Matthew Conroy (IFK Berga | Sweden)

Copied from Young Kiwis Outside UK thread.

[quote=Big Pete 65]

Matt Conroy has been quickly promoted from the u-19 team to the senior team for Danish second tier side Vejle Boldklub.

Article on him signing:

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=da&u=https://vejle-boldklub.dk/newzealandsk-angriber-skriver-med-vejle-boldklub/&prev=search

Mentions he has been training with the first team and is expected to eventually appear regularly for them.

Two starts for the u-19's last month:

https://www.transfermarkt.com/matthew-conroy/leistungsdaten/spieler/473344

On bench this morning for senior team in the Danish Cup in a 1-0 loss to Vendsyssel but didn't take the field:

https://vejle-boldklub.dk/startopstillingen-mod-vendsyssel-6/

"18-year-old Matthew Conroy is on the bench for the first time. The New Zealander can debut for VB if he gets on the field."

Vejle Boldklubs startopstilling:

Indy Groothuizen

Mathias Voss
Mads Greve (anfører)
Mads Lauritsen
Nicolas Gianini Dantas

Lundrim Hetemi
Thomas Gundelund

Lucas Jensen
Diego Montiel
Sergiy Gryn

Adam Jakobsen

Bænken:

Thomas Hagelskjær (m)
Juhani Ojala
Magnus Grødem
Kjartan Finnbogason
Jacob Schoop
Matthew Conroy
Brenner Alves Sabino

He’s a great talent hope this is a stepping stone to bigger things

Must be out injured because he hasn't appeared in any u-19 youth team or senior squads since the u-19 match on 17 October vs. Bronby when he played:

https://www.transfermarkt.com/matthew-conroy/leistungsdaten/spieler/473344

He's till around because Matt is this week's featured player on the Vejle Boldklub Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/VejleBoldklub/posts/10157869417653308/

Fans seem to rate him as the post has 134 likes and two comments saying "Huge talent"and "Will be exciting to follow"

Now with IFK Berga in the Swedish 3rd Tier

Shame nothing happened for him... still very young, but is playing quite a low level.

Loan deal, as Vejle signed him on a 4 year contract? Vejle have just been promoted to the Danish top tier, and maybe making some new signings, so his chances of any senior playing time there currently possibly slim. If he's only been playing U19 football in Denmark til now it's time to step up against some viking men.

You would suspect that since Jesse Edge has been signed at the same time, he may have been getting some advice from likes of Declan and Dan Keat - who knows the Swedish scene well.

Conroy's only 19 years old. Today's Stuff Article quoting Ryan Nelsen on Chris Wood is a timely reminder that patience is required. Has been nearly a 10 year journey in England for the Woodsman to his end goal of being an EPL success.

Not saying likes of Conroy or Garbett are going to be the next Wood, but it's likely to be a long and winding road to whatever their career peak is.

Hopefully Conroy can get some playing time at Berga. Could even be a starter straight away. Berga are dead last (3rd tier - Ettan North) with 9 losses from 9 games with only 9 goals. 7 points adrift from team in 2nd last. Survival prospects look pretty dire, but with the season extended into November, snow permitting (21 league games to go) still time.

https://us.soccerway.com/national/sweden/division-1/2020/norra/r56339/

Joel Stevens & Francis De Vries's Värnamo are top of the table in the Ettan South.

First points of the season for Berga (still 16th & rock bottom) with a 3-2 home win over Karlslund (11th).

Berga 3-0 up at HT, had one of their goal scorers sent off in the 2nd half, but hung on for 3 points.

https://www.flashscore.com/match/vFekA6Wd/#lineups;1

Looks like neither of the two very recent Kiwi signings (Conroy & Jesse Edge) made the match day squad. But should be a more upbeat fresh beginning feeling, now around their new club.

Berga with a 1-1 draw against Sollentuna (6th).

Neither Conroy or Jesse Edge in match day squad.

Makes his pro football competitive debut at 19, in the Swedish 3rd tier. Congrats to him.

Subbed on at 61 mins with score 0-0 at that point.

Finishes a 1-2 loss for Berga, fellow Kiwi Jesse Edge with Berga's goal.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2020/08/22/sweden/division-1/ifk-berga/if-karlstad/3276423/

Started along with Jesse Edge against Täby (10th). 

Starting debut, however got yanked at HT when Berga were 2-0 down.

Finished a 2-1 loss. Full game for Edge.

Berga remain 16th and last.

Both Kiwis start in a 3-1 win over 2nd last Nyköping.

Conroy subbed off at 61 mins (score 1-1), and Jesse Edge at 88 mins (2-1)

Nyköping had a player sent off at 39 mins when Berga leading 1-0.

Berga remain last, still 10 points off safety but I'm sure win is a welcome morale boost.

Saw a tweet where Matt was in hospital bed with shoulder strapped up after surgery, so season looks over?