Matt’s psycho thriller
NEWPORT hero Jamille Matt has revealed why he has a head start in FA Cup mind games.
The 29-year-old journeyman striker, whose goal helped slay Premier League Leicester in one of the shocks of the third round, has a degree in psychology. Matt’s 14th goal of the season set up the League Two side’s epic 2-1 win over a Foxes side who are seventh in the top flight. And when it comes to psyching out the opposition, he has an ace up his sleeve – his degree from Wolverhampton University.
“It was a different route from many who come into the professional game,” said Matt. “I went to sixth form and then university and was playing for Sutton Coldfield. “In my final year at university, I got a call from Kidderminster, who were in the Conference and full-time so I played for them.
“Credit to them. They allowed me to train a couple of times a week while finishing my degree and I got a 2:1. Not too bad.” He thinks it does have applications in the hustle and bustle of professional sport, saying: “I have played quite a few games now so I’ve learned to take the highs and the lows.
“I know if you stick to your guns you will get another chance. Psychology plays a massive part in sport and I am one of the more experienced players so I try to pass that on.
“It was something I did at sixth form and it was something I took to straight away. I’ve not always had a professional environment and so it has helped.”
Jamaican-born Matt has had a fairly unspectacular career taking in Kidderminster, Fleetwood, Stevenage, Plymouth, Blackpool and Grimsby.
No one has paid a fee for him but his starring role against Leicester set the tills ringing at Rodney Parade.
Fellow goalscorer Padraig Amond, right, is another with hidden talents – he dabbles with sports journalism by writing a column for the Carlow Nationalist weekly newspaper in his native Ireland.
The man who also coaches Newport’s Under-16s converted an 85th-minute penalty to ensure his image was splashed all over the back pages. Amond, 30, said: “It’s something I have done for the last seven or eight years. This week’s column might be done with a bit of a sore head.
“I’m absolutely chuffed to bits for everyone. What we’ve done out there is now down in history.”
The drinks were also flowing in Amond’s local bar in Carlow, where his mother, father and fiancee’s parents had gathered to watch the game.
Last year, Tully’s Bar offered every customer a free drink if Amond scored in the fourth round against Tottenham.
He duly opened the scoring in the 1-1 home draw and the free promotion was repeated again as he netted against Leicester. “It’s cost them a few quid but it’s a great promotion,” said Amond, who is used to taking penalties against Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward.
“I used to play with Wardy at Morecambe so he’s faced quite a few penalties from me in training.
“I saw him move a little bit, so I changed my mind last second and went the other way.”
Newport chairman Gavin Foxall said: “What a fantastic result – it’s just unbelievable. Financially, it’s massive for the club. You can never plan for a cup run because that would be ludicrous so when it happens, it’s just like a dream.”