This appears in the Tuesday July 12, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.
On Chris Smalling’s aborted Manila visit and the Etheridges
by rick olivares
When the Philippine Men’s Football National Team played Sri Lanka last July 3 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manchester United center back Chris Smalling was supposed to be one of the 12,870 people in attendance.
Smalling is one of Philippine goalkeeper Neil Etheridge’s best friends and the two were together for two years at English club Fulham FC before the former transferred to United in January 2010.
While the English Premier League out for the summer, Etheridge put aside some tickets for Smalling and a few other friends. But the Philippines’ number one keeper had to fly back out the day after the Azkals’ historic Asian Qualifiers win for the 2014 World Cup causing the English footballer to cancel his trip.
But one person did make it to see Etheridge in action for the national side for the first time – his father Martin. In town with wife, Merlinda, a native of Tarlac, the elder Etheridge, in a conversation with Business Mirror, described the match as “great for the Philippines and well played for all the fans.” He also said that he was touched by his son's post-match tribute to his father, Neil's grandfather, Leonard Harry Etheridge who passed away a few months ago. The Azkals keeper also pointed to his parents in the grandstand area after the match.
"It meant a lot to Neil for us to be there in such a huge match," said Merlinda.
“To be honest,” said Neil’s father who works in the shipping industry back in England, “I was relieved after watching the first goal. I have no doubt in my mind that we were going to win.”
The elder Etheridge, when he isn’t rooting for Fulham cheers for Aston Villa. But he said that growing up, his son, the only child of the couple, was a huge Liverpool fan. “Neil started out as an outfield player. He was a striker who did pretty well. But one time, his manager asked him if he could put him at the goal.”
“My son is a smart person,” added Merlinda Etheridge who used to accompany Neil on long train and bus rides to Ipswich, Crystal Palace, Bromwich and pretty much all around England. “When he knew that he didn’t stand much of a chance as an outfield player, he agreed to mind the net. And pretty much everyone in his age group has fallen out of the English football pyramid leaving him as the one on top. Neil knew that he stood a better chance of making a Premier League club if he concentrated as goalkeeper.”
“That was a long eight years of making sacrifices,” said the senior Etheridge who once played as a left-winger in the county level in England. “But we did it to make Neil happy.”
While Neil never learned to speak his mother’s native tongue, the Azkals keeper has been meaning to take Filipino classes around his tight schedule. “I think it’s going to be good for him to learn how to speak Filipino. It opens up more options for him.”
In addition to finishing his college education and playing football, Neil parents said that their son has also been taking coaching courses. “A footballer’s career can end in any given moment,” explained Martin Etheridge. “One cannot always play football. You have to adapt to the real world.”
“But my son is hoping that he will make his Premier League debut this coming season (the EPL kicks off this coming August),” summed up the father. “If he does make that start, my son will throw a massive celebration.”
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