Mathie scored on his Ipswich debut in a 2–1 win against Southampton,[7] one of only seven league wins that season as the "Blues" went on to be relegated out of the top-flight in 1994–95. Mathie played in the club's famous 9–0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on 4 March 1995.[8] He scored 19 goals in 1995–96 to become the club's joint top-scorer (with Ian Marshall). His 18 First Division goals also made him the sixth-highest scorer. This tally included a hat-trick in a 3–0 win over Sunderland at Portman Road on 2 September. He hit nine goals in 17 appearances in 1996–97 but did not feature after picking up an injury in October. Mathie scored 16 goals in 45 games in the 1997–98 season, and hit a hat-trick in a 5–0 win over rivalsNorwich City on 21 February.[9] The "Tractor Boys" reached the play-offs, but were beaten over two legs by Charlton Athletic. Mathie scored twice in the opening ten games of the 1998–99 season before he was sold on to Paul Sturrock's Dundee United for around £700,000 in October 1998.
Dundee United
He replaced the outgoing Robbie Winters, who had moved on to Aberdeen for around the same fee (plus Billy Dodds) a few weeks previously. Mathie scored just two goals in 28 games in the 1998–99 season and ended the season on the transfer list.[10] He was loaned out to Preston North End for the early part of the 1999–2000 season. He scored four goals in 18 league and cup games during a three-month stay at Deepdale. ManagerDavid Moyes went on to lead the "Lillywhites" to the Second Division title at the end of the campaign.
After returning to Dundee United, Mathie scored his first goal and only at Tannadice Park on 30 January 2000, in a 4–1 defeat of Airdrieonians in the Scottish Cup. As United's No. 9 he hit the net four times in seventeen games that season, though this still left him fifth in the club's scoring charts. He played four games of the 2000–01 season; a 2–1 defeat to Celtic,[11] 3–0 loss at Hibernian,[12] 1–1 draw with Motherwell[13] and 2–1 defeat by St Johnstone.[14] He left the SPL in September 2000 after being released by new boss Alex Smith.[15] Chairman Jim McLean later said that Mathie was "a complete disaster... a dreadful buy".[16] Mathie in turn said that McLean's resignation "could be the best thing ever to happen to United", and that captainJason de Vos could not be trusted, and also bemoaned the influx of foreign players at Tannadice.[17]
In July 2008, Mathie began working for BBC Radio Suffolk to provide match commentary and analysis for former side Ipswich, joining former players such as Bryan Hamilton and John Wark.[19] Mathie has also played football for charity in his retirement.[20][21] He later worked for Royal Mail, as a delivery office manager in the York and Leeds area.[22]