NAME: Andrew Graves but mostly known as Rat.

TEAM: Merton 1’s

POSITION: Right Back

BIRTH DATE: 25/01/83

BIRTH PLACE: Croydon

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Redhill, Egham Town & Molesey.


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

Outside of the club I am a Director of a Pop-Up Bar Business that supplies bars for various events. Off the pitch I would describe myself as a fairly relaxed person who enjoys watching and playing pretty much any sport and having a good drink every now and then.

How did you end up at Merton FC?

I played with former Merton FC Legend Lewis Ackerman at Molesey. When we both left he asked if I wanted to come to the Hood and join. 30 minutes of Clappers taking the piss out of my nickname, half a pre-season game and a portion of Spaghetti Bolognese was all it took to persuade me that this was the club for me.
What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?

Reaching a cup final and promotion to Div 1 a few years ago are team highlights but my bicycle kick finish for the match deciding 3rd goal on Saturday (see 1’s match report) should live long in the memory for those that witnessed it…..
If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?

Easy….Crystal Palace FC. To pull on the red and blue jersey and play in front of the country’s best fans before having a night out with Sir Alan Pardew would be a true honour.
Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

I try to take as long as possible to get changed thus avoid carrying the goals out. I also sit nowhere near Clappers if he has been taking Paracetamol during the week.

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

After last season’s struggles, a top half finish would be great, but more importantly, to make sure our new younger team additions are enjoying their football with us and stick with the club.


RAPID FIRE:

Player of the season: Alexei Sanchez

Childhood Team:   Crystal Palace FC

Favourite team in the UK:          Crystal Palace FC

Favourite team outside the UK: Valencia FC

Childhood Hero:     Paolo Maldini

Favourite Food:     Pizza 

Favourite Drink:     Any Craft Beer

Favourite Band:     Coldplay

Posted in Player Profiles