Neil Etheridge

Neil Leonard Dula Etheridge (born 7 February 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Thai League 1 club Buriram United and captains the Philippines national team.

After establishing himself as Cardiff City's first choice goalkeeper, he helped the Welsh side win promotion to the Premier League.

[7] Having played for local youth sides Cuffy Chiefs and Hart Boys,[6] Etheridge began attending the Chelsea Academy in 2003 at under-14 level,[7] where he was also teammates with eventual Philippine internationals James and Phil Younghusband.

[9] During his loan spell, he received the first red card of his career, being sent off for dissent during a 2–1 defeat to Sittingbourne in a preliminary round of the FA Trophy.

By the end of the season he signed a new one-year deal, keeping him at Fulham until the summer of 2011, attributing his contract extension to his quick recovery.

[11] Etheridge received his first senior team call-up on 11 September 2010, when he was named on the substitutes' bench as cover for Mark Schwarzer in a home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers due to an injury to regular second-choice goalkeeper David Stockdale.

[16] On 23 March 2012 upon his return to Fulham after completing his international duties, it was announced that Etheridge would be out for the rest of the season due to a wrist injury that was sustained in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup.

Struggling to make a living, he was set to return to the Philippines and had already sold his house and cars before joining League One club Oldham Athletic on a two-month deal on 30 October 2014.

[30] He made one appearance for Oldham during his time with the club during a Football League Trophy match against Preston North End.

"[38] In his first season, he made 50 appearances in all competitions, helping the side reach the League One play-offs where they suffered defeat in the semi-final to Barnsley.

[44] On 30 May 2017, Etheridge signed for Championship club Cardiff City on a free transfer, after rejecting a new three-year contract with Walsall.

[45] Etheridge made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2017–18 season, keeping a clean sheet during a 1–0 victory over Burton Albion.

[46] Etheridge performed well enough playing for Cardiff that fellow goalkeeper Lee Camp was loaned to Sunderland after recovering from injury.

[50] On 11 August 2018, he became the first player from the Philippines and Southeast Asia to play in the Premier League,[51] in a 2–0 loss to AFC Bournemouth, during which he saved a penalty from Callum Wilson.

[54] Cardiff were relegated from the Premier League after finishing in 18th position and Etheridge won the club's Player of the Year award.

[55] On the opening day of the 2019–20 season, Etheridge suffered a hamstring injury during a 3–2 loss at Wigan Athletic, which ruled him out for two months.

[57] He was on the bench for the following day's match, in which the 19-year-old debutant Zach Jeacock kept a clean sheet,[59] and came into the starting eleven for the goalless draw at Swansea City a week later.

[70] He eventually accepted the invitation after speaking to the new manager and learning about the setup,[69] and after encouragement from Chelsea youth teammate Phil Younghusband.

[71] He made his full international debut against Brunei in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers,[72] playing in all three of his country's matches.

He kept three clean sheets but the Philippines still failed to qualify due to an inferior goal difference to group winners Tajikistan.

[76] Etheridge later credited his debut for the Philippines in 2008 to his later progress in his club career in 2018 due to having experienced playing for the national team before a crowd of up to 90,000.

Etheridge announced his interest to join the squad for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup but was originally in doubt to be included due to club commitments.

Etheridge training with Fulham in 2010
Etheridge lining up for the Philippines in 2015
Etheridge during a match against Singapore