Claude Mattocks

Claude Mattocks

Personal information
Full name	Claude John Mattocks
Date of birth	(1980-02-21) 21 February 1980
Place of birth	Floriana, Malta
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1996–2004	Floriana	141	(16)
2004–2007	Sliema Wanderers	45	(3)
2005–2006	→Valletta (loan)	12	(3)
2007–2008	Valletta	12	(1)
2008–2009	Marsaxlokk	13	(1)
National team‡
	Malta U16
	Malta U18
	Malta U21
2003–2009	Malta	16	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 January 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 January 2010

Claude John Mattocks (born 21 February 1980 in Floriana, Malta) was a professional footballer who last played for Maltese Premier League side Marsaxlokk as a midfielder.

Playing career

Floriana

Claude began his career playing for his local side Floriana during the 1996–97 season. Mattocks went on to make three appearances that season, scoring his first goal for the club, as Floriana finished in 3rd position in the Maltese Premier League.

Claude started to force his way into the first team at Floriana with some impressive displays during the 1997–98 season, as Floriana finished in 5th position, with Mattocks making 14 appearances, but failing to score any goals.

For the 1998–99 season, Claude’s first team opportunities were restricted to just 10 appearances, he did however score one goal, which helped Floriana record another 5th place finish in the Maltese Premier League.

During the 1999–00, Mattocks firmly established himself in the Floriana first team squad, making 22 appearances and scoring three goals, as Floriana finished in an impressive 4th position in the Maltese Premier League.

Mattocks went into the 2000–01 season hopeful of improving on the clubs previous finish, however Floriana managed another 5th place finish in the Maltese Premier League, with Claude making 25 appearances, and scoring four goals.

Claude continued to impress and went into the 2001–02 season hoping to help Floriana finish in a higher league position, but again they finished in 5th position in the Maltese Premier League, as Mattocks made 25 appearances, but failed to score any goals.

For the 2002–03 season, Claude and Floriana almost took an almighty fall from grace, as they finished the season in the relegation pool, and narrowly avoided relegation after finishing in 8th position, with Mattocks making 20 appearances, and scoring five goals to help the team cause. Despite the poor form of Floriana, Mattocks did receive his first cap for the Maltese national team.

Claude went into the 2003–04 season in great form, and attracting interest from other teams in the Maltese Premier League, Mattocks completed the season with Floriana, helping the club return to the championship pool to record a 6th place finish. Claude made 22 appearances, scoring two goals during the season.

Sliema Wanderers

Following a host of impressive performances for Floriana, Claude joined fellow Maltese Premier League side Sliema Wanderers for the 2004–05 season. The move was an instant success as Mattocks helped his new club to the Maltese Premier League title. During the season Claude made 23 appearances and scored three goals.

For the 2005–06 season, Claude began the season with Sliema Wanderers making 9 appearances, but scoring no goals. During the January transfer window of 2007, Claude switched to Valletta on loan for the remainder of the season. During the season with Valletta, Mattocks made 12 appearances and scored three goals to help the club to a 5th place finish in the Maltese Premier League, with his contracted club Sliema Wanderers finishing in 2nd position.

Claude returned to Sliema Wanderers for the 2006–07 season, he made 13 appearances, but failed to score any goals throughout the season, as Sliema Wanderers finished in 2nd position in the Maltese Premier League for the second consecutive season.

Mattocks began the 2007–08 season with Sliema Wanderers. Claude made only one appearance, without scoring, and left the club during the January transfer window of 2008. Sliema Wanderers did go on to finish in 4th position in the Maltese Premier League that season.

Valletta

Claude rejoined Valletta for the second half of the 2007–08 season, he went on to make 12 appearances and scored one goal, as Mattocks won the Maltese Premier League title for the second time in his career, as Valletta finished in 1st position.

Marsaxlokk

On 20 August 2008, it was confirmed that Claude Mattocks had joined Marsaxlokk from Valletta, teaming up with former Valletta team-mate Saviour Darmanin, who had made the same move the previous month. Mattocks was allocated with the number 21 shirt.

Mattocks made his debut for Marsaxlokk four days later on 24 August 2008, where the side played newly promoted Qormi. He came off the bench as a second-half substitute for Christian Cassar on the 56th minute, and it was Mattocks, with the game three minutes into stoppage time, who crossed a ball into the box, to be met by Julio Alcorsé, who flicked the ball past a helpless Matthew Farrugia to secure a 1–1 draw. ^[1]

Honours

Sliema Wanderers

Winner

• 2004–05 Maltese Premier League

Valletta

Winner

• 2007–08 Maltese Premier League

Career statistics

Statistics accurate as of match played 1 August 2009.

References

External links

• Claude Mattocks at MaltaFootball.com
• Claude Mattocks at National-Football-Teams.com