An Irish soldier stationed at South Camp, Aldershot, with the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Matthew Nihan came to The Dell as an amateur. He was soon given a Southern League run-out at centre-forward. To the Echo, damning with faint praise,

he “conveyed the impression of being a very serviceable player” –

perhaps unfair on a trialist playing out of position. Matthew never did get a game in his favourite position at outside-right. A second outing at centre-forward was the end of the matter. Matthew continued with his army career, serving in the Great War with the Inniskilling Fusiliers, Irish Fusiliers and Royal Fusiliers, reaching the rank of sergeant. After the army, he became a civilian employee with the War Office, up until his death in 1941. Two years earlier when WW2 broke out he had registered as a foreman at the R.A.O.C. stores.