{{short description|English footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}} {{Use British English|date=March 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Matthew Hockley | image = | fullname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1982|6|5}} | birth_place = Paignton, Devon, England |height = | currentclub = Bideford | position = Midfielder | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 1998–2000 | youthclubs1 = Torquay United | years1 = 2000–2008 | years2 = 2008–2009 | years3 = 2009–2014 | years4 = 2014–2015 | years5 = 2015 – | clubs1 = Torquay United | clubs2 = Truro City | clubs3 = Bideford | clubs4 = Dereham Town | clubs5 = Bideford | caps1 = 239 | caps2 = 19 | caps3 = ? | caps4 = ? | caps5 = ? | goals1 = 10 | goals2 = 3 | goals3 = ? | goals4 = ? | goals5 = ? | club-update = 11 February 2009 }} '''Matthew Hockley''' (born 5 June 1982) is an English former professional footballer, who plays for Bideford. He can play in defence or midfield.
Hockley was born in Paignton, Devon and joined Torquay United as a trainee. He turned professional in July 2000 and made his first-team debut in the 1-1 draw at home to Southend United in the FA Cup 1st Round on 18 November 2000. His league debut came the following week in a 2-1 home win against Barnet. He made sporadic appearances over the next two seasons before becoming a regular under Leroy Rosenior, missing only one game in the 2003-04 promotion season. He is nicknamed 'Pitbull' due to his tenacious tackling.
In May 2005, he accepted a new contract with Torquay <ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/4562545.stm|title=Hockley accepts new Torquay deal|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2005-05-19|access-date=2008-12-05}}</ref> and in the 2006-07 season made his 200th first team appearance for the Gulls. His 200th league appearance came on 2 March 2007 in a 1-1 draw away to Chester City, Hockley replacing Lloyd Kerry as a late substitute.
Torquay were relegated to the Conference National at the end of the 2006-07 season, but Hockley chose to remain with the club, agreeing a new contract with new Torquay manager Paul Buckle.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/6748347.stm|title=Torquay boss appoints new coach|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2007-06-13|access-date=2008-12-05}}</ref> He was an unused substitute in Torquay's FA Trophy Final defeat at Wembley in May 2008,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/7382167.stm|title=Ebbsfleet 1-0 Torquay|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2008-12-05|date=2008-05-10}}</ref> and was released by Torquay three days later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/7398268.stm|title=Bedeau among four leaving Torquay|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2008-05-13|access-date=2008-12-05}}</ref>
Hockley joined Truro City in June 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7451477.stm|title=Truro City secure double signing|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2008-06-12|access-date=2008-12-05}}</ref> After 1 season at Truro City he then moved onto Bideford on a free transfer.
His brother Wayne was also a professional with Torquay United.
==All time playing career==
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" |- ! Season!! Team !! Division!! League Apps !! League Goals !! Cup Apps !! Cup Goals !! |- ! 2000-01 | Torquay United||3||{{0}}6||1||2||0|| |- ! 2001-02 | Torquay United||3||12||0||1||0|| |- ! 2002-03 | Torquay United||3||40||2||1||0|| |- ! 2003-04 | Torquay United||3||45||5||2||0|| |- ! 2004-05 | Torquay United||2||35||1||2||0|| |- ! 2005-06 | Torquay United||2||36||5||0||0|| |- ! 2006-07 |Torquay United||2||37||0||4||0|| |- !2007-08 |Torquay United||Conference National||29||1||4||0 |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Soccerbase|name=Matt Hockley's}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hockley, Matthew}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Paignton Category:English men's footballers Category:Torquay United F.C. players Category:Truro City F.C. players Category:Dereham Town F.C. players Category:Bideford A.F.C. players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Footballers from Devon Category:English Football League players Category:21st-century English sportsmen