Category: Player Profiles

NAME: Mario Del Prestito

TEAM: 3’s

POSITION: central midfield

BIRTH DATE: 02/12/1984

BIRTH PLACE: Milan, Italy

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Mitcham Park FC

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

i’m a real family/friends person who likes to spend time with those in front of a nice lunch/dinner with wines. Easy-going, love travelling and practise/watch sports.

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?

Just saw an ad on Facebook looking for new players so i’ve decided to have a go as my previous team was a little bit unorganised.

3. What do you like most about Merton FC?

Obviously, organization, structure and the camaraderie. Everything is really clear, and with committed people.

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

AC Milan as I’ve supported them since I was a child.

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

Yes i do as a good Italian. I always wear right sock, shinpad and boot first.

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

I think everyone should aim to win everything but I also wish to enjoy playing as I’ve done so far.

RAPID FIRE:

Favourite Player (at Merton, or in professional football): Andrea Pirlo

Childhood Team: AC Milan

Favourite team in the UK: Fulham FC

Favourite team outside the UK: AC Milan

Childhood Hero: Bud Spencer

Favourite Food: Pizza – very italian!!!!

Favourite Drink: Red Wine

Favourite Band: Queen

NAME: Anam Hassan

TEAM: 5s

POSITION: Centre Midfield

BIRTH DATE: 04/03/1989

BIRTH PLACE: London

PREVIOUS CLUBS: n/a

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

I work in a hospital calling up people to book appointments. It isn’t very interesting to talk about and I find people get bored quickly when they realise I’m not a doctor – which is awkward when I’m halfway through performing a prostate exam. Otherwise I would describe myself as mediocre at everything I put my hand to. On the pitch I see myself as a creative player, somebody who brings stability to the team through technique.

2. What was most memorable moment in your MFC career till now?

Ordinarily, scoring my first goal – for the 7s – would be my standout moment. However, it was my performance for the 5s two weeks later – where I grabbed an assist – which made me believe I could compete at a decent level.

3. What is your favourite quote?

I’m all about self-improvement and pushing myself so I tend to hark back to this boring quote attributed to Ernest Hemingway: “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”

4. Tell us something about yourself that most of us at the club probably aren’t aware of…

This is my first season playing 11-a-side..urm.. ever really, at the ripe old age of 28. Similarly hard to believe is that I’m also 28 years old. I’ve had to relearn a lot of stuff from when I was a kid, but at the same time, acquired extra wisdom watching all these years from the sidelines. 

5. Ask a friend for a reference and post their response of you – can be a family member, friend or teammate (E.G: “He’s a lovely boy” – Mom)

“My Anam is not a communist. He may be a liar, a pig, an idiot, a communist, but he is NOT a porn star.” – Dad

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

To cement my place in the starting lineup for the 5s. I’ve seen Tiago step up, which provides me inspiration because he did it despite strong competition in midfield. But to do that, I need to settle on the type of midfielder that I want to be; to play deeper or start higher up.

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton): Andy Bitmead

Favourite team in the UK: Arsenal

Favourite team outside the UK: FC Messi

Childhood hero: Ash Ketchum, then later, Cesc Fabregas

Favourite word: My English teacher used to always say I was ‘facetious’.

Favourite band: RnB or soul music. Marvin Gaye, Let’s Get it On is my favourite song.

Favourite food: The Chocolate

Dream job: Footballer or Music Producer

NAME:  Dwayne Bedford

TEAM:  Merton 5s

POSITION: Left Wing

BIRTH DATE: 27th December 1991

BIRTH PLACE: Kingston, Jamaica

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Void

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

The devil

2. What was most memorable moment in your MFC career till now?

my most memorable moment…hmmm probably my first game with merton, started on the bench and within 30 seconds our player ‘harry’ got red carded and gave away a penalty. I remember thinking wtf am i doing here

3. What is your favourite quote?

Information is not knowledge

4. Tell us something about yourself that most of us at the club probably aren’t aware of…

I never hold onto bad feelings, especially when it comes to football. once the match is over everything that happened on the pitch can stay there

5. Ask a friend for a reference and post their response of you – can be a family member, friend or teammate (E.G: “He’s a lovely boy” – Mom)
he really hates losing

6. Lastly, share with us your goals/expectations for the season…
promotion. no more no less

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton): Delman Babaker

Favourite team in the UK: Man Utd

Favourite team outside the UK: VOID

Childhood hero: my dad

Favourite word: can we swear? (if not probably idiot)

Favourite band: i don’t really listen to bands

Favourite food: oxtail & rice

Dream job: to never work

NAME: Jason Thomas

TEAM: 2s

POSITION: Centre Forward (occasional Centre Half)

BIRTH DATE: a while back

BIRTH PLACE: Kent

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Tynecastle Star (Edinburgh), FC La Sagne (Switzerland)

1. Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?  I’m a teacher of English to speakers of other languages and a part-time actor.

2. What was most memorable moment in your MFC career till now? “Playing” in 30 degree heat and totally hungover in Portugal and hallucinating that Woody scored from the halfway line.

3. What is your favourite quote? The lowest one

4. Tell us something about yourself that most of us at the club probably aren’t aware of… I have worked as a professional Santa for the last four Christmases

5. Ask a friend for a reference and post their response of you – can be a family member, friend or teammate (E.G: “He’s a lovely boy” – Mom)

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

Coming through unscathed

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton): Pearcey for the 2s

Favourite team in the UK: Norwich City

Favourite team outside the UK: Neuchatel Xamax

Childhood hero: Rupert the Bear

Favourite word: holidays

Favourite band: Crowded House

Favourite food: Indian

Dream job: Actor/Singer in the West End

NAME: Steve Harvey

TEAM: 5s

POSITION: CM

BIRTH DATE: 16/04/1988

BIRTH PLACE: London

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Southbank, Manor Park, Cheam

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

Outside the club I’m a self employed plumber who loves a drink and helping others to fulfill their drinking potential.

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?

Last year Scott Shew kept mentioning Mertons pre season so I thought I’d come down and see what it was like! Loved pre season, had such a laugh with the boys and enjoyed the orginisation. Haven’t looked back since!

3. What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?

Beating Actonians 5-2 before Christmas. We lost the first half 0-1 after a lackluster performance. We all got a serious bollocking at half time and we won the 2^nd half 5-1. Amazing closing down and play from the boys!

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

I’ve got to go with Real Madrid. The Santiago Bernabeu is a monster of a home ground and they play beautiful football with a killer instinct to cap it off!

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

No superstitions but pre match rituals are to get in the changing room with the lads, putting some loud music on, singing Dwayne happy birthday and roasting eachother!

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

Goals for this season are to help the 5s finish as high as possible. Every game is a cup final from here to secure promotion!

RAPID FIRE:

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

Merton- Delman(The White Kenyan) PL- Kante

Childhood Team: Chelsea

Favourite team in the UK: Chelsea

Favourite team outside the UK: Real Madrid

Childhood Hero: Gianfranco Zola!

Favourite Food: Chinese

Favourite Drink: Jaeger Bomb!

Favourite Band: Cant choose between Steps and Hear’Say

NAME: Daniel Rist

TEAM: Merton 3’s

POSITION: Right Back

BIRTH DATE: 30^th September

BIRTH PLACE: Royal Leamington Spa

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Racing Club Warwick, Southam United and Coventry United

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

Away from Merton, I work in an Investment Bank for Societe Generale as a Recruiter…it’s really as boring as it sounds!

Away from work, I’ll either be making use of my 50% discount at Dominos, getting drunk after two pints or watching some type of sport.   

2. What was most memorable moment in your MFC career till now?

I have a couple:

–      Scoring from the half way line, bar and in….can I still talk about this? The game at this point was pretty much over, so I closed my eyes and took a shot/cross, next thing I knew I had Big Mike jumping on me.

–      Falling asleep in my car while putting my football bag away after the Christmas Party. Waking up at 4.00am after being sick….flipping EG rules!

–      Other than that, it would either be watching Neil Davidson playing centre half (not pretty…) or seeing Vinny getting done for pace and then pretending to be injured.    

3. What is your favourite quote?

It’s a tossup between Michael Scott (US Office fans will understand), “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”, or from Merton’s very own Frankie, possibly the angriest man in football! Who on about 6 occasions has shouted, “Get the F**K out the way Ref”, truly unforgettable!

4. Tell us something about yourself that most of us at the club probably aren’t aware of…

I’m Dan Rist and I play for the Merton 3’s J

5. Ask a friend for a reference and post their response of you – can be a family member, friend or teammate (E.G: “He’s a lovely boy” – Mom)

“He’s pretty much perfect in every way, looks, football, on the pull, everything. He’s my role model; I just wish that one day I grow up exactly like him!” – Glenn Pitmann after a few WKD’s.   

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

As the season is over we turn our focus to the SAL Spring/Summer Cup. It would be brilliant to get some revenge against some of the teams we lost too. We ended the season on a couple of wins so a continuation of that would be lovely! Love a good cup final….too much to ask for? 

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton): Dan B – the guy is a beast in the sticks.

Favourite team in the UK: Man UTD

Favourite team outside the UK: Dortmund

Childhood hero: David Beckham

Favourite word: F**k – Sums up every emotion.

Favourite band: Oasis

Favourite food: Anything that’s bad for you. Dominos

Dream job: Karl Pilkington’s best mate.

NAME: Scott Shew

TEAM: 7s

POSITION: Striker

BIRTH DATE: 15/02/88

BIRTH PLACE: St Helier

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Carshalton FC

1. Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself? I am an estimator for a kitchen company. I would say I am a very caring, a trustworthy person & very honest, if I have a problem with something I’ll make my voice heard just ask my manager Dan he would agree with that lol. I also like to play football when I can and I enjoy spending time with my mates and family when I can.

2. What was most memorable moment in your MFC career till now? I would have to say getting my first hat trick this season against South Bank especially when the goal to get the hat trick was from outside the box which hit the bar before going in.

3. What is your favourite quote? ‘the more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle’

4. Tell us something about yourself that most of us at the club probably aren’t aware of… I am actually getting married this Saturday 18^th March.

5. Ask a friend for a reference and post their response of you – can be a family member, friend or teammate (E.G: “He’s a lovely boy” – Mom)

6. Lastly, share with us your goals/expectations for the season… To hopefully get some more goals and get the top goal scorer for the 7s.

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton): Tom Roberts. He’s a great player and I think you could play him anywhere and he would do a great job.

Favourite team in the UK: Man Utd

Favourite team outside the UK: PSV

Childhood hero: David Beckham

Favourite word:

Favourite band: Boyz ii Men

Favourite food: KFC with my good mate Malcolm

Dream job: I don’t really have a dream job to be honest.

NAME: Andrew Holder Ross

TEAM: 2s

POSITION: Centre midfield

BIRTH DATE: 7^th June 1991

BIRTH PLACE: Teddington

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Various in Asia

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

A chilled out entertainer.

I live in tranquil Stockwell with four other people, above an Eritrean café/crime syndicate headquarters.

I work for a brand strategy consultancy. Don’t ask me to explain what that means. It is fun.

2. What was most memorable moment in your MFC career till now?

Seeing Ben Cook get sent off for attacking an opponent was quite magical. When you have heard so many stories, it’s a rare thing that the reality lives up to your expectations. A genuinely moving moment for all who witnessed it. 

I also enjoyed scoring my first ever goal for the club, with my back/shoulder.

3. What is your favourite quote?

“People see me and see the suit, but they know I’m rock and roll through and through. You know ‘Live fast, die young’? Not my way. Live fast, sure. Too bloody fast sometimes! But die young? Nah, die old.”

4. Tell us something about yourself that most of us at the club probably aren’t aware of…

I lived in Asia for six years, from 8-14. It’s the reason why I am able to get along with people of all cultures – eg Mike Todt (African) and Jordan (Scouse)

5. Ask a friend for a reference and post their response of you – can be a family member, friend or teammate (E.G: “He’s a lovely boy” – Mom)

Courtesy of my dear friend and housemate Mike Stone:

“What Andrew Holder De Rossi lacks in stamina, speed, aerial threat, desire, tactical awareness, physical prowess, experience, finishing, passing, and the ability to last more than 60 minutes without cramps, he more than makes up for with his knack of scoring with his back. God bless AHR.”

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

You can use this for next season too if you want:

1. To score with my feet
2. To gain promotion with the 2s

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton):

Alan Clowes

Favourite team in the UK:

Manchester United

Favourite team outside the UK:

Brooklyn Nets (a basketball team)

Childhood hero:

David Beckham

Favourite word:

Loquacious

Favourite band:

An impossible question (check ‘em out they’re great)

Favourite food:

Dim Sum

Dream job:

Brand strategy consultant

NAME: Dave Scott
TEAM: 2s
POSITION: Centre Midfield
BIRTH DATE: 14/10/89
BIRTH PLACE: Croydon
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Chipstead, Coulsdon Athletic, Coulsdon FC

1. Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself? Professionally I’m a Commercial Manager for an interior fit-out contractor in London. Most evenings I’ll either be trying to do something in the gym or playing 5 a side. If we don’t have a game on Saturday I’ll normally try to get a ticket at Selhurst Park or hack at a few balls on the golf range. I’m also really into my trance music.

2. What was most memorable moment in your MFC career till now? There’s been a few. Scoring 2 goals in a game earlier in the season and winning MOTD stands out. Also, avoiding DQ’s post-match spoon in my pint all season seems to be a growing achievement…….

3. What is your favourite quote? Arnold Schwarzenegger – “you can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets”

4. Tell us something about yourself that most of us at the club probably aren’t aware of…I have a high IQ and I went to Wilson’s school (Old Wilsonians), but I choose to play for Merton!

5. Ask a friend for a reference and post their response of you – can be a family member, friend or teammate – “I wish you loved me as much as you love football” – Girlfriend

6. Lastly, share with us your goals/expectations for the season…Our Merton season is pretty much finished with not a lot apart from pride to really play for. I’ve had a few injuries this season so keeping fit in the next 6 months and hitting the ground running next year is a personal goal.

RAPID FIRE:
Player of the season (at Merton): Tough one. Connor Murphy and Paul Pearce haven’t done much wrong all season. Connor just nicks it as he normally picks me out on a long throw.
Favourite team in the UK: Crystal Palace
Favourite team outside the UK: I only follow one team.
Childhood hero: Attilio Lombardo / Arnold Schwarzenegger
Favourite word: Not sure I have one, sorry. Do people really have one of these??
Favourite band: Above and Beyond
Favourite food: Indian
Dream job: I’m writing this while in work, so I guess not working. I could happily play golf 5 times a week and not get bored.