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Know your Azkals: Neil Etheridge is in love

Neil loves football

Obviously. Neil has been playing football since he started walking. Born in Anfield, he has played for England’s U-16 team. He started out in Chelsea Academy before getting scouted. At 15, he moved to Fulham where he was recently elevated to the first team. As prestigious as it is to play in the English Premier League, Neil says it’s also a wonderful if different experience playing for the Azkals.

“First of all, the style is very different – the heat, the knowledge, the media. Plus when I’m playing with the Azkals, you have the attention of the whole country. And I get to start every game,” he says.

And is there anything he doesn’t like about football?

“I never regret anything. But if I have a worst experience, it would have to be that first goal in Indonesia. I let that one go in. You just have to learn from it and move on.”

Neil loves his teammates

You’ve probably heard of the bromance going on between him and Simon Greatwich, but Neil’s actually close friends with all the Azkals. He’s even got his own cast of “Entourage” in the team – he’s Vince, Simon is E, Jason Sabio is Drama, while the role of Turtle is still up for grabs.

Okay, so maybe he’s a teeny bit closer to Simon since they roomed together in Cambodia and in Bacolod.

“Their room is a garbage bin!” teammate Rob Gier shares. The rest of the team agree.

Oh and Simon is now his unofficial manager. So if you want Neil for anything, suck up to Simon.

Neil loves shopping

Unlike majority of men who dread shopping, Neil claims that he is a“massive shopper.” Just before he left for the UK, he even went on a shopping spree at Nike.

“My style is very simple. I like fitted shirts. And I always wear black or white,” he says.

He loves fashion so much that he can’t pinpoint a single clothing item he can’t live without. Rob suggests gloves, while Simon says Neil doesn’t have one because he likes being naked. After much thought and other “helpful” ideas from the team, Neil says it’s black shirts.

“I have about six black shirts. They’re my favorites. And I also can’t live without my watch,” he says.

Neil loves his fans

His supporters are among the craziest ones so far. In Bacolod, fans climbed balconies just to see him in his room. As creepy as it sounds, Neil doesn’t mind.

“The attention is just great. It makes us feel very welcome,” he says.

And this isn’t just some showbiz answer. Neil says that among the places he’s been to, his favorite would have to be Manila.

“I seriously love Manila. It has this friendly atmosphere. There are so many things to do and it’s very affordable,” he adds.

Neil loves Twitter

If you’re not yet following @Neil38Etheridge, why not?

Neil got Twitter after much prodding from the Greatwiches (and the fans actually). He immediately got thousands of followers, most of which are female Azkal fans. Although he wasn’t very keen on it at first, he’s fallen in love with it so much that he even bought a laptop so he can reply to the fans’ tweets faster!

Neil loves girls

Right now, hundreds of girls claim to be the future Mrs. Etheridge. But if you want to be the one, then listen up.

“What catches my eye is all the things other guys want. But to get a second date, you have to be interesting. Not laying all your cards at once, not too superficial – just be yourself. It’s basically me enjoying myself with you,” he says.

Would he date a fan? Yes. Would he date someone who wasn’t into football? Surprisingly, it’s another yes.

He says the sweetest thing he’s ever done for a girl is taking her out on a river cruise, with matching candlelit dinner on the boat. (Rob reacts again and says, “Don’t believe him! He’s just seen that in a movie!”)

Valentine’s Day is almost here so it was necessary to ask him about his plans. He’s spending it with his first love – football – as Fulham has a match against Chelsea. After that, he’s probably having dinner out with his family.

So what exactly is his status?

“I’m single. Single but always dating,” he ends with a smile. -

AND WHO’S THIS LUCKY GIRL KAYA???

Neil Etheridge: One hot Azkal

Neil Etheridge, 21, was born and grew up in England to a Filipina mother from Tarlac and an English father from North London.
| Zoom

When it comes to sports, the Philippines is known for three Bs: billiards, basketball and boxing.

However last year, during the Suzuki Football Cup 2010 (organized by ASEAN Football Federation and competed in by countries from Southeast Asia), the national football team, more popularly known as the Azkals, because of their victory and good looks, brought attention to football in the country.

Although the Azkals did not bag the championship, winning a game against a strong opponent was a big achievement. The victory brought attention to football, which has been neglected for so long.

I had a chance to meet and interview Azkals’ goalkeeper, Neil Etheridge, at his test shoot, a day after he arrived from their successful match against Bangladesh in Myanmar. We talked about his early football career and his aspirations for Philippine football.

On the radar: How did you get into football?

NEIL ETHERIDGRE: Football has always been close to me. Growing up in England playing football is like breathing for most children. Just like basketball is at the moment in the Philippines. It’s such a popularsport I have always played and truly enjoyed football.

Being British-Filipino, what is Filipino in you and what is British?

I’ll start with the British ones — maybe my height. It actually comes from my Filipino side too because my grandfather is quite tall for a Filipino. My talent in football comes from my British side. More importantly, I get most of my character from my Filipino side: my hard work ethic, good attitude and humility.

I don’t usually show my humble side. Some people may think I am arrogant, but I like to be disciplined in everything I do. I am a hard worker and will never stop until I get what I aim for.

Describe Fulham FC. Is it a friendly football club?

Before Fulham, I was at Chelsea and switched club at the age of 15. I was much in-demand around that age playing for England but decided to base myself at Fulham, and never looked back.

Fulham is one of the friendliest and family-oriented clubs in England. It brings good character to myself and other players in the team.

Fulham’s playing ground is very special as it is on the banks of the Thames River. What’s it like playing there?That’s our stadium — 30 minutes by train. It’s very nice, small but very homey, not the best stadium I have played in but has a nice atmosphere. Stadium can’t be extended because of the river and parks around it, which makes it very special.What is football in UK like?

Neil started in Chelsea as a forward but eventually changed to play as a goalkeeper as suggested by his coach. (Photo by Fulham FC)

Football in UK is always improving. Players are becoming stronger, quicker, and more talented. Also, getting better at such a young age, which is good because it keeps everyone on their toes.

What made you decide to play for Philippine Azkals? Were you surprised by the Pinoy’s warm reception?

Playing for Philippine football team took me a long time to think about. I made the decisions to play at 18 — very young and told myself never to look back. I make decisions every day in life and career and always remind myself never to regret whatever I do. Everything is part of the learning process to make myself a better person.

Seeing different parts of the world that I’ve never seen is an amazing experience of playing for Azkals, but aside from that, people I’ve met and making history for a national football team will never leave my memory. I hope we can build on this success not just as a team but a country as well. We are all in this together; we could never have done this without the support of Dan Palami. I know he doesn’t like to be mentioned all the time, but I feel he deserves to be highlighted in this situation.

What do you think of football here in the Philippines?

Football needs to be developed in the Philippines. This won’t happen overnight, it is a gradual process. I’m sure with proper support and funding, it can really happen. I know there are lots of young children now who want to play and I will support and encourage as many people to get into the sport as it is very close to my heart.

Do you think Philippines can bag the Suzuki Cup in two years’ time?

Football is a crazy sport, things can happen rapidly and strangely. It’s possible, but we need to keep our feet firmly on the ground. We have to understand that we are years behind other countries in Southeast Asia. And if we want to take football seriously, it will happen.

Do you have any dreams for Philippine football?

Of course, I wouldn’t be playing for the country if I didn’t. Even after my playing career, I want to be involved. Maybe as a coach or someone in the background, our team and country has so many possibilities and so much potential. It’s just finding it all and bringing it together. I believe that we can give more and know deep-down that people will follow and support us.

Do you have a girlfriend?

I am single. But right now, I am so dedicated to football. Doesn’t mean I don’t have time for a girlfriend. It’s just that I really have a busy schedule and I fly most of the time.

Phil Younghusband on Angel Locsin: 'Sana may future kami'

In an interview with Cinema News and Push.com.phlast March 30, Phil Younghusband admitted that he invited Angel Locsin to attend a Christian church service and a dinner at Serendra last weekend. “I invited her. I’m Catholic, but I do go to Christian churches. Maganda kasi maganda ang music, there’s more interaction sa Christian church. Pero nagutom kami [kaya kami nag-dinner]. We were very hungry so we needed to eat. Yes, I always enjoy Angel's company. Sobrang privileged ako. For Angel Locsin to give me attention, it’s a good feeling.”

But aside from that, he refused to give any more details about their much-talked-about date to avoid further intrigues about their budding romance. “Before, I expressed my admiration for Angel. Ngayon gusto ko tahimik, kasi now, merong details, everyone wants to know what time we met, where we met, but I thought that should be kept quiet and secret. One thing is for sure, I’m not using Angel for publicity. It hurts that people think that I’m using her for publicity because I’m not.”

People have also noticed that Angel seemed really happy ever since they went out together to the point that she’s singing love songs in the shower as per her posts on Twitter. When asked how he feels that he might be Angel’s newest inspiration to date, Phil coyly replied, “Talaga? Hindi ko alam. If she's doing that because of me, then...I don’t know, I don’t know what to say. I think this is the first time I felt strongly for someone.”

Although they’re still getting to know each other, the Philippine Azkals striker confessed that he’s really hoping that their closeness will turn into a serious commitment someday. “I really like Angel. First of all there's the attraction, she's very attractive. And once you meet her, you’ll find that she's very down-to-earth considering what she is, she's very polite, good-mannered, she's kind, she's generous and she’s funny. I enjoy her company. Angel’s very special to me. Sana may future kami, sana.”

Despite other people’s accusations that he’s just using her for publicity, Phil’s really grateful because Angel has publicly expressed her decision to trust him instead of the rumors. “It’s nice to know that she trusts me. It gives me confidence. It makes me feel good. It gives me satisfaction. Ang dami intrigues ngayon, pero most of it are false. The truth is bent or changed. But yung importante is yung people involved know the truth,” he finally stated.

Is he worried that other guys might be interested in courting Angel as well? “She's probably one of the most sought after actresses in the Philippines. Wherever she is, there's always going to be interest towards her. I don’t know [what my advantage is], the only thing I can do is concentrate on my relationship with Angel.”

Some things about Neil Etheridge

INFO"S ABOUT NEIL ETHERIDGE:
He loves Rnb and HipHop songs
He watches Entourage from HBO.
He admits to being picky with girls.
He stopped schooling to pursue his football career.
His favorite food is adobo.
Neil Etheridge doesn’t mind going into showbiz.
He was invited to play for the Azkals in 2007, declined because he didn’t know anything about the team or language.
He love's to cook.He used to watch her mum cooking.
He's favorite color is black.
He close to his parents.
He alway bring mobile phone, wallet, keys and money.

Neil Etheridge: Showbiz can wait

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino-British Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge is not keen on entering show business.

Etheridge admitted that there are a lot of offers for him to join showbiz but his priority right now is football.

"“I have a very successful and a bright future playing football in England and I want to experience that before I really enter showbiz. If my time is up before I can enter showbiz in the Philippines, that's just life. But for me football is my main priority.... I’ll carry on doing that. It makes people happy," Etheridge said.

Etheridge made the statement in an interview with ABS-CBN News during a victory party in Makati.

Etheridge and other members of Azkals arrived in Manila early Sunday following theirsuccessful campaign in Myanmar last week. The Philippine Azkals made it to the final group of the 2012 Challenge Cup tournament by hammering out a sensational 3-0 victory over the Bangladesh Bengal Tigers on Friday.

Aside from Etheridge, Phil Younghusband, the Azkals midfielder, has also been offered showbiz projects.

It would be recalled that Phil was criticized by no less than actress Angelica Panganiban after the latter learned that the Azkals heartthrob supposedly accepted an offer to appear in an independent film.

Victory party

Meanwhile, some Azkals members, including an injured Phil, were unable to attend their victory party because of other commitments, James Younghusband said.

An excited James, who is looking forward to their future competitions, added that the team is taking a brief vacation right now before preparing for their next competition in June.

When asked about his love life, James admitted that he misses his half Filipina, half British girlfriend named Fona. He said it was difficult to communicate with her while the team was in Myanmar.

Filipino-Spanish booter Angel Aldeguer Guirado, meantime, thanked all Filipinos for their support. He scored 2 goals when the Azkals clashed with Bangladesh Bengal Tigers on Friday. -Report from Gretchen Fullido, ABS-CBN News

Azkals don't cause earthquakes: Etheridge

MANILA, Philippines – When the Philippine Azkals were in Japan for training, a major earthquake and huge tsunami struck that country. Another earthquake rocked Myanmar as it was hosting the Challenge Cup group where Azkals were one of the challengers.

These coincidences led many to say in jest that earthquakes seem to hit when the Azkals are around. And now that they are back in the country, jokes are now circulating that the Philippines might be hit next.

Filipino-British goal keeper Neil Etheridge simply shrugged off the teasing as he pointed out that earthquakes are something that cannot be predicted.

“You can’t predict anything. It’s an act of nature. It’s an act of God. You carry on with your days as normal as possible,” he said.

“I take things as they go. I got a flight back to London tomorrow evening. If anything was to occur, then it occurs.”

Etheridge also maintained that he is unfazed by all criticisms being thrown at him and his team, saying that he would rather not dwell on individuals “who criticize and hate on people.”

He said: “I’m quite confident on my own ability and I like to show that on and off the field…. Fortunately, I am who I am. I try to please many people as I can. I have lots of fans and I'd like to keep them happy. So, I would like to concentrate on people who keep me happy more than the people who hate and want to bring me down.” -Report from Gretchen Fullido, ABS-CBN News