Matthew Alexander Dolan (born 11 February 1993) is an English footballer who plays for National League North club Spennymoor Town, and he is also joint interim manager of the club
Born in Hartlepool, Dolan started his career with Middlesbrough, signing his first professional contract in July 2010. He had a loan spell with Yeovil Town where he made an appearance in the 2013 Football League One play-off final win. Dolan then had a loan spell with his home town club Hartlepool United and then Bradford City. After leaving Middlesbrough in 2014, he signed permanently with Bradford where he would spend one season. After another loan spell with Hartlepool, he re-joined Yeovil Town. He departed Yeovil in 2017, signing for Newport County. Dolan spent six seasons with Newport, earning the Player of the Year award in his fourth. He also played in two unsuccessful League Two play-off finals for the club. After another loan spell with Hartlepool, he moved there permanently in 2023. He left Hartlepool in 2024, signing for Spennymoor Town.
Dolan began his career at Middlesbrough and in July 2010 was awarded a four-year professional contract with the club, and was captain of their U21 side.
On 4 January 2013, Dolan joined Football League One side Yeovil Town on a months loan deal, and made his debut as a substitute in their Football League Trophy area semi-final defeat against Leyton Orient. He played his first League One match for the club in the 2âÂÂ0 win at Sheffield United. Dolan only managed five appearances for Yeovil in his first spell on loan before returning to the Riverside due to injury. On 27 March 2013, Dolan unexpectedly returned to Yeovil for a second loan spell this time until the end of the 2012âÂÂ13 season. On 29 March 2013, Dolan made his first appearance of his second loan spell for Yeovil as a second-half substitute in a goalless draw against Walsall. On 1 April, he scored his first goal in professional football in the 2âÂÂ1 away win at Notts County, with a goal scored direct from a free kick. Dolan appeared as a second-half substitute in the 2013 League One play-off final as Yeovil beat Brentford 2âÂÂ1 to secure promotion to the Football League Championship. Dolan returned to Middlesbrough having made nine appearances for Yeovil, in all competitions, in a loan spell hampered by injuries.
In August 2013, Dolan joined his home-town team Hartlepool United on a one-month loan deal, linking up with former Middlesbrough coaches Colin Cooper and Craig Hignett. This loan was extended in October. Dolan then scored his first goal for the club, in a 3âÂÂ1 win over AFC Wimbledon on 22 October 2013. This was followed up his second came on 26 December 2013, in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Chesterfield. In January, Dolan returned to Middlesbrough. He made 24 appearances in all competitions for Hartlepool, scoring twice.
Under the management of Aitor Karanka, Dolan was among the players to be offloaded as part of Karanka's reducing the squad size. So on 1 September 2014 Dolan agreed to join Bradford City on loan until the end of the season.
On 6 May 2014, Dolan agreed to join Bradford City on a one-year contract. He moved on loan to Hartlepool United on 27 November 2014. He made only two appearances for Pools when he was recalled to Bradford City due to an injury. Dolan struggled for game time with Bradford and made only 13 league appearances and was released at the end of the 2014âÂÂ15 season.
Following his release from Bradford City, Dolan agreed to sign for League Two side Yeovil Town on a two-year deal from 1 July 2015 â the club he had previously played for on loan in 2013. On 8 August 2015, Dolan scored on his first game back for the club in a 3âÂÂ2 defeat against Exeter City. He made headlines in August 2016 after he scored from inside his own half in a 2âÂÂ1 EFL Cup win against Walsall. In his two years with Yeovil, Dolan played 94 times in all competitions and scored eight times.
On 7 June 2017, Dolan rejected the offer of a new contract from Yeovil to sign for fellow League Two side Newport County on a two-year contract. He made his debut for Newport on the opening day of the 2017âÂÂ18 season, in a 3âÂÂ3 draw at Stevenage. On 10 November 2017, Dolan scored his first goal for Newport in the 1âÂÂ1 draw against Port Vale in League Two. On 26 January 2019 Dolan scored the equalising goal in the 93rd minute against Championship club Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fourth round 1âÂÂ1 draw. Newport won the replay 2âÂÂ0 and progressed to the FA Cup fifth round home tie against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. Manchester City won the match 4âÂÂ1. Dolan scored the winning goal in the 2018âÂÂ19 League Two play-off semi-final penalty shoot-out against Mansfield Town. In the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2019, Dolan was a 72nd-minute substitute as Newport lost to Tranmere Rovers 1âÂÂ0 after a goal in the 119th minute.
In June 2019, Dolan signed a two-year contract extension with Newport County. In April 2021, Dolan was named as the 2021 EFL League Two Player in the Community for his "exceptional attitude to County in the Community initiatives". Also in April 2021, Dolan extended his Newport contract until the end of the 2022âÂÂ23 season. Dolan played for Newport in the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 31 May 2021 which Newport lost to Morecambe, 1âÂÂ0 after a 107th-minute penalty. In June 2021 Dolan was selected as the Newport County Player of the Year for the 2020âÂÂ21 season. He was released by Newport at the end of the 2022âÂÂ23 season.
On 5 January 2023, Dolan moved on loan to Hartlepool United until the end of the 2022âÂÂ23 season. At the end of the season, he signed for Pools on a permanent basis. On 15 February 2024, Dolan left Hartlepool United via mutual consent following the termination of his contract.
On 15 February 2024, Dolan signed for National League North club Spennymoor Town. As part of his contract, Dolan would also take on a coaching role at the club's academy.
He scored his first goal for Spennymoor on the opening day of the 2024âÂÂ25 season via a free kick from 30 yards in a 3âÂÂ0 win against Chester. In April 2025, Dolan's looping cross provided the assist for Aidan Rutledge to equalise in the last minute against Rochdale in the FA Trophy semi-final; Dolan scored his penalty in the resulting shoot-out which saw Spennymoor advance to the final at Wembley â however, Spennymoor lost the final 3âÂÂ0 to Aldershot Town. On 4 June 2025, he signed a new contract with The Moors.
Upon signing as player for Spennymoor Town in February 2014, Dolan also began coaching in the club's academy.
On February 23, 2026, Dolan was named as joint-interim manager of Spennymoor alongside Tommy Miller until the end of the season. It was a role that Dolan combined alongside his playing role at the club. The duo won in their first game in charge in a 1âÂÂ0 win against Chorley.
Yeovil Town
Spennymoor Town
Individual