Neil Etheridge

Neil Etheridge (2010)

Neil Leonard Dula Etheridge (born 7 February 1990 in Enfield Town, England) is an English- Filipino football goalkeeper. Since the 2008/ 09 season, he is the pro squad of FC Fulham but completed not a single competitive match. Since 2008, he has also Philippine national team.

Life

Etheridge was born in 1990 in Enfield Town in London. His father is English and his mother Filipina. He attended Court Moor School in Fleet, Hampshire and also played for their football team.

Career

In the club

2003 Etheridge attended the football school of FC Chelsea. There he played with Phil Younghusband and James Younghusband, the Philippine national team were also later. Etheridge first played as a striker, but switched to the position of the goalkeeper, after the coach had asked him to. In 2006, he signed a professional contract with Fulham. In 2008 he moved on loan to FC Leatherhead. 2009 Etheridge underwent surgery on both knees, which it turned out half a year. At the end of the 2009/10 season he signed a new one-year contract at Fulham. On September 11, 2010, Etheridge was appointed for the first time in the A- team, as the second goalkeeper, David Stockdale, had hurt. However, in the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers he was 90 minutes on the bench. Since the season 2011/12 he is behind Mark Schwarzer second goalkeeper for FC Fulham. He made his debut on 14 December 2011 in the UEFA Europa League match against Odense BK (2-2 ) in the starting lineup.

National

2005 Etheridge participated with the U-16 National Team England at the Victory Shield. The trophy was shared by Wales and England. In 2007 he received an invitation of the Philippine National Team, this declined but because he knew neither the language nor a player. In the spring of 2008 he was invited again, this time by PFF President Jose Mari Martinez personally. Martinez and Phil Younghusband were finally able to convince Etheridge and this decided, from now on for the Philippine national football team to play.

In 2008, he played all three games in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers. However, the team failed because of their poor goal difference. In the same year he took part in the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers in part. The Philippines won two games, played a draw and lost one. Although they were point and the goal difference, are the same with another team, but they missed the qualification because fewer goals were scored.