Match reports have started to come in for latest games at the weekend.  To view them go onto the team page, If the score is highlighted in blue, click on the score and this will link to the match report for that game.  Please continue to write them and if possible along with match day photos and send them into Matt for the website at [email protected] and Ram for the newsletter at [email protected]

Sunday Morning down at the Hood with the Youth section. And a cracking time!!. U10s beat Raynes Park Vale 6-3. U11s lost 7-2 to Doverhouse. U12s drew 2-2 with Shene Lions. U13s lost 4-3 to Moormead rather unluckily in great game. U14s lost heavily to Kew Park Rangers. With all Five teams at home it was quite an event. Well done to Steve and all the managers. All at home next Sunday so come on down and support the lads.

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Today’s Results. Down at the Hood the 1s continued a disappointing start but came up against a very strong Old Parks side (as good as anything we’ve played for a while) losing 4-0. A goal either side of half time settled it (action pics). 6s lost 3-0 to Old Wilsonians in a game of two halves. We should have scored a couple in first half but their keeper made some outstanding saves (pic). 5s game called off by Carshalton who could not raise a team (Sorry lads) 3s had a great win at Crouch End 3-2 (Goal scorers and assists: Darcy 2 goals + 1 assist, Tony 1 assist, Dennis 1 goal) but 4s lost 4-1 at home to Poly 5s.

3s win their final pre season friendly 4-1 last night. Goal scorers: Sean x2, Dave x1 and Dennis x1 – well done lads … Now for the serious stuff vs CEV on Saturday. Note to photography practise taking photos!!!

The 1s and 2s kicked off their first league games.  1s lost 3 – 0 away against EBOG, 2s beat Crouch End Vampires at home 3 – 1.  The 4s and 5s played friendlies, 4s drew 3 – 3 against Old Salesians 2s a good result and the 5s lost 13 – 2 against a strong Old Wilsonian 5s.

Pics :

Pedro, Alex, Will and Charlie prepare to make their Merton debuts for the 1s away at EBOG last Saturday. Confident. Question: is Ivan Gladkow stretching or taking a piss in the background? Bloody photo bomber!!!

Meet Merton’s dead lion day signings from the US: Alex and Will donned their cleats and delivered strong performances at de-fensive centre and wide offence wearing the famous yellow jersey for the 1s away at EBOG ‪#‎franchiseenhancement‬ ‪#‎deadlionday‬ ‪#‎ripcecil

All teams except 2s play next weekend, please come down to the home ground and show your support where the 1s host Old Parkonians kicking off at 3pm and the 6s host Old Wilsonians 9s in the Junior Noverts Cup kiccking off at 1pm.  Full fixtures can be seen on home page.

Merton Select 4s vs. Old Salesians 2s
Pre-Season Friendly Saturday 5^th September 2015

The last pre-season friendly was upon us before the trip to Chiswick next weekend for our opening day fixture against Polytechnic. This meant one last chance to rectify any mistakes identified over the last few weeks. On paper, coming up against a reserve side was a little daunting however exciting at the same time. We knew that the visitors would be able to get the best out of us.

The squad was made up of those that are likely to represent the 4s for the upcoming season. Most of whom stepped up from the 5s from last season. We welcomed back Joe and Dom Plumridge after a season out and Ryan Burchell made a well-deserved step up from the 6s. Sam Ripley was between the sticks.

The opposition started brightly however it was short lived. The confidence that shone through each and every player in a yellow shirt was a blessing. There were no long ‘Hollywood’ balls, no panicking, just easy flowing football that I have not witness in a long time. Our style of play was rewarded with a goal from Dulanie 10 minutes in and a solid defensive display allowed us to go into the break with that score line intact.

Changes were made at the break with Chris dropping to partner Glen at centre half with Joe pushing up to midfield. Jack replaced Aaron and came on to play on the left flank. We way the second half panned out, these changes were a mistake on my behalf. Never change a back line unless you really need to!

Regardless of the changes, we started how we left of, dominating possession. This possession allowed us to double our advantage through Dom. The only thing that Old Salesians could resort to was the long ball however it payed off due to the high back line. They halved the deficit not long after our second and found an equaliser ten minutes later with an audacious effort having caught Sam off his line. Conceding in the manner we did had an effect on us, passes we starting to go astray and frustration was starting to show. We were now on the back foot and found ourselves behind with ten minutes to go.

With the ‘Never Say Die’ attitude that we have always played with, we were piling the pressure on and managed to find the equaliser with a couple of minutes to spare, Dom poking home into the bottom left.

If we take this performance into the season and keep the consistency then I see no reason why we can’t challenge for silverware. All we need is belief and to do it ‘The Merton Way’ and it will be a very successful season! FINAL SCORE: 3 – 3 MOTM: N/A

SQUAD: Samuel Singer-Ripley, Kevin Medina (Ricardo Iglesias), Joe Plumridge, Glen Porter, Edward Plaistow, Ryan Burchell (Arnold Collier), Dan Gridley, Aaron Ackerman (Jack Hamill), Chris Outred (C), Dom Plumridge, Dulanie Richards

This weekends fixtures, 1s and 2s play their first league game, all other teams have friendlies except 6s, whose game has been called off.

whether you are playing home or away this weekend please come into the bar and support the club by having a drink or two.  This will be a good time to socialise with new members who have joint the club this season and make them feel welcome.  The bar will also be showing the San Marino vs England game from 5pm. Good luck to all teams and the start of the new season.

Saturday’s News

Round Robin at the Hood was won by Diasporra (?) Irish lads on GD from OldSmiths. Our boys put up a good show and Thanks to Ryan Gresty and Steve who organised things so well in the absence of a lot of Merton Regulars who were at the other big match. A lot of the lads (see pic) were at Sherbs and Amanda’s wedding (pic).

Oldsmiths 3s vs. Merton Select XI Pre-Season Friendly Saturday 29^th August 2015

The penultimate pre-season friendly was upon us with still no idea where players will likely be situated for the upcoming season. In all fairness, this performance didn’t change much.

To ensure that the new faces were kept interested, it was essential to ensure that they were given some game time, even if not best suited at this level. All bare one of the new quota arrived at the away ground on time and ready to go. Due to numbers all players were given 45 minutes, fitness and injury permitting.

We fielded our strongest XI to start with albeit with a few changes due to 3 of the original starting XI opting to witness a dull 0 – 0 draw between Spurs and Everton at White Hart Lane instead due to the numbers available for the game.

It was a sloppy start from Merton, gifting the ball to the host whenever we gain possession. They capitalised on this by firing and early goal following a mix up at the back. It wasn’t long before we starting playing the football that we knew we were capable of even if it did only last 5 minutes! A long ball from Chris Outred to Dulanie found the back of the net after the latter fired in off the post to equalise. That is as good as it got in the first half. It was easy to see that the opposition had been playing together for a well and given the time to gel by going into the break 4 – 1.

The second half was a little more positive. 5 minutes in we managed to pull a goal back from an audacious attempt from Josh Bennett from inside his own half. 4 – 2. We played some better football with the communication improving however the quality Oldsmiths was visible. They managed to add a further 2 goals to their tally to finish on top as 6 – 2 winners.

Next week we should have a better understanding of who is likely to play where considering all Merton teams have a fixture, either league or friendly. Hopefully better results are on the horizon to give a little confidence going into the season.

FINAL SCORE: 6 – 2 MOTM: N/A

SQUAD: Kieran Lee, Ryan Burchell, John Gridley, Steve Burchell, Edward Plaistow, Aaron Ackerman, Chris Dodd, Glen Porter, Josh Bennett, Chris Outred, Dulanie Richards, George Hall, Mario Tossio, Malcolm Kandulu, Jack Hamill, Darren Avey.

The Youth Season starts with a bang with two big Sundays.
Just a reminder that there is a big YOUTH DAY down at them Hood Sunday Sept 6th 2015 As part of our Charter Standard Compliance we have to arrange a meeting with the Parents and players to tell them about the RESPECT programme andwhat is expected of them as players and members of Merton F C We use this as a day to introduce them all to Merton F C
It is a big day and Surrey County F A are bringing their Respect Roadshow and team down to present.
We also give out the kit to each player and there will be a BBQ
Steve believes that there will be 60 to 100 people there and we have hired the hall for the key hours 11am to 2pm for the Respect presentation and kit distribution.
If you get a chance please come along and support the event
I am unfortunately away suffering from Post traumatic wedding stress disorder and will be in Italy.
Steve is arranging for parents to do the BBQ and Dave Laughton will be in charge of the bar but any help we can muster would be much appreciated.
The League programme gets underway just one week later on Sunday 13th September when all our FIVE
teams are at home which makes it a very special day for the club and a great start for the season.

We were blessed with really good weather for the planned BBQ event but probably a touch hot for football.
And although the weather has not been too kind for the Hood, it’s been a touch dry, The Hood looked pretty
good with our new black and yellow nets setting the pitch off nicely.
It was an early start with Alleyns old Boys kicking the day off against a 3s/4s side at 12.30. It was a good
game but two or three early goals settled the issue. We rallied a bit in the second half but lost 5-0. It was
encouraging to see a good number of new faces in the Merton line up together with some old faithfulls, Pete
Jennings, Lofty and Neil Davidson to name three.
The next two games that were scheduled were down as 1s v Old Ruts 1s and 2s playing their 2s.
Unfortunately we were very light on numbers and we could only muster one squad of 15 or so for both games.
We lost the first game 1-0 to a slightly flukey goal but despite a few reinforcements arriving a very tired
Merton team lost the second game 3-0 to Old Ruts 2s. The scoreline flattered them a little but their three
goals were incredibly good strikes and unstoppable.
Pete and Jasper had the bar well stocked and Sherbs put on a great BBQ but Old Ruts disappeared on us
again. Still there were a few Merton lads that drank in the bar and Steve and Kevin brought some of the 5s/6s
back for a quick beer.
It was a good day with a lot of footy but not too many Memberships paid on the day. So we need to get
these paid by the end of August.
The 5/6 squad of hardy souls lost 6-4 in a great game away to West Wickham on the 3G.

AFA Cup Draws

Reserves

AFA Inter Surrey/Kent – 16th January 2016
Merton vs Old Strand Academicals (Home)