It has been an amazing year for the young Newcastle Eagles player, Eddie Matthew, making his BBL debut at age of 16, winning the U18s National Proj3kt 3on3 Tournament in Glasgow, and finishing in second place with Eagles development partners Tyne Metropolitan College in the British Colleges Finals are only few highlights of Eddie’s accomplishments this season.
Eddie Matthew has a busy schedule. He attends Tyne Metropolitan College where he is coached by Tyne Met College Academy and Team Northumbria head coach Marc Steutel. As part of Eagles Community Foundation development programme Matthew trains and plays with Newcastle Eagles and head Coach Fab Flournoy and also plays with ECF Coach Ian Macleod’s Eagles U18s team. This pathway can continue for Eddie into the Team Northumbria programme, all under the umbrella of Eagles Community Foundation delivery.
During the Easter Break, Eddie joined England National Team in the U17s International tournament in Cherbourg, France where his team finished in third place, going 3-2. After losing to the event winners, Paris-Levallois in the semi-finals, Eddie Matthew and the team secured a 58-41 victory over Tunisia to secure the third place finish.
However, Eddie enjoyed not only team, but also an individual success at the tournament by showing great shooting skills and winning the 3 point shootout contest.
We would like to congratulate Eddie Matthew on his outstanding achievements this season and wish him best of luck in the future. Eagles managing director Paul Blake stated; ‘Eddie is growing as a player every day and is in very good hands under the tutelage of Marc Steutel, Ian McLeod and Fab Flournoy. Eddie is exposed to basketball every day of his life and is receiving his education from three of the best coaches in the country. The Eagles programme with its partners Team Northumbria, Tyne Met College and Gateshead College are offering an amazing development opportunity for the future, enhanced by some of the best playing and strength and conditioning facilities in the country’.
Eddie Matthew said “If someone had said to me this time last year where I would be now, I would not have believed them. I have had the opportunity to learn from and play for the Eagles first team and been part of the England Under 17 development squad in an international tournament. Coach Fab Flournoy has really helped me to develop my understanding of the demands on a professional team and I know that any minutes I get in games have to be earned. Highlights this year have been running out with the first team, winning the 3 point competition for England in Cherbourg, winning the Proj3kt 3 on 3 team competition in Glasgow and getting into the finals of the British Colleges Competition with Coach Marc Steutel and Tyne Met College. But I also have to mention my School of Excellence U18 team mates and Coach Macleod as we have had a good season together and of course the Eagles fans who have been so supportive! ”
To see Eddie winning the 3 point shoot-out follow the link below
