FROM THE PREMIER LEAGUE TO DRUGS, ALCOHOL & SUICIDE | Perspectives

In May 2007, Matthew Briggs made history becoming the youngest Premier League player ever. He was 16 years & 68 days old when he came off the bench for Fulham.

He was one of England’s most exciting young players, but things did not go to plan. The pressure of making his debut so young got the better of him and his career began to spiral.

He gives us his perspective on what happened. The mistakes he made and the truth behind what it’s like to be a Premier League footballer. Learning from his own experiences, Matthew is now dedicated to helping the next generation of young players.

Listen to this interview on...

Timestamps:
00:00 - 01:32 - Intro
01:32 - 02:05 - Growing up in Wandsworth
02:05 - 02:18 - What was it like growing up?
02:18 - 02:54 - Playing for Fulham
02:54 - 03:28 - What happened after Fulham?
03:28 - 04:37 - The Premier League Debut
04:37 - 05:47 - What happened after the Debut?
05:47 - 06:30 - Did you starting getting attention in the football industry?
06:30 - 07:10 - What were the negatives of getting your debut at 16?
07:10 - 08:17 - Can you tell us about the clubs coming in for you?
08:17 - 09:55 - What happened next?
09:55 - 10:34 - What do you think you needed at that point that you didn't have?
10:34 - 11:41 - Were you a victim of price inflation?
11:41 - 12:01 - When did you start seeing money?
12:01 - 13:00 - How did that impact you?
13:00 - 14:14 - Did you ever had a party phase as a premier league footballer?
14:14 - 15:13 - Can you take us through the journey from Fulham from this point?
15:13 - 16:15 - Loans not working out
16:15 - 17:51 - Playing vs Arsenal and getting injured
17:51 - 18:36 - What happened after injury?
18:36 - 19:25 - What happened in the four years?
19:25 - 20:33 - Are you still in contact with your old mangers?
20:33 - 22:01 - Can you tell us more about the termination of the contract?
22:01 - 23:07 - Clint Dempsey Training Story
23:07 - 25:51 - Funny training stories
25:51 - 26:24 - Who was the main man and have they gone on to where they should have?
26:24 - 29:15 - What happened at Millwall?
29:15 - 35:49 - It's clear your career didn't go as it should have. What are your thoughts on that?
35:49 - 38:24 - Getting back into Football
38:24 - 39:09 - Do you think players can be more open these days?
39:09 - 40:34 - Darker side of Football
40:34 - 41:33 - Record finally being broken
41:33 - 42:32 - Did you contact Harvey Elliot?
42:32 - 43:12 - Thought on the football industry?
43:12 - 44:36 - Did you make any mistakes in your career?
44:36 - 45:11 - If your boys wanted to play professional football how would you tackle that?
45:11 - 45:59 - If you could change one thing about the football industry what would it be?
45:59 - 47:06 - Do you think you would have responded to your older self when you were younger?
47:06 - 48:43 - Why did you decide to retire from football?
48:43 - 49:24 - How can we raise awareness of the PFA
49:24 - 50:30 - What advice do you have for young players?
50:30 - 52:34 - Where is Matthew Briggs now?
52:34 - 53:01 - Questions from Matt & Outro

[RisingBallers]

Who would you guys like to see us interview next? 👀👇

[whitenbald]

Thanks Briggsy! This story really resonated with me. I never made it near your level, but I was at a championship club at a young age and the pressure and expectations made me lose my love of the game. I was also suffering in silence, I remember telling my parents that I wanted to die. I took a year or so out of football completely. Stopped watching, playing. But after that long break, I started to play again for fun, watch for fun. I think football as a career isn't for everyone. It's way way more than just talent and hard work. You have to be so resilient to these pressures. You have to be able to perform at such a high level every single game or your place in the team comes into question. I wouldn't want to be a footballer personally, I just don't have the mentality for it. But I absolutely love the game now, I love watching it and playing it too.

I also learnt my "why", and it's not to win. It's to play well and enjoy it. It's to score goals, get assists, play nice passes, do something intelligent and creative on the pitch like a nice through-ball. I don't care if I lose, as long as I play well (and I want the team to play well too).

[chelseaboy]

Brilliant interview - he comes across really well, glad it wasn’t all doom and gloom and he still managed to have a career and play internationally. Quality stuff.

[comedychannels]

Matthew .... you are a credit to your Mum and to your family but most of all to yourself. Not many people could come out the other side shinning the way you do. Yours is a life story not just a footballers story . You have inspired me and I am 50 years old and never played professional football ! God bless you and your family especially your Mum !

[Timrud]

I'd love to see you interview Sam Hucthinson - retired at Chelsea, battled back, became a Wednesday legend. Strong metal health advocate.

[Kwakzino]

Big up urself Briggzy coming with the realness for us glad u got to go back to football and even more gassed u now helping others especially young men in football. Keep doing u bro my youngest 7 yrs old training with Fulham Godwilling we have the honour of bucking into u one day. God bless u and keep doing ur thing. Rising ballers keep inspiring with these great interviews helping others better their lives 💯

[reeceellis]

Proper interview ! Mentors are defo needed, keep shining the light

[kierann]

As a Fulham fan, loved Briggzy, I wanted him to stay with us. Felix Magath and that short period he was with us. Great interview!! It’s nice to hear his side of things!

[antmavel]

This video has the most detailed list of time stamps I have ever seen 🙂 Kudos to you for putting this together in the description

[Jimutv]

Hats off to Matthew, using his past to help better the future of others it’s very honourable and commendable! Wish him all the best for the future

[Incredibux]

Such an incredible interview and huge credit to Matthew Briggs. Wish you all the best!

[ShinelikeDiamond]

This is real life interview.. ❤.
Kudos.
Tope mentality from him.
He really said part of my life but in his own story.
I'm happy he's winning still. Strong man.

[oliverbasso]

Another painful reminder that, in this experience we call life, luck matters- a lot .

[Bigaitch]

What a superb interview. Good to see Matthew has come through some traumatic times but also being so honest and open.
Having watched this video i cannot think of a better person for any aspring footballer to listen too.
Fulham are lucky to have him.

[Alienjujitsu]

Thanks for the Interview Briggsy, I really admire your resilience and fight to come back, I tried pro mma and the pressure became too much, I now just train mma but it was a long way back, Briggsy big up your chest bruv 💪🏻

[jamesmarshall]

Hands down 1 off the best interviews I've seen 👌🙌🙌

[carlostevez]

Was a rising footballer back then before disruptions, injuries and a general lack of direction and guidance ended my hopes of playing professionally. Definitely hard not to stay bitter at my circumstances after all those years of dedication; these days I'm playing football at a lower level but very much more enjoyable. Kudos to Matt for sharing his story and guiding the next generation of footballers - only wished I had someone like him around back then.

[sultanabran]

love the work you're doing, Matthew. giving back is not something many do.

[demandcollect]

great interview.. glad you did it. be proud

[ajonaboy]

Great interview, brutally honest about the dark side of the game. I can relate, not to his level but lower league, I came through at Leyton Orient, school boy, 2 year apprenticeship then pro. Back then there was no support for young players, no one to talk to about mental health problems or anything. Clubs would just release you with out a care and no support system. So great to see clubs are doing a lot more now for young players, so bringing in lads like Matthew to mentor young lads is a great idea. People only see the highs of football, the money the fame but it can be a cruel and lonely game too. I wished I had someone like him around me when I was a young pro at Orient. Hopefully more clubs can take this approach and have support for young lads struggling 👍👍👍