{{short description|English footballer}} {{Use British English|date=March 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Matt Rush |image = |image_size = |caption = |fullname = Matthew Thomas Rush<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/efl-professional-retain-list--free-transfers---2018-19.pdf|title=Club list of registered players: As at 18th May 2019: Southend United|publisher=English Football League|page=66|accessdate=25 February 2020}}</ref> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|3|11|df=y}} |birth_place = Brentwood, England<ref>Ancestry.com. ''England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007'' [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.</ref> |height = 1.77m |position = Forward |currentclub = Boreham Wood |clubnumber = 32 |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Wickford Town |youthyears2 = 2013–2014 |youthclubs2 = Billericay Town |youthyears3 = 2014–2019 |youthclubs3 = Southend United |years1 = 2019–2022 |clubs1 = Southend United |caps1 = 23 |goals1 = 1 |years2 = 2019 |clubs2 = → Great Wakering Rovers (loan) |caps2 = 8 |goals2 = 2 |years3 = 2019 |clubs3 = → Harlow Town (loan) |caps3 = 13 |goals3 = 11 |years4 = 2021 |clubs4 = → Tonbridge Angels (loan) |caps4 = 2 |goals4 = 1 |years5 = 2022 |clubs5 = → Chelmsford City (loan) |caps5 = 16 |goals5 = 3 |years6 = 2022–2023 |clubs6 = Braintree Town |caps6 = 38 |goals6 = 6 |years7 = 2023 |clubs7 = Aveley |caps7 = 13 |goals7 = 3 |years8 = 2023–2024 |clubs8 = Maidstone United |caps8 = 33 |goals8 = 15 |years9 = 2024 |clubs9 = Sutton United |caps9 = 9 |goals9 = 1 |years10 = 2024 |clubs10 = → Maidstone United (loan) |caps10 = 6 |goals10 = 3 |years11 = 2024– |clubs11 = Boreham Wood |caps11 = 89 |goals11 = 51 |club-update = 00:02, 3 January 2026 (UTC) }} '''Matthew Thomas Rush''' (born 11 March 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|BorehamW}} club Boreham Wood.
==Career== Rush began his career at local club Wickford Town, before moving to Billericay Town in the summer of 2013. In December 2014, Southend United signed Rush to the youth system at the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/billericaytowncoltsfc/news/matt-rush-signs-for-southend-united-football-club-1349273.html|title=Matt Rush signs for Southend United Football Club|publisher=Billericay Town F.C.|date=14 December 2014|accessdate=14 December 2019}}</ref> During the second half of the 2018–19 season, Rush signed for Great Wakering Rovers on loan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.southendunited.co.uk/teams/u21-team/forward/matt-rush/|title=Matt Rush|publisher=Southend United F.C.|accessdate=14 December 2019}}</ref> In August 2019, Rush signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Harlow Town on loan, scoring eleven goals in 13 games in all competitions during three months at the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.harlowtownfootballclub.co.uk/teams/86425/player/matt-rush-2397522/65920|title=Matt Rush|publisher=Harlow Town F.C.|accessdate=14 December 2019}}</ref>
On 2 November 2019, Rush made his debut for Southend in a 1–0 loss against Sunderland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2019/11/02/england/league-one/sunderland-association-football-club/southend-united-fc/3035331/|title=Sunderland vs. Southend United 1–0|publisher=Soccerway|accessdate=14 December 2019}}</ref>
On 6 January 2021, Rush joined National League South side Tonbridge Angels on a four-week loan deal.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk/first-team-news/shrimper-joins-angels-on-4-week-loan/1853 |title=Shrimper joins Angels on 4 week loan |publisher=Tonbridge Angels F.C. |date=6 January 2021}}</ref>
On 11 February 2022, following nine National League appearances for Southend, Rush joined fellow Essex club Chelmsford City on loan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/news/rush-joins-on-loan-from-southend-2682211.html |title=Rush joins on loan from Southend |publisher=Chelmsford City F.C. |accessdate=11 February 2022|date=11 February 2022}}</ref> At the end of the 2021–22 season, Rush was released by Southend.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/20147746.southend-united-reveal-release-retain-list/ |title=Southend United reveal release and retain list |publisher=Basildon Echo |date=18 May 2022}}</ref>
On 25 June 2022, Rush agreed to join fellow Essex-based side, Braintree Town ahead of the 2022–23 campaign following his release from Southend.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Former Southend striker has new home in Braintree Town |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/20238269.former-southend-striker-new-home-braintree-town/ |publisher=Basildon Canvey Southend Echo |first=Henry |last=Tomlinson |date=27 June 2022 |accessdate=27 June 2022}}</ref>
On 1 July 2023, Rush signed for newly promoted National League South club, Aveley.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Matt Rush Joins Aveley |url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/aveley/news/matt-rush-joins-aveley-2788947.html |publisher=Aveley F.C. |date=1 July 2023 |accessdate=4 July 2023}}</ref>
On 3 November 2023, Rush joined Maidstone United, signing a deal until the end of the campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |title=What a Rush! |url=https://maidstoneunited.co.uk/2023/11/03/what-a-rush/ |publisher=Maidstone United F.C. |date=3 November 2023 |accessdate=3 November 2023}}</ref>
On 21 June 2024, Rush signed for recently relegated National League side Sutton United.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.suttonunited.net/news/2024/june/matt-rush-joins--us/|title=Matt Rush joins U's|website=www.suttonunited.net|date=21 June 2024|accessdate=22 June 2024}}</ref> In November 2024, he returned to Maidstone United on loan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maidstoneunited.co.uk/2024/11/29/rush-hour-2/|title=Rush Hour 2|website=maidstoneunited.co.uk|date=29 November 2024|accessdate=3 December 2024}}</ref>
On 31 December 2024, Rush was recalled from his loan spell with Maidstone United, joining Boreham Wood for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.suttonunited.net/matt-rush-joins-boreham-wood/|title=Official: Matt Rush joins Boreham Wood|website=www.suttonunited.net|date=31 December 2024|accessdate=2 January 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== Rush attended The Bromfords School in Wickford alongside former Southend teammate Charlie Kelman.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sufccommunity.co.uk/2020/02/28/charlie-kelman-returns-to-the-bromfords-school/ |title=Kelman returns to The Bromfords School|publisher=Southend United F.C. |accessdate=11 February 2022|date=11 February 2022}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 1 January 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="5"|Southend United | 2018–19<ref name="SW">{{Cite news |title=M. Rush |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/matt-rush/639019/ |publisher=Soccerway |accessdate=27 June 2022}}</ref> |League One |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- | 2019–20<ref name="SW"/> |League One |7||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFT">Appearances in the EFL Trophy</ref>||0||8||0 |- | 2020–21<ref name="SW"/> |League Two |7||1||1||0||0||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFT"/>||0||11||1 |- | 2021–22<ref name="SW"/> |National League |9||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT">Appearance in the FA Trophy</ref>||0||12||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !23||1||3||0||0||0||5||0||31||1 |- |Great Wakering Rovers (loan) | 2018–19<ref>{{Cite news |title=Great Wakering Rovers – Appearances – Matthew Rush – 2018-2019 |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/great-wakering-rovers/appearances/2018-2019/matthew-rush/636184 |publisher=Football Web Pages |accessdate=27 June 2022}}</ref> |Isthmian League North Division |8||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||2 |- |Harlow Town (loan) | 2019–20<ref>{{Cite news |title=Matt Rush - Harlow Town Football Club Mens First Team |url=https://www.harlowtownfootballclub.co.uk/teams/86425/player/matt-rush-2397522/65920 |publisher=Harlow Town F.C. |accessdate=27 June 2022}}</ref> |Isthmian League South Central Division |8||5||2||0||colspan="2"|—||3||6||13||13 |- |Tonbridge Angels (loan) | 2020–21<ref name="SW"/> |National League South |2||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2||1 |- |Chelmsford City (loan) | 2021–22<ref name="SW"/> |National League South |16||3||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||3 |- |Braintree Town | 2022–23<ref name="SW"/><ref>For FA Cup Second Qualifying Round: {{Cite news |title=Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round – Heybridge Swifts 1 - 1 Braintree Town |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2022-2023/fa-cup/heybridge-swifts/braintree-town/424834 |publisher=Football Web Pages |accessdate=20 September 2022}}<br />For FA Cup Second Qualifying Round Replay: {{Cite news |title=Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round Replay – Braintree Town 2 - 1 Heybridge Swifts |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2022-2023/fa-cup/braintree-town/heybridge-swifts/425498 |publisher=Football Web Pages |accessdate=30 March 2023}}<br />For FA Cup Third Qualifying Round Replay: {{Cite news |title=Emirates FA Cup Third Qualifying Round – Hornchurch 3 - 0 Braintree Town |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2022-2023/fa-cup/hornchurch/braintree-town/425572 |publisher=Football Web Pages |accessdate=30 March 2023}}</ref> |National League South |38||2||3||1||colspan="2"|—||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT"/>||3||44||6 |- |Aveley | 2023–24<ref name="SW"/><ref>For FA Cup Second Qualifying Round: {{Cite news |title=King's Lynn Town 0 Aveley 0 in FA Cup |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/23793976.kings-lynn-town-0-aveley-0-fa-cup/ |publisher=Eastern Daily Press |first=Chris |last=Lakey |date=16 September 2023 |accessdate=3 November 2023}}<br />For FA Cup Second Qualifying Round Replay: {{Cite news |title=King's Lynn Town boss under pressure after FA Cup exit |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/23797850.kings-lynn-town-boss-pressure-fa-cup-exit/ |publisher=Eastern Daily Press |first=Chris |last=Lakey |date=18 September 2023 |accessdate=3 November 2023}}<br />For FA Cup Third Qualifying Round: {{Cite news |title=Emirates FA Cup Third Qualifying Round – Aveley 2 - 2 Hornchurch |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2023-2024/fa-cup/aveley/hornchurch/479760 |publisher=Football Web Pages |date=30 September 2023 |accessdate=3 November 2023}}<br />For FA Cup Third Qualifying Round Replay: {{Cite news |title=Emirates FA Cup Third Qualifying Round Replay – Hornchurch 1 - 2 Aveley |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2023-2024/fa-cup/hornchurch/aveley/480130 |publisher=Football Web Pages |date=3 October 2023 |accessdate=3 November 2023}}</ref> |National League South |13||2||6||4||colspan="2"|—||0||0||19||6 |- |Maidstone United |2023–24<ref name="SW"/> |National League South |31||14||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|Two appearances in FA Trophy, two appearances and one goal in National League South play-offs}}||1||35||15 |- |Sutton United |2024–25<ref name="SB2425">{{soccerbase season|125848|2024|accessdate=2 January 2026}}</ref> |National League |7||0||2||1||colspan="2"|—||0||0||9||1 |- |Maidstone United (loan) |2024–25<ref name="SB2425" /> |National League South |6||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||6||3 |- |rowspan="3"|Boreham Wood |2024–25<ref name="SB2425" /> |National League South |23||15||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|One appearance and one goal in FA Trophy, three appearances and one goal in National League South play-offs}}||2||27||17 |- |2025–26<ref name="SB2526">{{soccerbase season|125848|2025|accessdate=2 January 2026}}</ref> |National League |24||14||2||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||16 |- !colspan="2"|Total !47!!29!!2!!2!!colspan="2"|—!!4!!2!!53!!33 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !199||62||18||8||0||0||19||6||223||74 |}
{{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Boreham Wood''' *National League South play-offs: 2025<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cr4zrqx7dx3t#Line-ups |title=Boreham Wood 1–0 Maidstone United: The Wood promoted to National League |website=BBC Sport |date=18 May 2025 |access-date=19 May 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Boreham Wood F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rush, Matt}} Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:Men's association football forwards Category:English men's footballers Category:Footballers from Brentwood, Essex Category:Southend United F.C. players Category:Great Wakering Rovers F.C. players Category:Harlow Town F.C. players Category:Tonbridge Angels F.C. players Category:Chelmsford City F.C. players Category:Braintree Town F.C. players Category:Aveley F.C. players Category:Slough Town F.C. players Category:Maidstone United F.C. players Category:Sutton United F.C. players Category:Boreham Wood F.C. players Category:Isthmian League players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:21st-century English sportsmen