He played for Oxford City, Boscombe, Bolton Wanderers, Tranmere Rovers, Sheffield United, Shamrock Rovers, Oswestry Town, Shrewsbury Town, and Morris Motors (Cowley).

[4] Born in Oxford, Matthews joined Tranmere Rovers from Bolton Wanderers in 1925, and did not miss a match until he was transferred to Sheffield United for £1,000 in 1927.

[1][5] Whilst with United, he earned two caps for England against France and Belgium at the end of the 1927–28 season.

[7] Matthews also scored during a comeback in the 1932-33 FAI Cup final helping to bring the game to a replay which Shamrock Rovers eventually won.

This biographical article related to association football in England, about a defender born in the 1890s, is a stub.