Category: Player Profiles

NAME: Sam Singer Ripley

TEAM: 5s

POSITION: Goalkeeper 

BIRTH DATE: 7/10/1997

BIRTH PLACE: Mitcham

PREVIOUS CLUBS: T&M U16

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

I am a student at Roehampton university, I study Sport and Exercise Science. Other than football my hobbies include cycling and eating

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?

I was just searching around on the internet for local football clubs at the beginning of last season because I stopped playing football a while ago after a nasty injury, I came across Merton FC’s website and decided to give it a go – I never looked back

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

I’ve only been here a couple of seasons, but hopefully this season, getting promoted with the 5’s would be great. My worst moment, as many of you probably already know – Was being taken away in an ambulance after an ‘off the field’ accident occurred. 

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

Liverpool, they definitely have a goalkeeping problem, so I think I’d be a great contender. It would also be awesome to play for the team I support.

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

I always make sure I’ve got my tape on the correct way. As well as making sure that I’ve got my lucky gloves on hand. I also try and make sure I go to bed a little earlier than normal.

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

I hope to get promoted with the 5’s and keep up my challenge for the Golden Glove award.

Rapid Fire

Player of the season (so far): Andy Bitmead – Scoring hatricks for fun

Favourite position: CAM but I can’t play football so I play in goal

Favourite team in the UK: Liverpool FC

Favourite team outside the UK: Borussia Dortmund

Childhood Hero: Jens Lehmann

Favourite Food: Pizza huts’ Chicken, bacon and sweetcorn pizza

Favourite Drink: Dr. Pepper

Favourite Band/Artist: Imagine Dragons

NAME: Tom Benham

TEAM: 2s

POSITION: Forward

BIRTH DATE: 17^th April 1984

BIRTH PLACE: Croydon

PREVIOUS CLUBS: South Bank Cuaco 2s, Royal Sun Alliance (Amateur Football Combination league)

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

I work in real estate investment for a small asset manager. I would describe myself as someone who doesn’t take life too seriously, enjoys playing sports, drinking, and traveling

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?

Moved down the road from the Hood and heard good things about the club. Joined with Chris and Nick for the start of the 15/16 season

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

Getting players player of the year in my first season for the 3s

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

Barcelona

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

Grande Americano before kickoff

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

Poor start, hoping to reach double digits

RAPID FIRE:

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

Childhood Team: Crystal Palace FC

Favourite team in the UK: Crystal Palace FC

Favourite team outside the UK: Barcelona

Childhood Hero: Roberto Baggio

Favourite Food: Seafood

Favourite Drink: Peroni

Favourite Band: Bob Marley and the Wailers

NAME: Adam Ahmad Edwards

TEAM: Merton 6s/7s

POSITION: CM/RM

BIRTH DATE: 22/06/1993

BIRTH PLACE: Roehampton

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 as a Research Assistant at UCL Respiratory. We are currently working on a clinical trial for a treatment for some forms of Lung Cancer. It sound more fancy than it is as I am pretty much lab bitch.

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?

Me and my friend Josh play 5-a-side with some of our other friends every Tuesday at Rock Lane in Barnes, we wanted to start also playing 11-a-side and so googled teams that were close to each of us. Merton looked the most professional; some teams just having a number posted!

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

Probably last week playing against the 6s in a close fought derby. It was great to come up against familiar faces and have a good game.

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

Arsenal. My favorite team and also the style of play is amazing and would be great to play in.

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
Eat porridge on game day, even though I really can’t stand it.

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

To help the team in any way, and also to keep playing well and to try and start scoring some goals!

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton, or in professional football): Tough as a lot of players have played well. But probably Tom, playing like Bonucci by spraying the ball about from centre back.
In the Prem, annoyingly I think Costa.

Childhood Team: Wimbledon

Favourite team in the UK: Arsenal/AFC Wimbledon

Favourite team outside the UK: Borussia Dortmund

Childhood Hero: Its between Josh K-H and my Asian grandmother. But the Gma shades it, a tough lady who worked hard for the family.

Favourite Food: Grandmas chicken curry with Paratha

Favourite Drink: KA Karibbean Kola

Favourite Band: Tough as it changes every week, but right now its Queens Of The Stone Age/Danny Brown

NAME: Neal Davison

TEAM: 3s

POSITION: I literally played every position on the pitch for Merton FC however my preference is holding midfield

BIRTH DATE: 20^th December 1979

BIRTH PLACE: London, Tooting

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Merton, Battersea Old Firm, Peter Jones, Post Office and Battersea Ironside

1. Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?
I am a health club General Manager currently working for Fitness First. Generally I am young at heart and pretty sarcastic.

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?
I was introduced to the club in 1997 by a friend Gavin Frost and played a 5 seasons before leaving to play with friends from school. I returned late 2014 to see out my career.

3. What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
Without a doubt winning Club player of the year last season, winning the league with the 2s back in 1998/99 as a close second.

4. If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?
Chelsea. Been a supporter of Chelsea all my life.(before the money)

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
I play the 1^st half with shirt tucked in and 2^nd half untucked.

6. Lastly, share us your goals/expectations for the season.
To avoid relegation with the 3s and help out any other teams where needed.

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton, or in professional football): I have been really impressed by Glenn Pitmann at Merton and of course Diego Costa at Chelsea.

Childhood Team: Chelsea

Favourite team in the UK: Chelsea

Favourite team outside the UK: don’t really have one but enjoy watching Barca and Madrid.

Childhood Hero: Dennis Wise

Favourite Food: Steak and Chips

Favourite Drink: Coke and Lager

Favourite Band: Don’t really have a band but enjoy drum and bass music

NAME: Ivan Gladkow “another day, another injury”!

TEAM: 1st

POSITION: Forward

BIRTH DATE: 15/10/81

BIRTH PLACE: Buckinghamshire

PREVIOUS CLUBS:

-Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire

-Landrecies, Lille, France

-Lancaster University

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

Client Relationship Director……………Have been described as “The Main Man” 🙂

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?

BBF Woody (Best mate from Uni) was playing at Merton and told me to come and play at Merton, the rest is history.

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

Promotion to top division and then cup final, that memorable season!

4. If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?
I don’t follow one team so any of the top 4.

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

Same meal routine, toilet routine, same accessories (hair band and shin pads, shirt (Number 7) etc)

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

Getting promoted again giving the top division another go and then retiring!

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton, or in professional football): Charlie Hockless thus far! He has become coordinated over the summer break and he has definitely been practicing in his back garden.

Childhood Team: N/A

Favorite team in the UK: N/A

Favorite team outside the UK: N/A

Childhood Hero: Jean Claude Van Damme

Favorite Food: Steak

Favourite Drink: Jaeger bomb or a Predator

Favourite Band: One Direction! Obvs

NAME: Richard David Thomas Gibbs (Gibbo / ChuChu!)

TEAM: 5s

POSITION: CF/CAM/LM/RM/CM/ CDM (utility man!)

BIRTH DATE: 13/02/1989

BIRTH PLACE: Cardiff

PREVIOUS CLUBS: a couple in Wales and a couple in Nottingham

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

Outside the club I work as a Finance Manager for BT Openreach. I think I come across initially to people as someone quite intimidating (probably due to the Gibbs frown!) and it’s probably why people often can’t tell when I’m taking the piss! In my spare time I try and play as much sport as I can (Football, Skiing, Tennis, FIFA) and love to travel!

How did you end up at Merton FC?

Mike Stone invited me to come along one day when I was looking for a club to join – never looked back since despite it being a 1 hour commute – great group of lads!

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

Scoring a hattrick on my debut for the 5s – I then had to watch them loose 6-4 despite being 4-1 up after 20 minutes after I came off injuring sliding into the goal post to get my third!
If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?

Borussia Dortmund – I couldn’t imagine anything better than playing in front of the infamous Yellow Wall!

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

Join in the general banter of the team ripping one another to shreds until we go out and do the business on the pitch (we all like each other really!).

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

It started of being to beat Dulanje’s total and retain the golden boot however finding myself playing a much more defensive role and having 0 to date has meant a revised goal of getting at least 1 and helping the 5s Win the league!

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton, or in professional football): Dwayne Bedford – Dwayne’s come a long way since last season and puts a huge shift in every game – he’s also learnt to head the ball – well kind of!

Childhood Team: Arsenal

Favourite team in the UK: Arsenal

Favourite team outside the UK: Dortmund

Childhood Hero: SuperTed

Favourite Food: difficult one – probably a Ribs and Wings combo!

Favourite Drink: Vino – red wine all the way

Favourite Band: Guns N’s Roses

NAME: Siraj Durrani       

TEAM: 1s

POSITION: Goalkeeper

BIRTH DATE: 28/08/1992

BIRTH PLACE: Slough

PREVIOUS CLUBS: We could be here all day.

Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?
I currently work as a Data Security analyst, so I deal with internal and external threats to a large American Insurance firm. My work colleagues know me as a very reserved guy, which I totally agree with. My childhood friends know me as the dictator which says something for my footballing demeanor.
How did you end up at Merton FC?
I moved to London around July and was looking for a new team. Had a look on Gumtree and here I am.
What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
Getting Motm vs BoE and saving two pens in said game.
If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?
Eibar. Small ground, ¼ of the population at every home game. Small budget, yet fight way above their weight.
Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
Never wear the same brand boots and gloves and always tape left knee before right.
Lastly, share us your goals/expectations for the season.
Get promoted and have a decent cup run.

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (at Merton, or in professional football): Chaz Martin / Ander Herrera.

Childhood Team: Manchester United

Favourite team in the UK: Wigan

Favourite team outside the UK: Eibar

Childhood Hero: Santiago Canizares

Favourite Food: Pizza

Favourite Drink: Rose Milk

Favourite Band: Erra

NAME: Mark Chappell

TEAM: Merton FC … That’s who we ALL play for J

POSITION: Centre back / Keeper

BIRTH DATE: 12/7/1970

BIRTH PLACE: London

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Charring Cross, Ditton

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

I’m a recruitment consultant by trade and spend most of my free time doing stuff behind the scenes for Merton FC (or so Mrs Chappell would say). I have a wife and young daughter who fill up all my remaining spare time.

I have always been a sore loser and passionate player – often times too passionate for my own good. I cherish my friends and my team mates, and will defend both until my last breath

How did you end up at Merton FC?

My brother joined the season before me and encouraged me down. Scored at both ends on my debut at Bank of England for the 3^rd XI… 23 seasons ago!

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

Captaining the 5s to league victory and nearly going unbeaten in season but for the meanies at West Wickham

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

Any that would be silly enough to pay me money .. Except Chelsea .. You couldn’t pay me enough to wear that shirt

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

Usually too busy chasing around organizing stuff!. I’ve always worn a 2^nd pair or socks or compression socks under my pads – but its far from a superstition

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

For someone, ANYONE, to collect some silverware at the end of the season. As for the 6s I think we have a great squad this year and will be up there – Can’t say we will win the league as Carshalton are clearly playing players playing beneath their abilities and will run away with it sadly

RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season (so far): For 6s – Paul Onomor… Despite his finishing

Childhood Team: Wimbledon

Favourite team in the UK: AFC Wimbledon

Favourite team outside the UK: Miami Dolphins

Childhood Hero: Don’t believe in Hero’s

Favourite Food: Italian

Favourite Drink: Mojito

Favourite Band: Phil Collins / Genesis