MATT O'DEA
Position	1st Team Manager
Place of birth	Hackney, London
Date of birth	15 / 06 / 71
Year joined	1994
Nickname	Bodayshs
Club Honours	Res. Team Player's Player 1995 Reserve Team M.O.M. 1995
McMullen Honours	Division 2 League & Cup 1999 Division 1 Cup 2001 Division 1 League & Cup 2002
Appearances	89
Goals	11
M. O. M. points	62

1994 - 1998   -   Matt joined the club when it inaugurated a reserve squad back in 1994 and slotted straight into the right back slot, a position he held every year until his early retirement to go into management in 1998. Through his playing career at the club he earned Reserve team Player's Player and Reserve Team Man of the Match in 1995. He was committed to the tackle and earned himself a reputation through the league as a no nonsense tough tackler, opposing players had to work hard to get the ball and themselves past him. 1998 / 99   -   As a manager he took the 1st team to league and cup double honours in his first year in charge and with it promotion to Division One. 2000 / 01   -   He weaved his magic again and added another trophy to his shelf with a fine Division 1 Cup win over Knebworth 3-1, already league champions and soon to be on their way up to the Premier. 2001 / 02   -   Matt continued his success with 1st team management, securing Division 1 League and Cup double honours and returning the team to its rightful place in the Premier League. 2002 / 03   -   Matt was committed as ever to keeping the 1st team in the Premier, a hard task given the number of players that were choosing to move up to a higher standard of football, plus the few that dropped out injured. The task was completed successfully with the team finishing seventh in the table. At the end of 2003 Matt chose to take a back seat in the club, handing the reins over to Barry Walpole. He still has a vote on the committee and will be keeping an eye on the youngsters coming through the 'A' team.