We get to know midfield man Matty Dolan a little better as he fields our variation of first and lasts questions this afternoon…
Firsts
What was the name of your first pet?
Benji. It was a border terrier, and he was a really good dog.
What was your first car?
A Seat Ibiza. It was a lovely car, that. It was white. I wish I still had it, now I am thinking about it!
What was your first holiday abroad?
Majorca, I think, if I remember correctly. We had a few family holidays when I was younger and that was the destination.
What was the first gig you went to see?
I remember going to a Three Evo Festival on the Quayside in Newcastle and it was class. I think Paolo Nutini was there performing. Brilliant.
What was the first match you went to see?
It was probably a Hartlepool United game. My dad will have taken me along, probably in about 2004. I remember I was at the FA Cup tie at Sunderland, that was brilliant.
Who was your first best friend?
It would be a lad called Darrell Brown or James Hannah. We all played football together all the time and I still speak to them now.
Who is the first person in your phone book?
Aaron McLean. I used to play with him when I was at Bradford City, he’s a good lad him.
When was the first time you realised you might turn pro?
I don’t think there was a particular moment really. We had a really good group of players at Middlesbrough and four or five us got offered deals when we were still very young. Until It happens, I don’t think you really think about it – you just have to keep your head down.
What was your first match as a pro footballer?
It was for Yeovil on loan when I came on against Leyton Orient at half time in a Football League Trophy game. I then made my full debut against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. We won 2-0 and Paddy Madden scored twice.
Who was your first football manager?
Gordon Strachan was my first manager I had once I had turned professional. He was alright really, and he was always spot on with me, to be honest.
What was the first mobile phone you owned?
Oh God, I don’t know. I think it was some kind of Samsung flip phone. You pushed the side, and it automatically opened. Maybe I had a Nokia 3310 before that as well actually.
Lasts
What is the last thing you watched on TV?
New Amsterdam. I am really enjoying that at the moment. It’s a hospital drama and I like to unwind by watching one a night – that’s the only time I have with two kids!
What was the last thing that made you laugh?
I can’t think! Maybe it was something to do with the kids, though – the little man is always up to something!
What was the last thing you bought?
I bought some new strimmer wire for the strimmer I have. That was a good purchase, that. To be fair, it’s mint – I am buzzing with that!
What is the last thing you took a photo of?
We went to like a Winter Wonderland thing at a local garden centre the other day so the kids were buzzing because they got to feed reindeer and meet Santa in his grotto!
What is the last thing you ate?
I had some toast for breakfast this morning. That’s as exciting as it gets! Haha!
What is the last thing you drank?
A coffee. It’s always a coffee. I have a really nice Nespresso machine now and I’ve even got my own frother!
Who is the last person you spoke to on the phone?
My old man. He was giving me a ring because he’s got some smoke bombs for me as I am on with cleaning out the chimney in my house.
What was the last football match you went to (where you weren’t playing)?
I don’t know if this counts, but I went to watch Wales Under-16s as part of my A Licence badge. It was really good to get that insight and seeing how they were planning for their game against France.
What was the last film you watched?
I actually went to the cinema for the first time in a while to watch Gladiator 2 the other day. It was good but, let’s be honest, it was never going to be a patch on the first one, was it?
Who was the last person to text you?
It was Peter Hartley, who I run a coaching school with. He was texting me about a session we’re running after-school today. Then I will have had a load of texts of the missus spoiling my chill time and telling me what the little one needs for the panto!
