The Early Years...

Matthew's Dad, Paul, was a keen amateur footballer, playing for Fish Hoek AFC, and Matthew followed in his footsteps, turning out for the side at junior level.

Spotted in the early 90s by Cape Town Spurs, Matthew joined the junior Spurs side in 1994, after being spotted at the annual Bayhill Tournament by Richard Gomes.

In 1995, he was training with the Spurs' senior team, under Mich d'Avray, which went on to with the league and BobSave Super Bowl 'double', though never made his break into the first team squad.

As the only white member of the side, Booth earned the nickname ' Fiela se Kind' (Fiela's Child), after the popular novel written by Dalene Matthee , which tells the story of a Cape Coloured woman and her family who adopt an abandoned white child. However, in early 1996, the club was sold by owner David Rodwell to local businessman John Comitis, who had had some success as a franchisor of Steers fast Foods, and many of the first team were sold on to other clubs.

Comitis immediately signed Booth to the first team, which was to be coached by Sergio dos Santos, and started preparations for the season.

The new-look Spurs' first match was a BP Top 8 fixture against Sundowns in March 1996, at Greenpoint Stadium, and Booth was given the task of marking dangerous striker Kenny Niemach.

Though Spurs lost the match, Booth acquitted himself well, and for the remainder of the 1996 transitional season was in and out of the team, as more experienced new signings were brought in.

The Premier Soccer League was inaugurated in 1996, switching from the traditional March-December season to an August-May season to fall in to line with European Leagues.

Booth's appearances for the first team started becoming more regular, though he was often unavailable as his talents had been spotted by national Under-20 coach Shakes Mashaba, and he was often on international duty for the team.

Despite their chaotic start, the Spurs side of 1996/97 finished in eighth spot in the league, and the next season, with coach Dos Santos replaced miud season by Mich d'Avray, eventually finished in fourth spot.

Booth's career was flourishing, with many starts for the club, as well as a regular place in the national Under-23 ranks.

For the 98/99 season, he was even named captain for a few matches, in the absence of regular skipper Craig Rosslee – later to be coach of Ajax Cape Town.

He was also called up to the national side for the first time, playing against Botswana in the Cosafa Cup, under coach Trott Moloto.

In 1999, however, Spurs amalgamated with Seven Stars to form Ajax Cape Town, and while Booth was part of the planning for the new club, he was unable to agree on personal terms with the new management.

Director John Comitis had wanted him to stay on but his partner Rob Moore did not, in any case Booth felt that the salary offered was risible, considering his successful career at Spurs, as well as his selections for the Under-23 side (which he captained) and Bafana Bafana.

The Spurs franchise was sold to a group of local businessmen, and renamed Mother City, and Booth was informed that he was to join them.

He refused, saying he had a contract with Spurs, NOT with City, and that he was not prepared to be 'bought and sold like a hamburger'.

Consultations with Human Rights lawyer Michael Murphy followed, and the legal man was amazed at the workings of the league and Safa – effectively the rules treated players like chattels, as opposed to human beings.

After Murphy's intervention, Booth was able to leave the club, and immediately started negotiations with other teams.

After interest came from some of the biggest clubs in South Africa, Booth finally opted to join Mamelodi Sundowns... he was now a ' Brazilian'...