, Matty, do you have anymore fights planned? If so where, when and who against?
I will be fighting in March but my opponent hasn't been confirmed yet. It will be in Manchester. We have spoke about potentially boxing at Edgeley Park later in the year, which would be awesome!
A huge thank you to Matty for taking the time to answer this questions for me and I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing him all the very best in his boxing career going forward.
You can follow Matty on twitter @matty_Main
County is the first result I look for! I consider County my home in football. I spent 4 year there as a pro and worked with some great people! I'm just waiting and hoping for them to return to where they belong...The Football League!
2. In 2011 a few months after you had left County for the first time, you got a call from Jim Gannon, who of course gave you your professional debut, asking you to come back to the club. Was there any hesitation in coming back to County or did you know immediately that you wanted to rejoin?
No there was no hesitation at all! When I signed for Hull City they told me they wanted to send me out on loan to pick up my match fitness. Jim Gannon had just been reappointed as manager of County and going in touch with me asking if I wanted to come back. I had a couple of enquiries from Football League clubs but my mind was made up. I have a fantastic relationship with Jim, he gave me my professional start in the game and I think he is a tactical genius, not to mention a workaholic!
3. Your last club was Stalybridge Celtic and you played against County in a 3-2 win for Celtic when things got a bit heated on the pitch and in the stands. Did this experience sour your view of County at all or did you just dismiss it as 'one of those things'?
The Celtic Vs. County game did slightly heated, but it's to be expected! It didn't change my view on County at all, I still think they have a fantastically loyal fanbase.
4. It's been well publicised recently that you have made the switch from Football to Boxing. How did such a drastic change in career come about?
As odd as it sounds, I've always had a mad passion for boxing...even more so than Football, however I don't have any amateur experience! I was introduced to Matthew Hatton during last Summer's break through a mutual friend of ours and he agreed to have a look at me on the pads and told me I had a lot of natural talent. I was over the Moon with that obviously as I'd only ever seen him on TV! We arranged some sparring sessions as he said he wanted to see how I coped with someone hitting me back and the sessions went well, I felt so at home in the ring. After a couple more sessions he asked my feelings on him taking me under his wing full time and I bit his hand off and haven't looked back.
5. Obviously you had your first fight in 2015, which you won. Where does this leave you now? Would the ideal scenario to be contend for professional titles or would it to become an Olympic Standard amateur?
Once you turn professional you can't box in the amateurs! My goal is to fulfill my potential as a pro and go as high as possible in the professional ranks! I'd love more than anything to win titles in the sport and that is ultimately my aim.
6. The vast majority of County fans supported you as one of their own in your debut. Was it a surreal feeling having thousands supporting you as a footballer and the same people still following you and supporting you in a sport that some of them may know very little about?
It's fantastic that the County fans got behind me in my debut! The amount of messages I received via Twitter was unbelievable and I am so grateful.
7. Going back to Football now. A lot of us were at Edgeley Park that day you suffered that horrible injury Vs. Grimsby Town. You missed a whole seasons because of it. Were there ever times you thought you'd never play again and when you did play again for the first time were you nervous of every tackle?
The injury was a shocker and to be honest when I looked at my leg in half on the pitch, I did have my doubts! It's not easy having to learn to walk, jog and sprint again over a period of months...but I think that has given me so much mental strength that I can now take into the ring with me.
8. Did the injury play any part in your decision to get into Boxing?
No the injury was nothing to do with my decision to jump sports. Like I said, I've always secretly loved boxing more. I'd come home from football training and watch old fights on DVD. It was only a matter of time before the temptation got the better of me.
9. Are there any current or ex-County players you still keep in touch with?
I keep in touch with quite a few to be honest...I consider Liam Dickinson, Lewis King, Paul Turnbull and Scott Spencer some of my best friends. I keep in touch with lads from all over the country in football.
10. Who is the best County player you've ever played with?
The best County player I've played with...I'm on the fence for this one! In football everybody brings something different to the table and are cogs in a wheel if you like. It's difficult to pick out a best player, but quite a few of the League 1 side have gone on to play in the Premiership, which is brilliant and shows the strength of the squad we had!
11. Who is the best player you ever played against?
I have played against some great players! Ricky Lambert, Jermaine Beckford, Grant Holt, Jason Puncheon and the list goes on and on!
12. In boxing do you have any heroes that you look up to from modern day or the old boxers?
Yes of course, I'm a big fan of Mike Tyson, I'm a huge fan of Tommy Hearns and obviously Floyd Mayweather takes some beating! In the sport right now my favourite fighter is Guillermo Rigondeaux. I think he's a genius inside them ropes and technically I think nobody comes close to him, he is the fighter I watch and study the most.
13. Your story is a bit of a 'Rocky story' in the way that it started out of the blue and a bit later than people will usually start training. Do you feel your football career has helped you transition into the boxing world easier than if you just started from scratch?
Yeah of course, being a full time footballer for so many years has given me that base fitness to build on! Not to mention the fact that I'm now used to competing in front of big crowds and being under pressure.
14. Were you ever interested in going professional in any other sports or are the only sports you were ever interested in football and boxing?
No it's just boxing and football for me! I can't get a break over 12 in snooker, I can't do the 100m in 9 seconds and I do well not to drown when I'm the pool! Football and boxing all the way for me!
15. When you played for County in your first year, the club were doing very well before going into administration and Edgeley Park was a bit of a fortress. Did the crowd play a big role in the great home form?
The crowd played a huge part in our success, not just in that year but even to this day! I've always said they are the best fans in the country, they travelled far and wide to watch us even when the results weren't going our way!
16. In your time at County did you ever learn any of the County songs and if so, which was your favourite?
The Scarf My Father Wore is a great song! Maybe an idea for a future ring entrance...?
17. Do you ever miss playing in front of pretty big crowds every week and the camaraderie of being part of a team?
Yeah I used to love playing at different stadiums every week. It did take a little time to adjust to the fact that everything I do is now just me and Matthew, instead of having a squad of players around me day in day out. But to be honest I've always been the type of person to rely on me and me only.
18. After switching to boxing was there ever a time when you questioned if you made the right decision?
No not at all, I feel so at home in the ring!
19. Which gym do you do your training at?
We train at a fantastic facility called metro fitness in the heart of Stockport in Mersey Way shopping centre...so you could say I never really left! It's only been open for 3 years I think. There's a great vibe there and it's really good value for those wanting to oin and get in shape. I urge anyone in the Stockport area to get involved and join the hype!
20. Finally, Matty, do you have anymore fights planned? If so where, when and who against?
I will be fighting in March but my opponent hasn't been confirmed yet. It will be in Manchester. We have spoke about potentially boxing at Edgeley Park later in the year, which would be awesome!
A huge thank you to Matty for taking the time to answer this questions for me and I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing him all the very best in his boxing career going forward.
You can follow Matty on twitter @matty_Main
