Matthew Jarvis is a former international football player, having played in the Premier League with West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Having experienced the extreme highs and lows of elite sport, Matt’s nearly two decades of football have shown him the importance of consistency, resilience and performance under pressure in both personal and professional capacities.
Beginning his professional career with Gillingham in 2003, making his debut at just age 17, Matt went on to make over 100 appearances for the club and play for the first team in an FA Cup match against Burnley in 2004. In 2007, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers and made his Premier League debut with the team in 2009 against his future team, West Ham United. In 2011, Matt got a call-up for the England Squad and earned his first cap in a game against Ghana at Wembley Stadium. The following year, Matt signed a contract with West Ham, making his first appearance for the club against Swansea City. At the same time, he became a sports ambassador for The Prince's Trust, a position he still holds to this day. Matt would go on to establish and serve as Director of Matt Jarvis Academy, as well as a sports ambassador for The Coaching Network, signing a season-long loan for Norwich City at the same time. He then signed on loan for Walsall for the 2018-19 season. The final team Matt would play for was Woking before retiring from the sport in 2021. Since retiring from the sport, Matt has taken on the role of club ambassador for West Ham, player mentor for Wolves, and is currently an advisor for Unlock, as well as the Director of APX Golf.
During his career, Matt was recognised as Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Player of the Year, a testament to his incredible skill, grit and resilience. Alongside his ambassadorial roles, Matt is a regular media contributor for Sky Sports, IT, Astro Sport, Talksport, BBC, and Radio 5 Live. His punditry allows him to offer expert analysis and commentary, drawing from his nearly two-decade-long career. Matt is also a strong advocate for Athlete Welfare, having appeared on the cover of Attitude in 2013 to discuss homosexuality in football.
Through his lived experience, Matt shares his advice on performing under pressure in a range of environments. From injuries, setbacks, competition and the constant drive to improve and adapt, Matt now offers his unique perspective to a variety of audiences, ensuring his sessions and keynotes are focused on relatability, action, and application to each individual’s role or challenges. With passion, clarity, and a down-to-earth nature, Matt is the perfect speaker for a multitude of events, conferences, and engagements where leaders want to understand what it truly takes to perform, adapt, and succeed at the highest levels.
