This is Hartwick College
This is Hartwick College
This is Hartwick College
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2 0 0 8 H A R T W I C K S O C C E R<br />
One on One With Matt Lawrence<br />
Matt Lawrence `96 has put together<br />
a solid professional resume<br />
in h<strong>is</strong> native England.<br />
Recently <strong>Hartwick</strong> Soccer captain Liam Parrington ’11 had the<br />
opportunity to sit down with Matt Lawrence ‘96 and ask him about<br />
h<strong>is</strong> soccer experiences since h<strong>is</strong> graduation from <strong>Hartwick</strong> <strong>College</strong>.<br />
A professional career that has spanned 13 years has included an FA<br />
Cup Final appearance and stints at Crystal Palace, Millwall, Fulham,<br />
and Wycombe Football Clubs. Having worked under several high<br />
profile managers, Lawrence has enjoyed many career highlights as a<br />
player after leading the ‘Wick to Final 8 and Final 16 appearances<br />
during h<strong>is</strong> four years in the United States.<br />
Parrington was excited to put Matt on the spot and also try to<br />
d<strong>is</strong>cover some additional details about h<strong>is</strong> own coach’s college<br />
exploits.<br />
What has been your greatest soccer achievement to date?<br />
Playing in the 2004 FA Cup Final, and subsequently playing in the UEFA<br />
Cup the following year. But I always regard avoiding relegation with<br />
Wycombe Wanderers, in my second spell with the club, as my greatest<br />
achievement. When I re-signed for Wycombe in November we only had 3<br />
points, and were basically dead and buried. We avoided relegation on the<br />
last day of the season away to Lincoln City. We scored in the 82nd minute<br />
to win 1-0. The adrenaline rush at the end of that game was like no other<br />
I have experienced. I just sat down for about 20 minutes and didn’t say a<br />
word. The relief was just unbelievable.<br />
How did it feel captaining the Millwall team in the 2004 Engl<strong>is</strong>h<br />
FA Cup Final arguably the most high-profile, v<strong>is</strong>ible game in<br />
world football each year?<br />
Captaining teams has never really been on my agenda, I’ve kind of fallen<br />
into the role on a few occasions. The almost surreal experience of walking<br />
out alongside Roy Keane, with Alex Ferguson just ahead of him, and 70<br />
odd thousand people in the stadium <strong>is</strong> indescribable. It was a great, proud<br />
day, but I think family and friends around me felt more than I did. The<br />
whole day just passed by in a blur. I think you need to have a few big<br />
occasions like that to really come to terms with them, and not be adversely<br />
affected by the whole experience. It’s tough to do yourself justice when<br />
everything <strong>is</strong> seemingly going on around you.<br />
Who did you exchange shirts with after the game?<br />
Nobody. They (Manchester United players) wouldn’t swap shirts on the<br />
pitch, and most of the lads went into their dressing room to get shirts. That<br />
wasn’t for me; we’d just got beat 3-0, and then you have to go scrabbling<br />
around their dressing room for shirts. That was a bit too demoralizing /<br />
embarrassing for me. I kept my own shirt and have that framed in my<br />
house.<br />
Who <strong>is</strong> the best player you have ever played against and<br />
why?<br />
David Ginola when he was at Spurs. He played left-wing, and I played<br />
right-back. He had an aura of greatness surrounding him. I was quite<br />
early on in my career, and I think he had me beaten before the game<br />
even started. That, and the fact that he had two great feet, could take<br />
you inside or out, was strong, good on the ball, great passer, would shoot<br />
from anywhere, had a great physique, and was generally a better player<br />
than I. None of that helped either!!<br />
What has been the most important goal you have scored?<br />
Goals? I don’t do goals. I guess the one th<strong>is</strong> season when I scored the<br />
equalizer against Sheffield Wednesday in the 92nd minute. That goal<br />
gave us a point toward our play-off push. Apart from that, God only<br />
knows!<br />
What would you have done if you had not become a successful<br />
footballer?<br />
That’s a question I’m still asking myself for when I fin<strong>is</strong>h playing. I hope to<br />
embark on a career within the field of journal<strong>is</strong>m, and I guess I would<br />
4