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Wikipedia

Matt Crooks

Not to be confused with Matthew Crooks (disambiguation).

Matt Davidson Rider Crooks (born 20 January 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.

Matt Crooks
Personal information
Full name Matt Davidson Rider Crooks[1]
Date of birth (1994-01-20) 20 January 1994 (age 30)[2]
Place of birth Leeds, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Real Salt Lake
Number 25
Youth career
2002–2009 Manchester United
2009–2012 Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2015 Huddersfield Town 1 (0)
2012 → FC Halifax Town (loan) 10 (1)
2012–2013 → Radcliffe Borough (loan)
2014 → Hartlepool United (loan) 3 (0)
2014–2015 → Accrington Stanley (loan) 6 (0)
2015–2016 Accrington Stanley 42 (6)
2016–2017 Rangers 2 (0)
2017 → Scunthorpe United (loan) 12 (3)
2017–2019 Northampton Town 51 (9)
2019–2021 Rotherham United 89 (18)
2021–2024 Middlesbrough 102 (20)
2024– Real Salt Lake 29 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:02, 26 October 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Huddersfield Town

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He first joined Huddersfield Town academy in 2009, after a spell at the Manchester United Academy and signed his first professional contract at the club.[3]

In October 2010, he travelled with the Town squad for their League One match against Plymouth Argyle, and a few days later, he was named on the bench in their FA Cup match against Cambridge United.[4] Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Crooks was among other youth players to be expected to be loaned out to gain first team experience.[5] Nevertheless, in November, Crooks signed his first professional contract with the club, until 2014.[6] It was announced on 9 February 2012 that Crooks was nominated for League One Apprentice of the Year,[7] however, he ultimately lost it out to Charlton Athletic's Jordan Cousins.[8]

In March 2012, it announced that Crooks would be joining Halifax Town on a one-month loan.[9] While at Halifax Town, Crooks scored his first professional goal in a 4–0 win over Histon. That soon earned him a loan extension until the end of the season.[10] Crooks was even allowed to play for the club's promotion push.[11] For the following season, 2012–13, Crooks was given number 36 shirt,[12] however, he failed to make an appearance for the first-team. On 7 December 2012, Crooks, along with James Burke, joined Radcliffe Borough on loan until mid-January.[13] Crooks made an impressive display at the club, including when he scored a brace against Clitheroe.[14] Two days later, Crooks made his return to Huddersfield Town.[15]

After returning to Huddersfield Town, Crooks remained playing in the club's reserve. However, Crooks sustained an ankle injury during a development match in early October. Following a surgery, it was announced that Crooks would be on the sideline for two months.[16] Following his return in mid-February, Crooks was praised for his return from injury and playing as a central defence.[17] At the end of the 2013–14 season, Crooks was offered a new contract by the club.[18]

Ahead of the 2014–15 season, Crooks switched number shirt from thirty-six to twenty-two after Ed Wilczynski took over Crook's first number[19] and made an impressive display as a centre back in the pre-season friendly that convinced Mark Robins to use him.[20] After years playing at the reserve and be loaned out twice at the time, Crooks finally made his first team début at centre back for the Terriers in the 4–0 defeat by AFC Bournemouth on 9 August 2014 in the opening game of the season. The loss, however, was to be Robins last game as a manager of Huddersfield Town, as he was sacked the next day[21] Newspaper Huddersfield Daily Examiner urged the club's supporters to give Crooks time to make up his mistake after receiving criticism during the match, including the first goal.[22]

He did not make another appearance for Huddersfield that season and joined Hartlepool United on a month's emergency loan on 21 October 2014 as defensive cover.[23] After making three appearances for the club, it announced that Crooks would make a return to the club following an expiry of a month loan with Hartlepool United.[24] Three days after returning from his loan spell, he was sent on loan to fellow League Two side Accrington Stanley until 3 January.[25] On 2 February 2015, Crooks left Huddersfield Town after having his contract terminated by mutual consent.[26]

Accrington Stanley

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Three weeks later, Crooks returned to Accrington Stanley signing an 18-month contract on 24 February 2015.[27] After a strong start to the 2015–16 season which saw him score an extra time equaliser against Hull City in the Football League Cup[28] and a 90th-minute equaliser against Notts County in League Two,[29] Accrington manager John Coleman tipped Crooks to have a big future in the game.[30]

In January 2016 it was announced that Scottish club Rangers had approached Crooks and teammate Josh Windass with a view to them signing pre-contract agreements.[31] The talks angered the Accrington chairman Andy Holt as Rangers were only required to pay a nominal fee to complete the transfers for both players under FIFA regulations.[32] The following day both players agreed pre-contracts with Rangers to join the club in the summer of 2016.[33]

Rangers

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Crooks officially joined Rangers on 1 July 2016, signing a four-year contract alongside fellow Accrington player Josh Windass. Both players had already been training with the club prior to completing their transfers after Rangers agreed a compensation fee with Accrington, reported to be around £60,000 per player.[34] He missed the start of 2016–17 season due to an ankle ligament injury[35] but returned to playing in an under-20 match against St Mirren in late August.[36] Crooks made his first-team debut against Queen of the South in a Scottish League Cup match, appearing as a 72nd-minute substitute on 20 September 2016.[37] However, Crooks has only made a few sporadic appearances for the club thereafter and this led many to criticise then Rangers manager Mark Warburton's transfer policy.[38]

Northampton Town

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Crooks officially joined the English League One side on 18 July 2017 for an undisclosed transfer fee after only three appearances with Rangers FC.[39]

On 9 September 2017, Crooks scored his first competitive goal for the Cobblers after 21 seconds of the game against Doncaster Rovers, this was the quickest goal ever scored in a competitive match at Sixfields Stadium.

Rotherham United

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On 11 January 2019, Crooks joined EFL Championship side Rotherham United for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.[40] Following the Millers relegation to League One, Crooks was part of the side that gained immediate promotion after the season was curtailed early due to the Coronavirus pandemic.[41] His performances during that season earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year for League One.[42]

Crooks was awarded the EFL Championship Player of the Month award for January 2021 after scoring three goals in an impressive month for Rotherham.[43]

Middlesbrough

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On 23 July 2021, Crooks completed a move to EFL Championship side Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract.[44] He scored his first goal for Middlesbrough in a 2–1 home win against Bristol City on 14 August 2021.[45] Four days later, on 18 August 2021, Crooks scored again during a 3–2 home defeat to QPR.[46] On 25 August 2021, Crooks was shown a straight red card in the 87th minute of a 1–0 league defeat away to Reading. However, the decision was overturned and the red card was rescinded following an appeal from Middlesbrough.[47] On 15 January 2022, Crooks scored two headed goals, including a stoppage time winner, in a 2–1 home win against Reading.[48] He also scored for Middlesbrough in an FA Cup fourth round tie away at his boyhood club Manchester United, which Boro won on penalties.[49][50] Crooks left Middlesbrough in February 2024 having made 115 appearances, as well as scoring 23 times for the club.[50]

Real Salt Lake

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On 12 February 2024, Crooks joined MLS side Real Salt Lake for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.[50]

Personal life

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Crooks is a Manchester United fan.[51]

Crooks has been diagnosed with epilepsy, the condition first discovered following a seizure when he was 18 years old. Crooks works with the Peter Doody Foundation, a charity which works to normalise epilepsy and free young adults from stigma, limitations and fear - as well as highlighting the dangers of the condition.[52]

Crooks is the Vice Chair and Trustee of The Jordan Sinnott Foundation Trust.[53]

Career statistics

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As of match played 19 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Huddersfield Town 2010–11[54] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2011–12[54] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012–13[54] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2013–14[54] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2014–15[55] Championship 1 0 — 0 0 — 1 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FC Halifax Town (loan) 2011–12[54] Conference North 10 1 — — 0 0 10 1
Hartlepool United (loan) 2014–15[55] League Two 3 0 0 0 — — 3 0
Accrington Stanley (loan) 2014–15[55] League Two 6 0 2 0 — — 8 0
Accrington Stanley 2014–15[55] League Two 10 0 — — — 10 0
2015–16[56] League Two 32 6 2 1 1 1 0 0 35 8
Total 48 6 4 1 1 1 0 0 53 8
Rangers 2016–17[57] Scottish Premiership 2 0 0 0 1 0 — 3 0
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2016–17[57] League One 12 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 3
Northampton Town 2017–18[58] League One 30 4 1 0 1 0 2[a] 0 34 4
2018–19[59] League Two 21 5 0 0 1 0 1[a] 1 23 6
Total 51 9 1 0 2 0 3 1 57 10
Rotherham United 2018–19[59] Championship 16 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 3
2019–20[60] League One 33 9 3 1 2 1 1[a] 0 39 11
2020–21[61] Championship 40 6 1 0 1 1 0 0 42 7
Total 89 18 4 1 3 2 1 0 97 21
Middlesbrough 2021–22[62] Championship 40 10 4 1 0 0 0 0 44 11
2022–23[63] Championship 37 7 1 0 0 0 2[b] 0 40 7
2023–24[64] Championship 23 3 0 0 4 2 0 0 27 5
Total 100 20 5 1 4 2 2 0 111 23
Career total 316 57 14 3 11 5 6 1 347 66
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in EFL Championship play-offs

Honours

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Rotherham United

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014.
  2. ^ "25 Matt Crooks". www.themillers.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  3. ^ Thomson, Doug (21 May 2010). "Famous fathers of new Huddersfield Town academy players". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield: Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  4. ^ "Cambridge Utd 0-0 Huddersfield". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  5. ^ Thomson, Doug (4 August 2011). "Huddersfield Town ready to loan out more young players". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield: Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  6. ^ Booth, Mel (23 November 2011). "Hudderseld Town midfielder Matt Crooks signs professional deal". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield: Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  7. ^ Booth, Mel (9 February 2012). "Huddersfield Town nominated for four Football League Awards". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield: Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Rickie Lambert named Football League Player of the Year". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 March 2012.
  9. ^ Thomson, Doug (10 March 2012). "Big chance for Huddersfield Town's Matt Crooks in Halifax loan switch". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield: Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  10. ^ Thomson, Doug (11 April 2012). "Huddersfield Town's Matt Crooks extends FC Halifax Town loan". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield: Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  11. ^ "Huddersfield Town midfielder Matt Crooks available for FC Halifax play-off push". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield: Trinity Mirror. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  12. ^ Sykes, David (14 July 2012). "2012/13 Squad numbers released". www.htafc.com. Huddersfield Town Football Club. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ "DEVELOPMENT DUO SET FOR RADCLIFFE". www.htafc.com. Huddersfield Town Football Club. 7 December 2012. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^ "LOAN WATCH – CROOKS NETS BRACE". Huddersfield Town F.C. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ "LIAM EXTENDS MILLERS STAY". Huddersfield Town F.C. 14 January 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ "CROOKS UNDERGOES ANKLE SURGERY". Huddersfield Town F.C. 8 October 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ^ "EYRE PRAISES CROOKS". Huddersfield Town F.C. 17 February 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ^ "Huddersfield Town offer new contracts to Harry Bunn and Matt Crooks". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield: Trinity Mirror. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  19. ^ "2014/15 SQUAD NUMBERS REVEALED". Huddersfield Town F.C. 3 July 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  20. ^ "Matt Crooks has the versatility and power to make an impact at Huddersfield Town this season". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield: Trinity Mirror. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  21. ^ "Huddersfield Town 0–4 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  22. ^ Marshall-Bailey, Tom (10 August 2014). "Five things we learned from Huddersfield Town 0–4 Bournemouth". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield: Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  23. ^ "Matt Crooks: Hartlepool sign Huddersfield Town midfielder". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  24. ^ "CARR & CROOKS RETURN FROM LOAN". Huddersfield Town F.C. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ "Matt Crooks: Accrington Stanley sign Huddersfield midfielder". BBC Sport. BBC. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  26. ^ Horner, Tom (2 February 2015). "TWO Development squad players released". htafc.com. Huddersfield Town Football Club. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015.
  27. ^ "Matt Crooks: Accrington Stanley sign midfielder on 18-month deal". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 February 2015.
  28. ^ "Accrington Stanley 2-2 Hull City (3-4 pens)". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 August 2015.
  29. ^ "Notts County 1-1 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 August 2015.
  30. ^ "Matt Crooks: Accrington midfielder 'could be a millionaire'". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 August 2015.
  31. ^ "Rangers talk to Accrington's Matt Crooks and Josh Windass". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  32. ^ "Accrington Stanley chairman blasts underhand Rangers transfer tactics". www.scotsman.com.
  33. ^ "Rangers: Josh Windass and Matt Crooks sign pre-contract deals". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  34. ^ "Rangers and Accrington agree cash deal for Josh Windass and Matt Crooks". Daily Record. Glasgow: Trinity Mirror. 20 June 2016.
  35. ^ "Crooks Ready For Return". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 28 August 2016.
  36. ^ Hedworth, Alice (23 August 2016). "U20: Rangers 0-1 St Mirren". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club.
  37. ^ "Rangers 5-0 Queen of the South". BBC Sport. BBC. 20 September 2016.
  38. ^ Ralston, Gary (18 November 2016). "Rangers boss Mark Warburton says criticism of his signings this year could be down to getting it so right last season". Daily Record. Glasgow: Trinity Mirror.
  39. ^ "Northampton sign Matt Crooks from Rangers for undisclosed fee". Sky Sports. Sky. 18 July 2017.
  40. ^ "Rotherham United sign former Glasgow Rangers midfielder". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  41. ^ a b "READ | We are going up! Enjoy the celebrations but please do so safely". www.themillers.co.uk. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  42. ^ a b "Jordan Henderson among five Liverpool players in PFA team of the year". Yahoo! Sport. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  43. ^ a b "January Manager & Player of the Month winners". www.efl.com. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  44. ^ "Matt Crooks: Middlesbrough sign Rotherham United midfielder on a three-year deal". BBC Sport. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  45. ^ "Middlesbrough 2–1 Bristol City". BBC. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  46. ^ "Middlesbrough 2–3 QPR: Chris Willock scores late winner for 10-man Rangers".
  47. ^ "Matt Crooks Red Card Appeal Successful | Middlesbrough FC".
  48. ^ "Middlesbrough 2–1 Reading: Matt Crooks scores two late goals to complete stunning Boro comeback".
  49. ^ Stone, Simon (5 February 2022). "Manchester United 1–1 Middlesbrough (7–8 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  50. ^ a b c "Matt Crooks: Middlesbrough midfielder joins MLS side Real Salt Lake for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  51. ^ McDermott, Scott (8 January 2017). "Crooks: Man United rejection broke my heart and I don't want Gers to go same way". Daily Record.
  52. ^ "Middlesbrough footballer Matt Crooks shares experience of living with epilepsy". 29 October 2021.
  53. ^ "Jordan Sinnott Foundation Trust".
  54. ^ a b c d e "Games played by Matt Crooks - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  55. ^ a b c d "Games played by Matt Crooks in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  56. ^ "Games played by Matt Crooks in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  57. ^ a b "Games played by Matt Crooks in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  58. ^ "Games played by Matt Crooks in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  59. ^ a b "Games played by Matt Crooks in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  60. ^ "Games played by Matt Crooks in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  61. ^ "Games played by Matt Crooks in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  62. ^ "Games played by Matt Crooks in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  63. ^ "Games played by Matt Crooks in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  64. ^ "Games played by Matt Crooks in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  65. ^ "PFA awards: Leicester and Spurs dominate Premier League team". BBC Sport. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
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