Kilgallon: Matthew Shaun (Matthew)

2000-2007 (Player Details)

Central Defender

Born: York: 08-01-1984

Debut: v Hapoel Tel-Aviv (a) (substitute): 14-11-2002

6’1” 12st 4lb (2005)

A product of the youth set-up at Leeds, Kilgallon made his debut in United’s UEFA Cup game in Florence for their away game with Hapoel Tel-Aviv, coming on for Lucas Redebe after sixty-two minutes, followed four minutes later by Frazer Richardson, who also made his debut as a substitute for Gary Kelly. After being loaned out to West Ham United, for whom he made one League start and two games from the bench and one start in the League Cup in his stay from August to November 2003, he next made the first team in the Boxing Day game home game with Aston Villa in 2003 and on 17th January 2004 he scored his first goal for United at Southampton. He made seven League starts in 2003-04, scoring two goals that season and working his way into the England Under-Twenty-one set-up. Once Leeds had dropped to the CCCL, Killa (his nick-name from his team mates) began to make more appearances and held down a more regular place in the first eleven. He played a major role in the club's run through to the 2006 play-offs, helping them make the final. Kilgallon played most of Leeds's matches of the first half of the 2006-07 season in new Manager, Dennis Wise's new look Leeds team, keeping experienced centre-backs Sean Gregan and Hayden Foxe out of the team. Having been the subject of a failed £1 million bid from EPL side Reading at the start of the 2006-07 season he was finally transferred to Sheffield United during that season’s January transfer window. Kilgallon signed for Sheffield United on 8th January 2007 for £1.75 million rising to £2 million and with a 20% sell on clause. Despite recovering from an early injury he found it difficult to force himself into Neil Warnock’s plans and did not make his first team debut until the 1-0 loss at Bolton Wanderers on 31st March 2007. He did not score a competitive goal for the Blades until 15th December 2007 when he netted the winner in a 1-0 home victory over local rivals Barnsley. A vital cog in the Blades team, he was the club's "Player of the Year" in the 2008-09 season. While playing regularly he rejected the clubs further offers of a new contract as it was inadequate. He did commit himself to the club until the end of his contract which was due to expire at the end of the season. Kilgallon's record at Bramall Lane was four League goals in one hundred and five starts and two games from the bench but had failed to score in seven F.A. Cup, seven League Cup and three starts in the play-off Finals. The club decided to cash in while they could and he signed for Sunderland for £2 million on a three and a half year contract on 21st February 2010. At the end of the 2009-10 season he had started six League games and played one from the bench for Sunderland. He was capped at Youth and five times at Under-Twenty-one level by England.