# Ross Matthews (footballer)

Ross Matthews (born 23 January 1996) is a Scottish footballer playing for Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers in Scotland.

## Career

Born in Edinburgh, Matthews began his career with Edinburgh City and Royston Rangers boys club before being quickly swooped up by Heart of Midlothian. He began his professional career at Raith Rovers. He was first included in a matchday squad on 10 August 2013, remaining an unused substitute in a 0–1 home defeat to Hamilton Academical in the first game of the Scottish Championship season. On 28 December, he made his debut and only appearance of the season, replacing Calum Elliot for the final seven minutes of a 3–0 loss at Livingston. Matthews has been regular in the first team squad for the 2015–16 season and made his first start in the 3rd round tie of the League Cup loss to Celtic at Celtic Park. After the match, he was praised by manager Ray Mckinnon for an outstanding dominant performance in the middle of the park.
In the beginning of the 2016–17 season for rovers, Matthews has been a regular within the first team squad under new head coach Gary Locke, moving from his natural central midfield position, into the right midfield role. On 6 August 2016, Mathews netted his first goal for the club and the 2nd of the match, during a 2–0 away win over Ayr United. Later on, he played a pivotal role in the 2019–20 Scottish League One victory, and promotion to the Scottish Championship. On 2 March 2022, he scored a goal in a 2–1 victory over Kilmarnock in the Challenge Cup semi-final, which his club eventually achieved after a 3–1 victory over Queen of the South in the final. In June 2024, he extended his contract until 2025.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 26 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Scottish Cup | Scottish Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Raith Rovers | 2013–14 | Scottish Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Raith Rovers | 2014–15 | Scottish Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Raith Rovers | 2015–16 | Scottish Championship | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Raith Rovers | 2016–17 | Scottish Championship | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 2 |
| Raith Rovers | 2017–18 | Scottish League One | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 44 | 1 |
| Raith Rovers | 2018–19 | Scottish League One | 31 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 43 | 3 |
| Raith Rovers | 2019–20 | Scottish League One | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 4 |
| Raith Rovers | 2020–21 | Scottish Championship | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 3 |
| Raith Rovers | 2021–22 | Scottish Championship | 31 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 41 | 3 |
| Raith Rovers | 2022–23 | Scottish Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Raith Rovers | 2023–24 | Scottish Championship | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 195 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 32 | 4 | 261 | 17 |
* 1 2 3 4 Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
* ↑ One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Championship play-offs
* ↑ Four appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup and one in the Championship play-offs
* ↑ Two appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup and four in the Championship play-offs
* ↑ Appearances in the Premiership play-offs
* ↑ Appearances in the Premiership play-offs

## Honours
### Raith Rovers

* Scottish League One: 2019–20
* Scottish Challenge Cup: 2021–22