Year: 2016

Surrey Youth Cup
Sheen Lions 0-5 Merton FC
On a cold sunny Sunday morning we arrived at Sheen Lions ground. Before the match we had no referee, but luckily their assistant manager agreed to step up to the challenge so game on.
An excellent performance by all the team. We looked well organised and hungry for the win. We were all in a positive frame of mind, after last weeks win.
The tactics from Steve were to play 1 & 2 touch passing and press them. We pressed them hard and had one or two opportunities on goal before Justin’s goal arrived.
We continued to press the other side, showing quick good passing and communicating well with each other. It wasn’t long before Marcus used his pace and skill to score our second goal. Sheen Lions were hungry for a goal but our defence stood strong to get challenge.
Our third goal came from our striker Marcus, from a deflection of a Sheen Lions player. But a well deserved goal all the same.
Our calm tactical passing continued leading to our fourth goal my first for Merton FC. Evan passed me the ball, passing on d player I put the ball into the top left hand corner.
With the first half whistle being blown shortly after.
Steve half time talk was to keep passing and work hard as a team.
Second half started. Sheen Lions started with a more aggressive pace looking for their first goal. We continued to pass effectively and kept up the pressure. It was a half that our defenders were made to work hard, but stood up the pressure well. Justin scored his second goal of the match from out of the area striking the top left corner. The score ended up 5-0.
Great match lets move onto the next round.

MOM Freeeeeedie.

Match report from Hugo (right wing)

Todays Results
1s lost in the 1st round of the AFA senior cup to Old Carthusians. Great venue and a very good side final score 4-1 flattered them and they were not hindered by some poor reffing.
2s I hope kick-started their season with a 4-1 home league win against Old Blues. Lofty scored a cracker by all accounts.
3s had a cracking win 3-2 at Old Owens.
4s lost 2-1 at Bank of England the victim of two gutting late goals.
5s won 3-1 against HSBC, another cracking result.
6s also had a great win at Old Alleyns 5-4.
The 7s lost their first league game heavily to Carshalton 6s.
(pics from 1s game at Charterhouse) (Bad news were thefts from changing rooms at the Hood) On the whole a good day and a few guys back in the bar to commiserate with 1s on their return.

[Show slideshow]

NAME: Will Low

TEAM: 1^st XI

POSITION: CM, DCM, RB, LB, RM…

BIRTH DATE: 06/12/1985

BIRTH PLACE: Shrewsbury

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Bridgnorth Town, Shrewsbury Town, Star Aluminum, Horsforth Fairweather

Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?
I work at Lord’s doing tech projects which combines the two things I’m most interested in, sport and technology. I’d describe myself in 3 words as quiet, laidback, reliable.

How did you end up at Merton FC?
I found the club on Gumtree while looking for a team when I moved to London. I checked out 2 teams, the first had 5 turn up for training while Merton had about 50 so I stuck with them.

What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
Getting promotion to Division 1 in 2014

If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?
Wolves, I support them.

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
Arrive early to get a medium sized shirt.

Lastly, share us your goals/expectations for the season.
Promotion back to Division 1

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton, or in professional football): Kevin De Bruyne

Childhood Team: Wolves

Favourite team in the UK: Wolves

Favourite team outside the UK: Dortmund

Childhood Hero: Ryan Giggs

Favourite Food: Pepperoni Pizza

Favourite Drink: Neck Oil IPA

Favourite Band: Oasis

NAME: Malcolm Kandulu or Kandula according to Mike

TEAM: 6’s

POSITION: midfielder

BIRTH DATE: 01/12/87

BIRTH PLACE: Blantyre, Malawi

PREVIOUS CLUBS: roundshow colts

Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?
I am simple with my days,  try to make it through work and socialise as much possible. A bit of gym, run a basketball Club, I am passionate about music, I produce, rap, sing and write

How did you end up at Merton FC?
A friend of mind Paolo suggested coming to gain fitness, loved the people and stayed.

What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
First goal at pre season. I remember walking on the pitch hanging as hell!!

If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?
Sutton United, it’s my local pro you team. I’d be honoured to

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
Yes I go to the pub for a full English with kieran

Lastly, share us your goals/expectations for the season?
Try to keep fit to cover most of the season, get in some extra goals as well.

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton, or in professional football):

Childhood Team:

Favourite team in the UK: Arsenal

Favourite team outside the UK: Italian squad if it counts

Childhood Hero: Roberto Baggio

Favourite Food: oriental

Favourite Drink: whiskey

Favourite Band: Jay Z

NAME: Dan Bridgeman

TEAM: 2s/3s Super Squad

POSITION: GK

BIRTH DATE: 17 August 1992

BIRTH PLACE: London

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Barnes Eagles, Mole Valley Predators, Sussex Uni 1s

Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?

I’m 24 going on 40 (apparently) and work in tax (no not for HMRC). Boring stuff aside enjoy pretty much anything sport related and generally just having a laugh with mates. At any given time outside of working hours the most likely place you’ll find me is on the golf course.  

How did you end up at Merton FC?

I graduated from Uni in 2013, moved home and after a couple of years out whilst studying professional exams I was looking for a club to get back in to the game with that didn’t take themselves too seriously. Having been down for a few months now, I’m fairly comfortable Merton fits the bill.

What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
I’d say probably my penalty save in the first game of the season, but mainly because it was purely down to the mind games I played on the striker psyching him out rather than it having any impact on the result.

If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?
Probably a bit of a left field choice, but I’d have to say the European Ryder Cup team. I’m crazy in to golf and I just don’t think there is another sporting event like the Ryder Cup. Plus I’d love to stick it to those Yanks, especially Patrick Reed!

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
I used to have a lucky undershirt as a kid up until I finished Uni (though I don’t wear it anymore), but looking back I think it only stayed lucky because I only wore it when I thought we were going to win because I didn’t want to lose the luckiness. These days though, the closest thing to a ritual is calling my dad for a match report post game and then ordering a curry.

Lastly, share us your goals/expectations for the season.
Really, I’m just looking to have some fun and get back in to football this year, I’m not putting any pressure on myself or the team, but it would be nice to avoid relegation given I think we were promoted last season with the 3s. From a personal perspective it’d nice to maintain my penalty save ratio at or above 50% where it is now too (shoot-outs don’t count!).

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton, or in professional football):

Childhood Team: Supported Chelsea, played for Barnes Eagles

Favourite team in the UK: Chelsea

Favourite team outside the UK: Seattle Seahawks

Childhood Hero: Gianfranco Zola

Favourite Food: Beef Wellington

Favourite Drink: Sober – tea, drunk – Jaeger Bombs apparently!

Favourite Band: Oasis

NAME: Mike Stone

TEAM: 2s/3s supersquad

POSITION: CM/CB

BIRTH DATE: 15/10/91

BIRTH PLACE: Aldershot

PREVIOUS CLUBS: distinctly average youth teams

Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?
I work in Digital Marketing on Personalised Videos. Outside of work my hobbies include disco dance, sunbathing and ping pong.

How did you end up at Merton FC?
Clappers scouted me on the pitch at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium (true story) and the rest, as they say, is history

What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
Having my first Merton goal stolen from me on the line by Tom Benham. He finished club top goalscorer last year, I wonder how…

If you could play for a professional team,which would be it and why?
Portsmouth- boyhood team

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
None as good as Mustard’s.

Lastly, share us your goals/expectations for the season.

I’m part of the 2s/3s supersquad which has enough quality in it to challenge for the league(s). Would probably count 2s out of the cup for now though

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton, or in professional football): Rashford

Childhood Team: Portsmouth

Favourite team in the UK: Portsmouth

Favourite team outside the UK: BambinI FC 

Childhood Hero: Steven Gerrard

Favourite Food: Roast

Favourite Drink: Badger’s Fursty Ferret

Favourite Band: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?
Outside of the club I have been a Policeman for 27 years and a dog handler for 16. (Don’t worry I am always off duty where football is concerned) I had the honour of being awarded National Police Action Dog Team of the Year last year so must be ok at my job. I also run a dog training, walking, sitting business Surrey K9 Training (Thanks for the free advertising) I am very busy with work but still arrange things to get down to football almost every week. Advice to youngsters play as long as you can because you will miss it when you get old like me! 

How did you end up at Merton FC?
I started at Merton as the team I played for folded, I still played Mid-week and decided to take up refereeing. I answered an advert for a club referee and started reffing Merton teams every week. I missed playing at the weekend and realised that the standard was still one I felt I had something to offer at (i know opinions will vary on that one!) Joined up and the rest is history 7 years later I have played for 4’s , 5’s and 6’s currently on loan from 6’s to 5’s!

What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
Best moment at Merton was walking out on the pitch in the same team as my son Ryan making his debut at 16 (ish) couldn’t have been a prouder moment and I am in awe of the fantastic young man and player he has become (much better than me and I take no credit for that) 

If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?
If I could play for any team obviously the mighty SPURS would be up there (I’m used to disappointment) but I would have to say England! I would belt out the anthem and wear the shirt with pride and passion in the mould of Stuart Pearce or Terry Butcher not the prima donnas who think they are bigger than they are nowadays. Rant over!

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
Pre-match routine got to be the pre-match dump! Remove excess body weight and avoid those embarrassing skid marks !

Lastly, share us your goals/expectations for the season.
Now I seem to be on permanent loan to the fives my hope for the season is that the team continue in the rich vein of form and team spirit we have and go on to win the league!

RAPID FIRE

Player of the season (at Merton, or in professional football): Merton – Ryan Burchell 

Childhood Team: Spurs unless you count I played for Hales Hornets in little league! 

Favourite team in the UK: The mighty Spurs

Favourite team outside the UK: Barcelona (been to the stadium great set up) 

Childhood Hero: x men (cartoon version) 

Favourite Food: steak extremely well done yum 

Favourite Drink: used to be Becks lager now a nice speckled hen ! 

Favourite Band: The script but love all sorts of music ! 

After a 0-0 draw to EBOG last week at the Hood, the Merton men donned their yellow kits again at the Hood for a match up against HSBC, who were promoted last year from the Senior 3 division. Most of the Merton men arrived to the Hood at 12:45 sharp for their first 2pm kickoff of the season. The team welcomed back veteran defender Rat, who had been injured in the first game of the season. Vanny, still side-lined with a lingering hamstring injury, led the warmups and locker-room banter. He informed the team of HSBC’s recent form, stating incorrectly that HSBC had defeated EBOG by two goals, knowing all too well that this would psyche the guys up after last week’s draw to EBOG.
Before kickoff, a minute of silence was held to remember the tragic death of Nick Papanastasiou, who was a beloved Merton player and friend. Both teams stood opposite each other at the center circle for a minute of reflection. The Merton players wore black bands around their right arms as tribute to Nick and his loss to the club.
Merton had the first chance of the game as young James, making his first start for the 1s at left wing, (hopefully first of many) found himself on goal early after crossing up the HSBC right back inside their penalty box. Despite a solid look at the goal, HSBC’s keeper made a diving save on James’ shot. This was Merton’s best chance of the first half and one of the best of the match.
Both teams played extremely physical football and neither took a clear advantage early. The ball was in the air more than either would have liked, but Merton’s strong midfield trio of Tilly, Woody, and Will Low, won a majority of these aerial contests. However, the team lacked composure early and fiddled away a number of would be chances that could have turned the game Merton’s way.
HSBC overcompensated for their inferior skill with physical play and tried to rattle the Merton side with a bit of trash talking. The trash talking started out quite benign, but later in the first half after a clean tackle by Chaz in Merton’s box on a frail number 9, the trash talking escalated quickly to ugly exchanges of words, late tackles, and face-to-face square offs. Unfortunately, this made an already sloppy match, sloppier and resulted in a number of skirmishes, which culminated in Kearnsey’s red card around the 80th minute. He will miss three matches.
Despite a disappointing result for Merton, in which the team could not capitalise on its chances, there were a number of bright spots. Merton was close to scoring on several occasions. In the second half, Chaz sailed a squarely hit header just wide right off of a corner and Charlie, in typical solid form, had a number of shots on goal, most notably, a volley that was saved by their keeper. Els, a late substitution for right wing Milo, gave the team a much needed spark off the bench and demonstrated his speed and skill on the ball by running around defenders and nearly taking it to the house a few times. Manny and Brauner came off the bench in the second half for James and a gimpy Rat, respectively, and kept Merton fresh. The team will follow up on Rat’s injury after training on Wednesday.
In spite of the match’s poor standard of play, the defence held strong and limited HSBC to just a handful of chances. Per usual Siri was stellar, though not needed nearly as often as in the past two matches. Siri did make his presence known in the first half with a diving stop of an HSBC header from the six yard box off of a free kick from a few yards outside of the top right of the 18-yard box.
In the past three matches, Merton’s defence, led by Siri, have held the opposition to just one goal. Even with the team’s defensive effort, Merton has been held scoreless in those three matches and has managed just two points to show for it. With some offensive fire power in Vanny returning shortly from injury and hopefully Tom Rowe later in the season, the team should make for a formidable foe and a tough team to face in league play.
Through six games, Merton sits 5th in the table with 9 points, only two points behind HSBC, who are 2nd with a game in hand. This would have been a huge victory that would have catapulted Merton to 2nd in the table. Merton was the better side and will be ready for HSBC next time.
Next week Merton heads south to the Charterhouse School for a second round AFA cup matchup against Old Carthusians, who play in the Arthurian League and are one of only a few English clubs to win both the FA cup and Amateur Cup. There is no doubt that Merton will be up for this one.
TEAM: Siri (GK), Kearnsey, Chaz, Clappers, Rat, Will Low, Tills, Woody, Milo, Charlie, James Laughton
SUBS: Brauner, Els, Manny
MAN OF THE MATCH: Will Low was voted man of the match for his dominating performance
in the middle
DICK OF THE DAY: Kearnsey’s red card earned him dick of the day, despite 4 votes for Vanny.

NAME: Ram Mahbubani

TEAM: 6s

POSITION: LEFT BACK, RIGHT BACK, CENTRE MIDFIELD

BIRTH DATE: 02/02/1975

BIRTH PLACE: MIDDLESEX

PREVIOUS CLUBS: WINCHMORE HILL, ALEXANDRA PARK

Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?

I am a Graphic Designer working for a publishing company in North London specialising in the maritime industry. You may not know, but I also put together the Merton Way every week. If you read ‘Ram’s Heads Up’ then you might have drawn your own conclusions as to what kind of person I am, but I’m just a down to earth bloke who enjoys a good laugh but likes doing things against the norm.

How did you end up at Merton FC?

I was looking for a club near Sutton as my girlfriend lives down there as the travelling after football/cricket from North London on a Saturday evening was tiresome and long. So now I find myself travelling down on a Saturday morning from Wembley.

What was your best moment in your Merton FC career till now?

Not many memorable ones, that’s the problem when you play consistently well each week. Seriously, I would have to say first goal for the club against Civil Service. A left foot volley from the edge of the box with the goalkeeper nowhere near it.

If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?

FC Barcelona, my second team. To play that kind of football every week and in the Nou Camp would be a dream.

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

To make sure I have atleast one shot at goal, otherwise I don’t get many chances during the game.

Lastly, share us your goals/expectations for the season.

To have a winning season with the sixes. That means win more than we lose! Also to be competitive in all our matches.

RAPID FIRE

Player of the season (so far): Heung-Min Son

Childhood Team: Tottenham Hotspur

Favourite team in the UK: Tottenham Hotspur

Favourite team outside the UK: FC Barcelona

Childhood Hero: Glenn Hoddle

Favourite Food: Girlfriend’s stews/casseroles

Favourite Drink: Single Malt Whisky on the rocks

Favourite Band: The Roots