376-game Scottish stalwart makes surprise interstate switch in major NPL NSW coup

Sutherland Sharks have pulled off a major interstate coup, signing former Raith Rovers stalwart Ross Matthews from Bentleigh Greens ahead of the Australian Championship and 2027 NPL NSW season.

The Scottish midfielder will swap Victoria for the Shire after spending the second half of the 2026 NPL VIC season with relegated Bentleigh, having only arrived in Australia midway through the campaign following an extraordinary 13-year association with Raith Rovers.

Matthews played 376 games for Scottish club Raith Rovers after making his senior debut in 2013, placing him 12th on Raith’s all-time appearance list.

He helped the club win promotion as Scottish League One champions and regularly wore the captain’s armband, including in two cup final victories.

His first taste of Australian football came during a difficult period for Bentleigh as the Greens fought to preserve their NPL Victoria status. While they were ultimately relegated, Matthews provided one of their most memorable individual performances of the campaign.

After waiting for his first Bentleigh goal, the midfielder scored three in one night during a remarkable 6-2 victory over Melbourne City, including a spectacular second-half strike into the top corner.

Now his short Victorian chapter is over.

David Perkovic’s Sutherland have secured the experienced midfielder as a major addition ahead of two significant challenges in 2027, with Matthews set to feature in both their Australian Championship campaign and NPL NSW season.