Gosport Borough striker Matt Paterson: Helping out with the ‘Feed a Family’ scheme puts life in perspective

It’s not the way any footballer ever expected to spend his weeks during the middle of a season.
Matt Paterson loads food parcels into his car as part of Gosport Borough's 'Feed a Family in Need' scheme. Picture: Sarah StandingMatt Paterson loads food parcels into his car as part of Gosport Borough's 'Feed a Family in Need' scheme. Picture: Sarah Standing
Matt Paterson loads food parcels into his car as part of Gosport Borough's 'Feed a Family in Need' scheme. Picture: Sarah Standing

But Matt Paterson is happy to be doing his bit to help the needy during the third national lockdown.

The Gosport Borough striker was again out in his car this week delivering food parcels via his club’s acclaimed ‘Feed a Family in Need’ scheme.

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Since recovering from a knee operation, the 31-year-old ex-pro has been helping hand out some of the 100-plus parcels that leave Privett Park every single week.

Matt Paterson packing some of the food parcels at Privett Park. Picture: Sarah StandingMatt Paterson packing some of the food parcels at Privett Park. Picture: Sarah Standing
Matt Paterson packing some of the food parcels at Privett Park. Picture: Sarah Standing

As reported yesterday, the ‘Feed a Family’ initiative - the brainchild of Boro chairman Iain McInnes shortly after the start of the first lockdown - has been shortlisted for a national award.

It is one of three community schemes nominated for the Football Supporters Association’s Lockdown Heroes prize.

Initially overseen by clubhouse manager Keith Slater, ex-Rowner Infants School headteacher Debra Redpath has been coordinating the food deliveries since last summer.

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Paterson admits his eyes have been opened as a result of volunteering.

Matt Paterson in action for Gosport against Harrow Borough in December 2019. Picture: Ian HargreavesMatt Paterson in action for Gosport against Harrow Borough in December 2019. Picture: Ian Hargreaves
Matt Paterson in action for Gosport against Harrow Borough in December 2019. Picture: Ian Hargreaves

‘It puts a lot of things into perspective, you can really see the hardship some people have,’ he remarked.

‘It makes you count your blessings and realise how lucky you are.

‘I’m just happy to help in any small way I can.

‘The club have done really well in helping the local community, and it’s nice to try and give something back.

Matt Paterson, right, celebrates a goal for Hawks against Harrogate in 2019. Picture: Vernon NashMatt Paterson, right, celebrates a goal for Hawks against Harrogate in 2019. Picture: Vernon Nash
Matt Paterson, right, celebrates a goal for Hawks against Harrogate in 2019. Picture: Vernon Nash
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‘The people involved in the scheme - Keith, Debra and the chairman - have done an absolutely amazing job.’

Paterson rejoined Boro in the summer of 2019, one of many ex-Hawks players recruited by new boss Lee Molyneaux.

He first signed for the club in 2014 after leaving Aldershot, and scored 25 goals in his debut season before moving to Westleigh Park.

Though Boro struggled for goals under Molyneaux in 2019/20, Paterson still managed 15 league and cup goals - the third highest by any Southern Premier League South player that term.

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He is still to score his first league goal of 2020/21, but Boro have only played seven games - the last a 1-0 loss at Poole Town on October 27.

Due to the step 3 season being paused at the beginning of November, Paterson decided the latest lockdown would be a good time to sort out a troublesome right knee problem.

‘It’s been a very strange period,’ he reported.

‘I’ve missed playing and the fans have probably missed coming along and shouting at us!

‘It has been mentally tough, it’s been difficult - but I’m sure we’re coming to the end of it.

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‘To think we’ve only played seven league games and a few cup matches since last March is crazy.

‘The knee injury is something I’d been playing with for a while - sometimes it would really be bothering me.

‘I had an honest conversation with the manager about it.

‘With not playing, I thought I would have the op done - I’ve timed it quite well.

‘I’ve been doing my rehab and if we were playing a game this weekend I’d certainly put myself forward for it.’

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Apart from not playing football, Paterson’s other sports job - as an ambassador for nationwide charity Sports Connections Foundation - has also been placed on hold.

Prior to the pandemic, he was regularly going into schools along the south coast promoting the Foundation’s ProKick Challenge.

‘It’s another thing I’ve missed,’ said Paterson. ‘You go into schools - mainly around the Fareham, Portsmouth and Southampton areas - and all the children have a lot of fun.

‘They try to kick a ball as hard as they can into a goal.

‘There’s lots of laughs and high fives, it’s just trying to inspire through sport.

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‘I got involved when I was at Havant and Lee Bradbury mentioned it to me.’

The Foundation was started by ex-Brighton and Dagenham striker Junior McDougald in 2010 and based in Peterborough.

Paterson is one of many sports ambassadors, with others including ex-England defender Nigel Winterburn, Northern Ireland international Conor Washington and ex-Brighton and Peterborough striker Craig Mackail-Smith.

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