Matthews started his career playing with his home club Coventry City.
He moved to Waterford United during the 1965/66 season on St. Patrick's Day under the impression from Jimmy Hill that it was for just a six-week loan period.
In total Matthews won 5 league medals with Waterford, was awarded a 6th many years later after not playing enough games in his first season with Waterford and another with Limerick as well as 3 runners-up medals in the FAI Cup.
Matthews also played in 16 European Cup matches and scored against Celtic at Parkhead[1] and Manchester United [2].
He entered management with Newcastlewest while still a player in 1986 before returning to Waterford to take the managerial reins along with Dave Kirby in 1989.