Q&A: Matty McDonald

Learn more about Warrington Town midfielder Matty McDonald as he reflects on his career so far.

Read on to hear from Town's number 10. 

Which team did you grow up supporting, and who was your favourite player?

I grew up a Liverpool fan and still support them now!

Steven Gerrard was my favourite when I started following football, but Luis Suarez was fantastic when I watched more games growing up.

We’ve actually been to Liverpool’s old training ground at Melwood ourselves at Warrington Town to use the indoor astroturf pitches.

Although the first team has moved to Kirkby, Melwood still has facilities and the Liverpool women’s team train there.

At what age did you realise you were good at football?

Quite young really.

I was only six when I was picked up at Everton, and I stayed with professional clubs until I came to Warrington at 18.

I always knew I wanted to try and make football my career, and I still want to.

What is your favourite match to have played in?

It has to be the play-off final win to get us into the National League North.

That feeling of getting promotion having worked hard all season – I’d never experienced anything like that before.

It wasn’t the best of games, but the importance of it made it special. Going to Scunthorpe away was memorable too. It was the biggest ground I’d played at, and the atmosphere was really good.

What are the best and worst things about being a footballer?

The best is just being around the team.

They are a good group and when we’re successful together, it feels fantastic. Football is the centre of your life.

The worst is being injured. My girlfriend and my family will probably tell you I’m hard to deal with in those situations. It is just so frustrating.

Do you think you’ll be a Football League player one day?

That’s the aim.

I am only 22 which is still reasonably young, so I hope so. The goal for anyone who starts playing football is to play full-time.

That’s still what I would like, so let’s see what happens.

Off the pitch, what do you like to watch on tv or listen to?

I don’t watch too much TV. It’s usually series if I do, and I’ve enjoyed Prison Break.

I listen to all kinds of music, different genres. Funnily, I’ve only been to one live concert – Coldplay at the Etihad Stadium.

I liked it so much, I’m going to go and watch them again at Wembley Stadium!

Who is the most skilful Warrington Town player in training?

I have to be careful, I don’t want to upset anyone!

Probably Conor Woods, he is quite jinky. He might not try all the skills, but he’s hard to get the ball off.

Of the former players, Luke Duffy was one of the best. He could make defenders look silly.

What are your ambitions for Warrington Town this season?

This is the kind of weird league where you can go up the table quickly.

The immediate aim is to climb away from where we are, it’s not where we belong, and we’ve got the players to aim higher.

I still believe we can have a strong end to the season. 

Matty was speaking to Sophia Bernstein