Category: Player Profiles

NAME: Niall Kelly

TEAM: Merton 7’s

POSITION: Striker

BIRTH DATE: 07/08/1998

BIRTH PLACE: Kingston upon Thames

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Dewalt Dynamos (what a team!)

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

 Football Coach and student,  i’m a positive and hardworking person. Football mad

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?

 I’ve known Billy and Dave Golding for most of my life. Played in their teams most my life as well.

3. What do you like most about Merton FC?

 I like how relaxed everyone is but at the same time everyone still wants to win. Like the competitive spirit.

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

England! There would be nothing better than playing for your country.

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

 My socks and sleeves always stay down during the warm up and just before kick off I pull them up. Been doing it as long as I can remember.

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

 hopefully finish at a decent position in the league

RAPID FIRE:

Favourite Player (at Merton, or in professional football):  Wayne Rooney

Childhood Team: Manchester United

Favourite team in the UK: Manchester United

Favourite team outside the UK: Real Madrid

Childhood Hero: Sir Alex Ferguson

Favourite Food: Tuna Pasta Sweetcorn

Favourite Drink: Irn Bru

Favourite Band: Westlife

NAME: Akram ‘(the real) Akkers’ Choudhury

TEAM: Merton FC 4s

POSITION: Centre Mid

BIRTH DATE: 05/12/90 (26 yo)

BIRTH PLACE: Hackney, London

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Loughborough United and SLFN

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

Graduated in 2012 with an Economics degree from Loughborough Uni, volunteered for a charity working with kids and then became a qualified maths teacher. After 4 years of managing ‘tough’ teenage pupils, I sold out and recently joined a ‘cushty’ private secondary school.

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?

I joined last Xmas after Phil Truman told me he was going to, but then he didn’t because he was too busy training for the London marathon! We’re both at Merton now anyway 🙂

3. What do you like most about Merton FC?

 Plenty of squads to suit most abilities and easy to join and get involved with socials. And everyone is pretty friendly 

4. If you could play for a professional team,

which would be it and why?

 Manchester United because I grew up near Arsenal so it only makes sense to support their rivals…

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

 Not really, just make sure the bowels are clear.

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

 Promotion with the 4s, maybe even clinch the title. Got a £10 bet with Sonny to score more goals than him so 2 should be enough. Couple of assists and clean sheets would be nice.

RAPID FIRE:

Favourite Player (at Merton, or in professional football): Sonny because he’s the only player in 4s (excluding defenders) who tracks back!

Childhood Team: Possibly Newcastle due to Shearer.

Favourite team in the UK: Man Utd

Favourite team outside the UK: Real Madrid

Childhood Hero: David Beckham

Favourite Food: Burgers, cakes, carby Italian dishes

Favourite Drink: Coffee

Favourite Band: Whatever is on Spotify’s playlists but I do like Odesza.

NAME: Sam Pritchard

TEAM: 1s

POSITION: CM

BIRTH DATE: 24/08/1990

BIRTH PLACE: Gloucester

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Abbeymead Rovers

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

I work as a web developer for a FX company, and a part-time horse racing bookie. Would describe myself as a easy-going guy who likes to go away most weekends (sorry Clappers).

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?

Saw a Facebook ad, and much preferred the training compared to the other teams I tried out. Dragged Adam Crawshaw down with me who cemented the decision.

3. What do you like most about Merton FC?

Everyone is genuinely very friendly, and don’t take everything too seriously. If you can’t laugh about travelling 2 hours to North London and losing 1-0, you’re only going to cry!

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

 Liverpool, boyhood club. Or Forest Green Rovers – worlds only vegan club 

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

 Nope.

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

 Personally, aiming for playing on two consecutive weekends. As a team, think the 1s should be aiming for top 4 finish.

RAPID FIRE:

Favourite Player (at Merton, or in professional football): Merton – Adam Crawshaw, Professionally – Luis Suarez

Childhood Team: Liverpool

Favourite team in the UK: Liverpool

Favourite team outside the UK: Bogota

Childhood Hero: Hunter from Gladiators

Favourite Food: Risotto

Favourite Drink: Any IPA

Favourite Band:  Kasabian

NAME: Andy Williams

NAME: Nick Englefield

TEAM: Merton 6s

POSITION: Forward

BIRTH DATE: 12/08/1987

BIRTH PLACE: Kingston

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Ashtead, Merton, Raynes Park, Tooting and Mitcham Wanderers

I’m a General Manager of a Leisure Centre in Merton so I spend most of my time in and around gyms, so I have to keep active, I workout every day and do the odd triathlon. When I have time I go fishing and would go a lot more if I could, in fact the thought of sitting by a lake for the rest of my life, getting fat on fried food and catching the odd fish sounds idyllic, but unfortunately that won’t pay the bills and I’d probably be horrendous at football.

I had all but retired from football , and ready to spend my weekends fishing when I was asked by Kev and Ty to come back down to Merton and play with the 6s and I’m glad I did. They are a great bunch of lads and we have started off the season on a high, I have a couple of goals under my belt and enjoying every minute of it.

I like the size of the club and the fact that all the teams seem to really get on well with each other. You can always see a few of the lads from the other teams watching from the sidelines cheering each other on. Post match food is always good to.

Manchester United I guess, I think every lad would want to play for the team he supports.

I always have a pre workout drink during the warm up, I don’t think it’s a ritual, more an attempt to make sure I have enough in the tank to try and keep up with the young lads sprinting up and down the wings every 10 seconds throughout the match.

I want to win the league and I want the 6s to have the top goal scorers this season (meaning me) but Tony Chaplin is well ahead at the moment. He will say that its not a competition, but he would, he’s winning. 

RAPID FIRE:

Favourite Player (at Merton, or in professional football): Swanny, deceptively cat like.

Childhood Team: Manchester United / Kingstonian

Favourite team in the UK: Manchester United

Favourite team outside the UK: AC Milan

Childhood Hero: Eric Cantona

Favourite Food: Sausages

Favourite Drink: Beer

Favourite Band: Not sure, I’m a big fan of Smooth Radio

NAME: James Gray

TEAM: 1s

POSITION: DM or utility Centre Half

BIRTH DATE: 07/01/1993

BIRTH PLACE: Grimsby

PREVIOUS CLUBS: East Grinstead

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

 Jobwise, I work in software sales managing our UK & Irish markets.

Outside of work I do all the standard things a single bloke in his 20s does. Drink fairly often, usually not without incident, losing my wallet on quiz night case in point and obviously watch bake off.

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?

 Knew Chaz through a friend of a friend

3. What do you like most about Merton FC?

Love how well run the club is from top down with the events etc. Plus the lads have been welcoming and each week is a good laugh.

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

 Got to be Manchester United. Always been a livelong fan and grown up watching them win everything.

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

 I have a few with no real reasoning behind any of them. Always smack my feet on the ground when I first put my boots on. Try to wear the number 6 if I’m wearing Adidas boots or playing CB and 8 if I’ve got Nike boots

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

 I think it would be a massive disappointment with our squad if we didn’t come close to promotion. Also, be great to go on a cup run and play a final at a pro ground where I score a 40-yard worldie.  

RAPID FIRE:

Favourite Player (at Merton, or in professional football): Paul Scholes

Childhood Team: Manchester United

Favourite team outside the UK: Real Madrid. Playing at the Bernabeu would be class

Childhood Hero: David Beckham

Favourite Food: Ice Cream

Favourite Drink: Pint of Moretti

Favourite Band: Mumford & Sons

NAME: Dom Preee

TEAM: 2nds

POSITION: Centre Mid 

BIRTH DATE: 19 03 1990

BIRTH PLACE: Petersfield, Hampshire 

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Petersfield Town, South Harting 

1. Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?
Pretty standard 27 year old – I seem to spend a lot more time working than I do enjoying life.

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?
I am a good friend of Oli Ross. He recommended I attended pre-season and the rest is history.

3. What do you like most about Merton FC?
Never felt intimidated when I first arrived unlike at other teams who were dominated with big egos. Everyone is given a chance to prove themselves.

4. If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?
Newcastle. Childhood fan. I think I would have had a decent partnership with Alan Shearer 

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

 Not really, no.

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

 To become a consistent starter for the seconds and aim for a promotion. 

RAPID FIRE:

Favourite Player (at Merton, or in professional football): Pavel Nedved. Great hair and unreal with both feet

Childhood Team: Newcastle 

Favourite team in the UK: Newcastle 

Favourite team outside the UK: AC Milan

Childhood Hero: Shearer

Favourite Food: Italian cuisine in general

Favourite Drink: Rum and ginger beer

Favourite Band: don’t really have a favourite. Five were pretty decent back in the day

NAME: Luke-Diego Mora

TEAM: 3s

POSITION: CM/RW

BIRTH DATE: 21/10/1997

BIRTH PLACE: Croydon

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Mitcham Park, Genesis, Banstead Town, FC Predators

1. Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself? 
   I’m a quiet guy, like to spend time with friends and family, like to travel a lot and try new things.
2. How did you end up at Merton FC?
   A friend who I played for Mitcham Park with (Mario) asked if I wanted to come down to training and from there I started playing!
3. What do you like most about Merton FC?
   The organisation of the club is the main thing, also they are a nice bunch of lads and easy to get along with.
4. If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?

Arsenal, my childhood team and just love the way they play.

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
   I wear socks under my socks, shorts under my shorts and wear a top under my top! Always have done.
6. Lastly, share us your goals/expectations for the season.

Hopefully to find a regular starting place and most of all gain promotion

RAPID FIRE:

Favourite Player (at Merton, or in professional football): Thierry Henry/Ronaldinho

Childhood Team: Arsenal

Favourite team in the UK: Arsenal

Favourite team outside the UK: Linense Balompedica (local Spanish team)

Childhood Hero: Ronaldinho

Favourite Food: Paella, or spaghetti and meatballs

Favourite Drink: Fanta

Favourite Band: –

NAME: Harrison Ryle

TEAM: 1^st Team (so far)

POSITION: Centre Back

BIRTH DATE: 11^th March 1993

BIRTH PLACE: Wrexham

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Reading YMCA, Hawarden Rangers, Halkyn United, plus several more in my younger days!

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

 I manage a team of recruiters (yeah, I’m one of those people) for a company called Pareto Law. Aside from that I’m a fairly standard 24 year-old: I spend most of my weekends when I’m not playing football out in South West London or relaxing in my house.

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?

 I knew Chaz through a mutual friend and had been looking for a team ever since I moved to London about 18 months ago.

3. What do you like most about Merton FC?

 The location was pretty handy (I live in Mitcham)! Mostly though it was the welcoming atmosphere at the club and the potential to play with a group of lads similar to myself.

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

 Has to be Liverpool – they’re my boyhood team and I’m not sure I’d be that much worse than the current back 4.

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

 None whatsoever. I’ve played terrible enough times regardless of whether I put my left or right sock on first.

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

 To play as many games as possible, keep a shed load of clean sheets and maybe bag a goal or two if I’m lucky.

RAPID FIRE:

Favourite Player (at Merton, or in professional football): Sadio Mane  

Childhood Team: Liverpool FC

Favourite team in the UK: Liverpool FC

Favourite team outside the UK: Portland Timbers – went to a game when I was in the US for a couple of months and the atmosphere was unreal.

Childhood Hero: It’s a boring answer but growing up a Liverpool fan it’s pretty hard to not choose Steven Gerrard.

Favourite Food: Burritos

Favourite Drink: Alcohol wise probably Tyskie; if we’re talking just a standard drink then get me a can of Sprite.

Favourite Band: Arctic Monkeys