Matt Piper

[ramadaone]

Saw him coaching the under 8's down the Academy the other day - seems like a decent enough lad

[ithuriel]

Remember him, he only played for us in the Prem and being a youngster the opposition really struggled with him, shame we had to sell and that he got injured.

He was a bright patch in a dark season.

[muzzy1981]

Played in the same school team as him Martin High School in Anstey. We won the Leicestershire schools league three years on the spin. He literally ran rings round everyone in the playground. Big shame he had to retire early, would have gone to better things!

[liamsm]

Nice guy, wasn't that good though.

Showed promise but 3million was obsence, another example of a young attacking Englishman coming in at the end of a season and having 10-12 decent games and people thinking he must be brilliant.

Who would buy a player like that for 3million........

Not any of the top teams, they all pay £12 million plus.

[Jacnah]

I was thinking recently about players breaking into the first team and when we'll next have a really top player break through at LCFC who goes on to play international football etc. Hopefully Schlupp can fulfill his potential and I certainly think he's got all the attributes to do so even if he's a little 'raw' at the moment.

I was watching a few videos of the MON era (inc the Athletico Madrid one posted recently) and there is Heskey being completely unplayable in a way that I'm not sure he ever was since he left us. Obviously everyone would mention Emile as the best player to have broken through in recent times but what about Matt Piper? What are people's memories of him?

At the time he broke through I remember hearing of this kid that had gone to Mansfield and done well so would be coming back to push for a first team spot. Then he did break through and to me, and I think a lot of other people at the time, it appeared we had a potentially great player on our hands. I was only about 12 or 13 at the time but I remember a game at Filbert Street against Chelsea in which he absolutely tore them apart (looked England class) and there were a few other games as well.

When he scored the last goal at Filbert Street I remember thinking how fitting it was that this guy who was going to be great for us, local lad etc. had got it but then came the financial troubles. I heard Adams on the phone-in say he wouldn't sell him for less than £10million which I felt reassured by but then along came administration and he was sold for £3million. I think it was just before that 6-1 away at Ipswitch and I was gutted, would have rathered us sell anyone (bar maybe Izzet) than Piper, but obviously needs must and he was gone.

I kept an eye on how he was doing at Sunderland and unfortunately it never worked out for him with injury but I think what the Sunderland fans did see they liked.

So....

Was he really as good as I remember?

I would be interested to hear what everyone else thought about him at the time (and not his punditry since, which admittedly was awful!)

No.....but not a bad player

[wigstonexile]

He scored the last league goal at Filbert Street ?? against Spurs City won 2 - 1.

He was a very good player for his age and he had the potential to become a great player, it was sad when injury robbed him of the opportunity to progress.

3 million 9 years ago would be the equivelant of at least 10 million today.

[Raj]

"you know"

Proper Lester like!!!

[OriginalRobboFOX]

He pissed all over Man Utd.

[Freeman's Wharfer]

No.....but not a bad player

Ha! Opinion seems fairly split so far....

[Foxy Bingo]

He's at Oadby Town now. I only live down the road from the ground so I go quite a lot. Seems decent, but doesn't stand out as much as you'd expect him to.

Jon Stevenson's also there; that guy that barely played and scored in our 6-1 loss to Ipswich in 2002/03

[tylesta]

He's at Oadby Town now. I only live down the road from the ground so I go quite a lot. Seems decent, but doesn't stand out as much as you'd expect him to.

Jon Stevenson's also there; that guy that barely played and scored in our 6-1 loss to Ipswich in 2002/03

Watched him against blaby & whetstone came on for the second half. Was quite handy on the ball, awesome delivery on him. don't seem to be intrested unless he has the ball barley moves/runs not bad for £200 a game, thought jon stevenson was the best player on the pitch by far.

[Guest Electric Yetis]

He's at Oadby Town now. I only live down the road from the ground so I go quite a lot. Seems decent, but doesn't stand out as much as you'd expect him to.

Jon Stevenson's also there; that guy that barely played and scored in our 6-1 loss to Ipswich in 2002/03

And also the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa

[miles2lcfc]

He was a quality player and 'flattered to decieve' comments is amazing considering her didn't even reach 20 games. Would go past players with ease and deliver dangerous balls into the box. £3.5m was a good price for Sunderland at the time (that was cheap for his quality and potential). Sadly we'll never know but I believe he would have made it big.

[Electricity Sports 1960]

I've just watched Matt Piper play for Oadby Town. Another ex-City player for Oadby is Jon Stephenson. Both classy players. Worth watching Oadby Town.

[Tielemans63]

Played against Jonny Stevenson when he was a kid at Epworth Forest and he was unstoppable everytime we played them. Problem for him was that even at under 13/14/15 level he was small for his age and he never really grew like City probably hoped he would. If he'd been 6 foot or even close he'd have had played at a higher level I'm sure but I reckon he's only about 5'6"or 7 even now. Strong as an ox though from what I remember.