Player Profile – Andrew Graves

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 3^rd 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