Matthew Shaun Kilgallon (born 8 January 1984) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Kilgallon began his career at Leeds United, where he came through the youth set up before becoming a fixture in their first team. He moved to Sheffield United where he spent three years before moving to Sunderland. He has had spells on loan at West Ham, Middlesbrough and Doncaster Rovers. He made five appearances for the England U21s. Early life Kilgallon was born in York, North Yorkshire and was raised in the nearby village of Appleton Roebuck. He attended Tadcaster Grammar School. Club career Leeds United Kilgallon played in York City's youth system before signing for Leeds United at the age of 12. He signed schoolboy forms with the club in 1998, before being offered a three-year scholarship the following year. He signed a one-year professional contract with Leeds at the end of his scholarship. Kilgallon was first called up to the first team for a UEFA Cup match away to Metalurh Zaporizhya on 3 October 2002, although he did not make the matchday squad. In his first season in the Championship with Leeds, he was mainly playing left-back with Paul Butler and Sean Gregan the main centre-back partnership. Kilgallon also displaced Clarke Carlisle and Michael Duberry in the pecking order. He played in their run to the 2006 Championship play-offs, helping them make the final, which Leeds lost 3–0 against Watford at the Millennium Stadium. Kilgallon was the subject of a failed bid of over £1 million from newly promoted Premier League club Reading in August 2006. He played in most of Leeds's matches of the first half of the 2006–07 season, keeping experienced centre-backs Paul Butler, Sean Gregan and Hayden Foxe out of the team. Sheffield United Kilgallon signed for Premier League Sheffield United on 8 January 2007 for a £1.75 million fee, rising to £2 million with add-ons. Despite recovering from an early injury, he did not make his debut until starting in a 1–0 loss away to Bolton Wanderers on 31 March 2007. Having been used sparingly in the Premier League, Kilgallon established himself in the team in the Championship. He scored his first goal for Sheffield United on 15 December 2007, with a deflected header in the 64th minute of a 1–0 home victory over local rivals Barnsley. He was virtually ever-present in the team in the