Matty Lund will be the guest of honour on Good Friday as Morecambe visits the Crown Oil Arena. He’ll share stories from his two spells at Rochdale.
A big shout-out to our Trust Director, Keith “The Sheriff” Hicks! who coordinates all things “Former Dale Player Wise” and for bringing us yet another fantastic speaker to entertain us before the match. We really appreciate your hard work!
Matty joined Rochdale on June 21, 2013, and signed a two-year contract on October 31, 2014. He later agreed to an extension that tied him to the club until the summer of 2016. He scored his first career hat trick in a 3–2 victory against Northampton Town on December 17, 2016. On January 31, 2020, he returned to the club from Scunthorpe United for an undisclosed fee, signing an 18-month contract.
On July 1, 2021, Matty joined League Two side Salford City on a free transfer after turning down a new contract with Rochdale. He signed a one-year deal with an option for a second, and later became a player-coach before retiring. In total, he made 149 appearances and scored 32 goals during his two spells at Rochdale.
He began his international career by playing for the Northern Ireland Under-21 team for the first time in February 2011. He was then called up to the senior Northern Ireland squad for a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Romania in November 2014. He received another call-up in August 2016 for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic.
Keith Hill on Matty Lund’s contract extension said, “Matty is a key component in our team, so I’m very pleased he has signed. I initially thought it would be difficult to get him to agree, but I think he realises he owes the club, the supporters, and his teammates, especially after missing most of last season. I’ve seen tremendous growth in him; he has become a dedicated professional and understands that time in football is limited. He has a special talent and, after being sidelined, has recognised he has much to achieve. I believe he has the potential to become an elite player, both physically and technically, and he has the game knowledge and management skills to match.”
Ian Henderson described him as “a player who is an excellent passer of the ball. He can carry the ball over long distances and also contribute with a good number of goals. He possesses a wise head on his shoulders and is exceptional in both offensive and defensive roles.”