Fifteen-year-old Luke Matheson made history on Tuesday by becoming Rochdale’s youngest-ever debutant.
Aged just 15 years and 336 days, Matheson had attended his first day back in the new school term earlier that day before being named among the substitutes for Rochdale’s local derby against Bury in the Checkatrade Trophy.
And his night took an unexpected turn when he was introduced after just 13 minutes, replacing the injured Liverpool loanee, Connor Randall, and ended up scooping the Man of the Match award.
Rochdale manager Keith Hill, who took the team to a League Cup fifth-round clash with Tottenham last season, was glowing in his post-match comments about Matheson, describing his performance as ‘outstanding’.
He told BBC Sport reporters: “He was outstanding.
“He’s been training with the first team whilst he’s not been at school during the summer and I’m really pleased for him that he got his chance. They’re special nights when that happens.
“We know what he can do. It’s not a leap of faith because we know he can do it, but is he cut out for the pressure of real men’s football?”
“The supporters were receptive to Luke, and the players are and were as well.”
Start back school on Tuesday after the summer holidays ✅
Make your first team debut aged 15 the same evening ✅
Be part of a 2-1 win over local rivals ✅
Receive the Man of the Match award ✅
Become the club's youngest ever debutant ✅Congrats, Luke Matheson!#RAFC pic.twitter.com/bo0SyZQ0eP
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) September 5, 2018
Matheson’s age is much younger than that of the previous record holder, Dan Adshead, who also played against Bury in the same competition last season at the age of 16 years and 17 days.
However, if Matheson harboured any hopes of becoming the Football League’s youngest-ever player, those dreams have already been dashed – Reuben Noble-Lazarus, also formerly of Rochdale, is the youngest player to play in the Football League, making his debut for Barnsley, against Ipswich Town, aged just 15 years and 45 days in September 2008.
While many are praising the 15-year-old’s performance against Bury, some fans are taking a more humorous view of Matheson’s debut on Twitter.
Walking into gcse maths this morning: pic.twitter.com/BcnqN8Q4Kx
— Luke Morenas-Jones (@CoachThoughtGK) September 5, 2018
I’d love to see him come up against @daRealAkinfenwa
— Richard (@RichardGodsake) September 5, 2018
Fair play to him, bet he got a Capri sun instead of the champagne
— Ed Walton (@fanny_batterbum) September 5, 2018
The post Rochdale defender, 15, sets new record after making senior debut in Checkatrade Cup appeared first on Squawka News.
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