Matt Jansen: What Was, What Is And What Might Have Been, with Jon Colman (Polaris £18.99)

IT was the accident that split his life in two. “In the late 1990s Jansen was one of the hottest properties in English football. Impressive displays for Carlisle United earned the youngster a £1 million move to Premier League side Crystal Palace in February 1998 and less than a year later he was snapped up by Blackburn for £4.1 million at the age of just 21.”

The world was at his feet. Matt Jansen was selected for the World Cup squad in 2002, but was denied a place by a last-minute decision.

His was a career of fantastic promise... and then it all went tragically wrong.

In the summer, Matt was on holiday in Rome with his girlfriend, Lucy. He felt himself to be “the happiest man in the world”.On the last night of their holiday they hired a moped. At a crossroads, he nosed out and was hit by a taxi. He was knocked across the cobbles and fell into a coma. His physical injuries soon mended, but the mental injuries remained.

He suffered from depression. He lost that edge, that instinct for the goal, that had made him a supreme striker.

He still had the skills, but the goal hunger, the inspiration had deserted him.

Matt’s grandfather was Dutch. His parents met in Worcester and later moved to Wetheral, where his father, who had been a semi-professional footballer, joined the police force.

Matt’s headmaster at Cumwhinton Primary School had also been a semi-professional, and encouraged the lad playing headers and volleys. When the lads played against Great Corby, Bob Stokoe was watching. He spotted the talent and told Matt’s dad: “Wrap that left foot of his in cotton wool because it will make him a living from the game.”

After a miserable time being bullied and playing rugby at Austin Friars, Matt found his footballing feet at Newman School. He played for Denton Holme. He was watched by Alex Ferguson and by Bobby Robson. He joined the YTS at Carlisle United. when Michael Knighton, the near bankrupt club’s “Willy Wonka with a megawatt smile” was in charge.

In the 1995/96 season Matt was brought on by Mervyn Day in the second half against Bolton Wanderers. He took an inswinging corner and Dean Walling knocked his delivery home.

Matt Jansen was set on that glittering football career that took him to Crystal Palace and Blackburn Rovers, but which was sadly curtailed by that accident in Rome.

He speaks honestly about his success and about the years of struggle as he sought to find his old form again. He ended his footballing years as manager of non-league Chorley.

Written with local journalist Jon Colman, his is a moving story of one of football’s might-have-beens, a great talent robbed of its potential at the height of his powers.

Steve Matthews
Bookends, Carlisle and Keswick www.bookscumbria.com