FALMOUTH’S very own Premiership footballer has been in the national headlines this week after being one of the first major transfers of the New Year, writes Simon Larkins.

Matthew Etherington, who went to Falmouth Community School, has moved from West Ham United to Stoke City for an undisclosed fee, which is believed to be in the region of £3 million.

Etherington has played nearly 200 games for the Hammers since joining them from Tottenham Hotspur in 2003. However, he is first of a number of players expected to leave West Ham United in the January transfer window, as the club, with an Icelandic owner, has been one of the hardest hit by the current financial crisis.

He now teams up with former Plymouth Argyle boss Tony Pulis at Stoke, who tried to sign Etherington in the summer following the club’s promotion to the Premiership.

The 27-year-old winger will be thrown straight into a relegation battle as Stoke currently sit in 17th in the Premier League table – only one point above one of Etherington’s former clubs – Tottenham.

However, Etherington’s move to the Britianna Staduim is seen by many as a positive switch as he had fallen out of favour with current West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola and is likely to be a regular in the City line up.

Added to that Stoke play a style of football which is going to suit Etherington wing play. They like to get crosses into the box to utilise the heading abilities of Ricardo Fuller and Mamady Sidibe.

Matthew made his debut for Stoke in a goalless draw with Liverpool on Saturday.