“When this one came across the table, it was that was never really going to be turned down for me.”
- Matt Macey becomes third summer signing
- 27-year-old on returning to Kenilworth Road
- Familiar sights and faces for goalkeeper
Matt Macey said the culture around the club is one of the main reasons he opted to return to Kenilworth Road and become Nathan Jones’ third summer signing.
The 6ft 7in goalkeeper spoke of his enjoyment during his brief loan spell with the Hatters in 2017, saying: “I came into a team that was winning, in and around the play-offs in good form. Coming into a team environment like that, it is quite easy to go with the rhythm of it and I think we managed to hold that play-off position throughout my time here, and then obviously you guys went into the play-offs at the end of the season.
"I just remember having some of the best 10 weeks in my career in terms of the enjoyment and the culture that was starting to build at the club here. That was one of the main things that made me want to come back.
“I think all footballers every weekend look out for the scores of their old teams and it just so happens that every time I looked, Luton had been winning the last few years and obviously coming here with Plymouth, think we got battered about 5-1 that day!
“I’ve always kept an eye out because I have friends at the club who have been involved in the promotions and I’ve always kept track and it is great to see how successful it has been.”
One of those friends is fellow keeper James Shea after the pair established a friendship during their time at the Emirates Stadium.
“When I first joined Arsenal he was still there. I think he was doing his last year and then he went on to Wimbledon and teams like that. He’s a couple of years older than me and he really helped me settle. Those first six months especially and he got me into golf which I’m thankful for!
“I think he joined that summer I was here, and he rang me up to ask what the club was like and I remember I just said to him you have to sign there, it’s the best atmosphere I’ve ever been in at a football club, you will love it.
“He came and he’s got two promotions under his belt here and he’s done unbelievably, so it worked out brilliantly for him. When I rang him a few weeks back it was a bit of a courtesy because we are going to be challenging for our positions now but also, he said it’s the same as when I left the club, it’s the same culture.”