Interview With Neil Etheridge

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http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/10/13/on-the-bench-with-neil-etheridge-fulhams-philippines-interna/


On the Bench...with Neil Etheridge, Fulham's Philippines International

.13/10/2010 3:44 AM GMT


By Ben Hunt



It is the position on the teamsheet that managers often have the most difficulty filling, yet it is arguably the most crucial role too.

When a player is between the posts his responsibility is to ensure his side earn a clean sheet. Forwards usually get all the glory, but goalkeepers can win matches too, so a good keeper is worth holding on to.

And that is exactly the case at Fulham, who rebuffed Arsenal's bids in the transfer window for Australian international Mark Schwarzer.

The Cottagers have a history of signing talented goalkeepers. Edwin van der Sar, Antti Niemi and Schwarzer have earned excellent reviews while playing at Craven Cottage.

David Stockdale is the latest player to look at adding his name to that list as he made an excellent start to the season while Schwarzer was sidelined with a back problem.

Yet search below the first team and there is another young goalkeeper who is waiting for his chance to shine. But Neil Etheridge's route to becoming Fulham's third choice goalkeeper has not been a conventional one. Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook iPhone App - Get It Now
Like other youngsters, he wanted to be a forward but was convinced to switch to playing in goal while he was attending the Chelsea academy. And it is a move that has paid off - ironically for the Blues' rivals.

Etheridge told Inquirer Sports about how he moved positions. He said: "Almost everyone wants to be an outfield player but people need to understand that if a team doesn't have a goalkeeper, it can't play.

"Goalkeepers do a lot of things that people don't see. They talk to the defenders. And of course, aside from making saves, we also have to play football.

"The back four work with goalkeepers, passing the ball around the back to make plays and they also get involved in the strategy on attack. So, I hope people will take notice of that when I play."

The Fulham scouts certainly did take notice as he was signed and quickly loaned out to non-League side Leatherhead to gain some experience in September 2008.

While he was turning out in for Isthmian League Division One South club, Etheridge was approached by the Philippine Football Federation about representing their nation at international level.

Etheridge, who had played for the England under-16's and turned down their initial approach in 2007, was eligible through his mother and, after talking tp former Chelsea team mate and Philippine forward Phil Younghusband, he accepted the offer.

Etheridge made his international debut in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers but the Philippines failed to reach the finals. More bad news came in the form of a knee operation in September 2009.

Etheridge was expected to be ruled out for the whole of the 2009-10 season, however, he recovered quicker than expected and did feature for Fulham's reserves to make nine appearances and earn an extension to his contract until the summer of 2011.

The 20-year-old's remarkable rise to the first team came this September when he was called in to Mark Hughes' squad for their home match with Wolves because Stockdale had an ankle injury.

He continued to occupy that seat on the bench while Stockdale recovered, although Hughes had former Switzerland international keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler at his disposal.

And, given Fulham's wretched luck when it comes to injured forwards this season, it might even useful to have Etheridge available as an emergency striker!