Matt Tubbs

Matthew Stephen Tubbs (born 15 July 1984) is an English professional footballer who was most recently manager of Poole Town.

[4] However, after leaving Crawley Town, The False Nine website mentioned about his career decline despite being the League Two's top scorer in the 2014–15 season while playing for AFC Wimbledon and Portsmouth.

[4] Born in Salisbury, Wiltshire,[1] Tubbs played for AFC Bournemouth as a schoolboy and his performance earned him a contract until the end of the 2000–01 season, having progressed through the club's youth system.

[8] Two years later, Tubbs rejoined Bournemouth on non-contract terms in 2003, before dropping into non-League football with Dorchester Town.

[15] After adding three more goals, including a brace in a 2–0 win against Corby Town on 15 November 2003, Tubbs signed a two–year contract with Salisbury City.

[23] At the start of the 2005–06 season, Tubbs continued to regain his first team place and coming a regular goal scorer within the side.

[31] Tubbs scored an equaliser against Nottingham Forest in the second round of the FA Cup to take the tie to a replay, in front of the BBC cameras.

[32] After the match, Mark Lawrenson said about his performance, saying: "This fella (Tubbs), on that evidence, can play at a higher level, which is the best compliment you can give him.

[43] Ahead of the 2007–08 season, Tubbs suffered a knee injury during Salisbury City's pre–season tour, but managed to recover quickly weeks later.

[45] His performance earned him a nomination for the Blue Square Premier player of the month award but lost out to Leo Fortune-West.

On 20 November 2008, Tubbs returned to former side Bournemouth on loan until the new year, in a move to reduce playing costs at Salisbury.

[66] Upon joining Crawley Town, Manager Steve Evans said: "Two weeks ago it was never in my wildest dreams that Matt Tubbs would have been signing for us but he is here and he will prove to be a very valuable player for us in the season ahead.

As everyone knows his main attribute is that he is a top class goalscorer but as importantly he is also a team player and that was also a key decision of mine when I decided to sign him.

[73] At the start of the second half of the season, Tubbs scored important goals for Crawley Town, including two braces against Eastbourne Borough, Forest Green Rovers and Bath City; the only goal in Crawley's 1–0 win over Torquay United in the fourth round of the FA Cup, enabling the club to face Manchester United in the fifth round; and a hat–trick against Wrexham.

[74][75] Tubbs' goal scoring form continued to play a role, including a brace in a 3–0 win against Tamworth on 9 April 2011 that saw the club clinch the title, resulting in their promotion to League Two; and another hat–trick against Rushden & Diamonds.

[80] Tubbs continued to be Crawley Town's main striker,[81] scoring four goals in the club's first six league matches of the season, including a brace against Southend United on 16 August 2011.

[86] On 30 January 2012, Tubbs signed for League One club AFC Bournemouth for a fee believed to be in the region of £800,000 on a 3+1⁄2-year contract.

[87] Upon leaving Crawley Town, the club's manager Evans admitted to "shedding a tear" when he tried right up until the final minutes to persuade the player to stay.

[89] He scored on his debut for his new club against Exeter City in a 2–0 win and set-up Scott Malone for a second goal in the match.

"[91] Tubbs, however, struggled for form at Bournemouth during his first half-season before undergoing a groin operation in April 2012 which led to him missing the rest of the season.

However at the start of the 2012–13 season, Tubbs found his playing time, mostly coming from the substitute bench and was behind the pecking order of the likes of striker, such as, Josh McQuoid, Lewis Grabban and Brett Pitman.

[97] Manager Eddie Howe acknowledged his lack of first team football but wanted to keep him to help Bournemouth's target.

[102] Tubbs made his debut for Rotherham United, coming on as a 50th-minute substitute, in a 3–3 draw against Crewe Alexandra in the opening game of the season.

[110] On 25 January 2014, he scored in a 2–2 draw against his former loan-club Rotherham United and then netted in the next four fixtures, as the club extended their unbeaten run to six matches.

[111] Since making his debut for Crawley Town, Tubbs became a first team regular for the side, forming a striking partnership with Billy Clarke.

[158] His second league goal for the club came on 14 February 2017, in a 2–1 loss against Guiseley[159] He appeared five times for Sutton United before leaving them in March 2017.

[165] On 15 May 2017, Tubbs signed a two-year contract with newly promoted National League South club Havant & Waterlooville.

[169] After he returned to the side, it wasn't until on 16 December 2017 when Tubbs scored his first goal for Havant & Waterlooville, in a 3–1 loss against Billericay Town.

[172] Tubbs later scored two more goals for Havant & Waterlooville, as the club won the 2017–18 National League South after beating Concord Rangers in the last game of the season.

[178] It again came down to the last game of the season, with Gosport's draw at Met Police enough to survive thanks to a loss by relegation rivals Basingstoke Town.