Year: 2015

Calling all goal keepers – worth your weight in gold in modern Saturday football – Come and join a great club with great traditions and history – managers here will shower you with reward for joining us

TODAYS results. Tills goal and a clean sheet gives our 1s a valuable home win against Old Finchleans. 3 much needed points as our results continue to improve.

2s game off .

3s have a great win at St. James Old boys 4-2 in the League. On a terrible flooded, tiny pitch 3s went 1-0 up through Denys, should’ve been 3 or 4. Conceded two after half time and then after some excellent changes by Lofty rallied to win deservedly through goals from DQ, Dan K and Tom. Arturs was captain for his last game for the club. Good luck in the future ‘keeps!!!.

4s lose to Economicals.

5s  lost 6-2 to Ally Pally 6s. Another slow start cost us the game as we clawed a few back and stepped the performance up. We carry on!!

6s draw at home 3-3 with BOE coming from 2-0 and 3-1 down to take a great point – all 3 goals from defenders – Captain Kev, Chappell and the equaliser from the mighty Quinlan.

TEAM: Currently 6th however have played for every team from 1st to 8ths and Vets
POSITION: Have boots will travel
BIRTH DATE: 24.08.1961
BIRTH PLACE: Clapham
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Only Merton on a Saturday playing since 1978

1. TELL US WHO IS MARTIN OUTSIDE OF THE CLUB. WHAT DO YOU DO,
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Training hard to keep playing for along as possible and to do other sports X-country when games are called
off. In the summer have do Track & Field athletic’s, Aussie Rules football and now Triathlons. I do enjoy a drink
at the weekend!!

2. HOW DID YOU END UP AT MERTON FC?
Dad joined in 1959 after leaving Pearl FC. I have been with Merton man & boy

3. WHAT WAS YOUR BEST MOMENT IN YOUR MFC CAREER TILL NOW?
There are 3 that jump out:
1984: 4th team v Old Stationers in the cup Home win 4-3 AET with 30 mins left we were 3-0 down
2001: 4th team v Nottsborough, home league win 2-1 – Man of the Match performance
(John Gridley was in Goal)
200: 7th team v Kew 9ths, home League win 7-6 coming back to score 2 including the winner before rolling
subs, opps agreed because of an injury on an Easter Saturday
There were also the land marks of 600, 700 & 800 games along with all 270 goals.
Worst: Breaking my cheekbone playing for the 4th team at home (2 months after the Nottsborough game)
800 NOT OUT

4. CAN YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST GAME?
It was along time ago in 1978. It was a pre-season friendly against Old Workingians for the 7th team followed
by home can game against Crouch End Vampires. The first game I remember is for 3rd team away against Old
Latymerians on the Saturday between Christmas & New Year 1978

5. IF YOU COULD PLAY FOR A PROFESSIONAL TEAM, WHICH WOULD BE IT AND WHY?
Wimbledon FC in their day, playing the way Merton played.

6. DO YOU HAVE ANY PRE-MATCH RITUALS OR SUPERSTITIONS?
Stretching & Strides (Shaving after the match)

7. LASTLY, SHARE US YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.
Early days and after slow start in the Cup games we look like the 6th team could have a good season ahead.
It certainly looks like it’s going to be good fun.

QUICK FIRE

PLAYER OF THE SEASON SO FAR (PREMIER
LEAGUE OR ANY LEAGUE): Riyad Mahrez
CHILDHOOD TEAM: Manchester United
FAVOURITE TEAM OUTSIDE THE UK: Barcelona
CHILDHOOD HERO: Daley Thompson
FAVOURITE FOOD: Italian
FAVOURITE DRINK: London Pride
FAVOURITE BAND: Status Quo

TEAM: 5th Team
POSITION: Right Back
BIRTH DATE: 13.03.86
BIRTH PLACE: Enfield
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Potters Bar Utd, Crouch End Vampires

1. TELL US WHO IS WILL OUTSIDE OF THE CLUB. WHAT DO YOU DO,
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? I work in advertising which is a lot more interesting then it
sounds. Outside of work love going out with my mates and spending time with the family (especially my
niece). In general I’m a laid back guy who doesn’t take himself or life too seriously.

2. HOW DID YOU END UP AT MERTON FC? I moved down from North London and a friend told me about
Merton, (he had played against them before) so I turned up to pre season training and the rest is history.

3. WHAT WAS YOUR BEST MOMENT IN YOUR MFC CAREER TILL NOW? Haven’t been too many to shout
about but my second season at Merton was a good one. I was playing for the 6’s and we had a great team.
Finished near the top of the league and had a good run in the cup.

4. CAN YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST GAME? It was a pre season friendly (not sure who against) and I
started up front. Didn’t take them long to realise that my best position was a lot further back.

5. IF YOU COULD PLAY FOR A PROFESSIONAL TEAM, WHICH WOULD BE IT AND WHY?
The mighty Arsenal. Supported them as a boy, it was always my dream to play for them.

6. DO YOU HAVE ANY PRE-MATCH RITUALS OR SUPERSTITIONS? Just the 7 or 8 pints the night before

7. LASTLY, SHARE US YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON. We’ve got a fairly new team
and results haven’t been great so far. Would be good for us to gel as a team, play some attractive football and
win as many games as possible between now and the end of the season.

QUICK FIRE

PLAYER OF THE SEASON SO FAR (PREMIER LEAGUE OR ANY LEAGUE): Jamie Vardy
CHILDHOOD TEAM: Arsenal
FAVOURITE TEAM OUTSIDE THE UK: Real Madrid
CHILDHOOD HERO: Ian Wright
FAVOURITE FOOD: Steak & Chips
FAVOURITE DRINK: Beer
FAVOURITE BAND: Blink 182

TEAM: 1st Team
POSITION: Left Back/Left Wing
BIRTH DATE: 24.03.86
BIRTH PLACE: Washington, D.C.
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Norfolk, Virginia USA and OAS

1. TELL US WHO IS WILL OUTSIDE OF THE CLUB. WHAT DO YOU DO,
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
I am an American, management consultant who works for FTI Consulting. I moved to London in July of this
year for work and plan to stay here for several years.

2. HOW DID YOU END UP AT MERTON FC?
I was playing in a pickup game after work in Battersea and met Ivan Gladkow, who asked me to join the club.

3. WHAT WAS YOUR BEST MOMENT IN YOUR MFC CAREER TILL NOW?
My best moment so far was getting the assist to Ivan Gladkow on the equalising goal against Old Esthameians.

4. CAN YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST GAME?
Yes, my first game with Merton was the first game this season against EBOG FC.

5. IF YOU COULD PLAY FOR A PROFESSIONAL TEAM, WHICH WOULD BE IT AND WHY?
I’d play for Chelsea because I support them and live closest to them.

6. DO YOU HAVE ANY PRE-MATCH RITUALS OR SUPERSTITIONS?
I like to take as many cracks on goal as I can.

7. LASTLY, SHARE US YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.
I am excited to get to know the club and move the 1s up the league table

QUICK FIRE

PLAYER OF THE SEASON SO FAR (PREMIER LEAGUE OR ANY LEAGUE): Robert Lewandowski
CHILDHOOD TEAM: Pittsburgh Steelers
FAVOURITE TEAM OUTSIDE THE UK: DC United
CHILDHOOD HERO: Claudio Reyna
FAVOURITE FOOD: Peanut Butter
FAVOURITE DRINK: Bourbon
FAVOURITE BAND: Blink 182

Reserves report 31/10/15

Merton Res 1,   Polytechnic Res. 2   (H-T 1-1)

It was always going to be a difficult game as we knew Poly were a strong side currently topping our division. Although the scoreline looks close the win was decisive with Poly having the better of the game. From the start they settled better and had pace and movement upfront and through the middle with a solid defence. They were, as you would expect a well organised outfit. However with Paul Pearce and Joe Griiffin as centre backs and Eggy and Connor at full backs they found it difficult to break us down. They opened the scoring after 30 mins when a slightly dubiously awarded free kick was swung into the area and Sherbs, our keeper, lost it. 1-0 and I blame the parents. This actually galvanised us and we pressed but we did not seem to create much but a free kick of ours resulted in a push on Jase and Oli Ross stepped up and equalised from the spot. The events are caught conclusively and quite brilliantly by our improving resident camera man. . (H-T 1-1) The second half continued much as the first, although we had a good spell at the beginning of the second half but did not capitalise on it. Both sides found it difficult to penetrate and our defence was doing well under pressure but after about 70 mins a really good passing movement cross and finish resulted in Poly’s winning goal. It was a good game to watch and although the ref (Patrick Griffin) arrived late and compensated by leaving early and came in for affair amount of on field criticism I thought he did pretty well. Paul Pearce’s display at the back earned him the ‘Man most handsome’ award from Team Handsome and the dubious delight of taking Cherbs home for the week. Merton now need to get a consistent side out and dig in for some points. Poly looked a very good team and their club with their 1s top of Senior Div 1 are thriving which is good to see.

Ibis Eagles 4s vs. Merton 4s
SAL Minor Division 1 South
Saturday 31^st October 2015
by Mike Todt

Inspired. Committed. Sensational. If only a football match was 70 minutes long. It about summed things up for a Merton side who did so many things right on Saturday, but ultimately couldn’t get a much needed first league win of the campaign over the line.

A glorious autumnal day greeted the men from the Hood when they arrived at Riverside Sports Ground, and, other than an excess of leaves, the pitch was in good nick. The task at hand was to topple the 5th-placed Ibis Eagles, themselves having endured mixed form.

The manager Ed turned skipper for the day, and after consultation with Chris Dodd, concocted a midfield diamond formation that would largely work a treat. Mikey Elgar was at the base, with Dulanie and Jake on either side. The front three pitted Dom, Dan Plaistow and Elliott together, while the back four lined up with Scholesy and Ryan on each fullback, in addition to Joe and Saffer Mike in the middle.

The whistle blew, and as things got underway, it was clear that Ibis had a bit about them. They had quality on the ball and some pace upfront. But almost immediately too, it became clear that Merton were going to have the measure of them. Any attacks through the middle were snuffed out, and their subsequent attempts to play with width were easy pickings for the yellow defence.

Although the visitors had offered little in the way of attacking thrust, Ibis were quickly becoming frustrated by the brilliance of Mikey in midfield, and the tenacity of a relentless Dom, who was to have them rattled for much of the contest.

It thus came as little surprise when Dulanie drew first blood around 20 minutes in. The ball broke handily for him, but, left with a one-on-one with the advancing keeper, he still had plenty to do. However, the team’s leading scorer exuded pure class, clinically tucking it away in the bottom left corner. 1-0, and Merton had their foothold.

Heads were straight back on though. And a good thing too, as the hosts gave the lads a fright, as a Rory Delap-esque throw-in caught the defence off guard in the box. The Ibis striker’s attempted volley was woefully skied, but it was a warning shot to the defenders nonetheless, who’d actually had precious little to do until that point.

But the focus and intensity were still very much there. Jake was flying in and winning balls he had no right to, Dom was as pugnacious as ever, and Mikey was simply immense in midfield. And 5 minutes before the break, one became two. The build-up was good, with some fine interplay leading to a corner.

But the goal itself was sublime. Mikey put in a searching ball from a corner, which cleared almost everybody in the box. However, lurking ominously in behind was Dulanie, whose first-time volley was the picture of perfection. With barely a back lift, the ball flew off the sweet spot of his boot, leaving the hapless Ibis keeper with little to do except watch it fly into his net for a second time.

2-0 and Merton were buzzing. A visibly dispirited home side offered nothing in response for the remainder of the half, and the visitors went into the break buoyant, and more than good value for their lead. The talk was understandably positive, but not complacent either. The first 10 minutes of the second stanza were going to be crucial, and everyone felt it.

And so the lads came out with aplomb, gritty as ever, and refusing to give Ibis an inch. Everyone was in sync with each other, reading from the same hymn book, although once again it was the outstanding midfield leading the way. The defence, in fact, were largely bystanders in what was turning into an exhibition of counter-attacking football.

And 10 minutes into the second period, a third goal was to come. A superb through ball sent Elliott on his way, who like Dulanie earlier, found himself one on one with the keeper. And like Dulanie earlier, he too put his chance away as coolly as you could ask for. 3-0 it was now and a rampant Merton could have been forgiven for setting their sights on a rout.

The first order of business though, was to secure three points. Some enforced changes were necessary too with Dulanie going off, while Ryan, who had put in a fine shift while feeling under the weather, had to call it a day midway through the second half. But the subs were doing their bit too, particularly Dan Kelly and Chris; the latter selflessly starting himself on the bench despite being in good form. The work rate didn’t drop at all, Dom continued to get under the opponents’ skin, and the beleaguered Ibis outfit appeared to have no way back.

But just as thoughts may have been turning to celebratory jugs of beer, a lifeline arrived for the men in red with 20 minutes to go. Unsurprisingly, it came courtesy of the long throw; a teaser that unquestionably zeroed in on goal. And in the melee of heads and bodies, keeper Sam had been unfortunate enough to get a touch on it, meaning the bizarre goal ultimately stood, despite there being no contact from an opposing player.

3-1 it was, but heads didn’t drop. Put in perspective, the goal had come out of the blue, and Merton were straight back in to boss the midfield again. But a defining moment was to come 5 minutes later, with the magnificent Mikey forced to head off the park with an untimely calf cramp.

Such was the apparent dependence on his great work that the momentum of the game changed almost immediately. Merton were suddenly out of shape, and inviting waves of attack. And the second goal for Ibis followed not long after, albeit in fortuitous fashion. A speculative shot from 30 yards caught Sam slightly off his line, and agonisingly snuck its way into the top-left corner. 3-2.

And now an air of panic set in, as a team not well versed in closing games out were at risk of throwing points away. And with seven minutes to go, the unthinkable, but somewhat inevitable, equaliser came to pass. Again it was a long throw which did the job. Sam had done brilliantly to get a punch on it, but it would fall kindly to the Ibis striker, who then smashed a volley home from outside the box.

3-3. Istanbul. Crystanbul. Spin it however you like, but it was cruel on a brave Merton side, who’d left it all out there. They had come for three points, and this just wasn’t meant to be in the script. The heads had now well and truly dropped, although pulses were briefly set racing two minutes later, when Dan Kelly did some wonderful work to get himself clean through to a lobbed ball in behind the defence. Sadly, the bouncing ball spun awkwardly, and cleared his rapidly advancing self.

It was to be the last attack of any substance from Merton, and the final five minutes were all Ibis. The yellows really had to dig deep to hang on, and at the death, one of the Ibis strikers found himself in space 8 yards out. Thankfully, his shot flew into the side netting, and the ensuing goal kick would prove to be the last act of the game.

A gutted and deflated Merton team trudged off, wondering what could have been. But as ever, the togetherness remained. There were no recriminations, no fingers pointed, and no negativity. This had been a superb performance for three quarters of the match, and there were so many positives to be drawn from this encounter. Just a few tweaks, some more composure, and perhaps some self-belief, and this brave side will know that that elusive first league win – and many more – lie just around the corner.

FINAL SCORE: Ibis Eagles 4s 3 – 3 Merton 4s SCORER: Dulanie Richards (2), Elliott Phipps MOTM: Dulanie Richards & Mike Elgar

STARTING LINE-UP: Samuel Singer-Ripley (GK), Ryan Burchell (Chris Dodd), Mike Todt, Joe Plumridge, Edward Plaistow, Michael Elgar, Jake Hewitt, Dan Plaistow (Dan Kelly), Dulanie Richards (Arnold Collier), Dom Plumridge

Merton Football Club will be holding ‘That’s The Merton Quiz’

it’s first major event of the season on

SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2015

MERTON FC – QUIZ & CURRY NIGTH

A bit different this Sunday morning at the Hood. Firstly the fog and then we hosted Old Westminster Citz Vets v Old Woodhousians Vets in OLd Boys Cup. They lost 2-0 after holding out for most of the game. Our U14s put up a spirited performance but lost to St Helier. our U11s and U13s played one another and our U10s drew 5-5 to a premier U9 side. Shame fog never lifted. Good results all round and good in the bar after. Thanks Steve.

Merton Football Club Forgot to mention OWCs Vets meticulous preparation for the game included pre match briefing and a slug of port all pound. I think it was only when the port wore off that they conceded. Well played lads