Player Profiles 2

*MARTIN LOVEDAY*	Defender	Age 27
First Team Debut: 12th August 2007 v. Old Town Athletic (Pre-Season Friendly Match at the U.G. Sports Ground, Harlow) Reserve Team Debut: 17th August 2003 v. C.D.L. Spartans (Pre-Season Friendly Match at the Ashton Playing Fields, Woodford Green)
Played in one Pre-Season Friendly match for the Reserve Team back in 2003 (where he was our best outfield player in a 5-0 defeat !), but decided not to sign up for Rovers and continue to play for Travellers United in the Edmonton Sunday League instead. After much persuasion from his Edmonton Cricket Club colleague Alan Barnard during the Summer of 2007 though, Martin played in our first Pre-Season Friendly of the following campaign (as a goalkeeper, in which position he is also highly capable) and then decided to join us in preference to playing regular Saturday football with Danny Green for Norsemen. That proved to be a good decision as he had an excellent first season covering for Paul Woolston as a tall, strong man-marking central defender with good ball control and passing ability. Despite looking like a typical 'pub' player with a 'spare tyre' round his midriff, he is now likely to be a first-choice in that position for the coming season, although he does have to miss the odd game due to work commitments.

*GAVIN MARDELL* NEW SIGNING	Midfielder	Age 24
First Team Debut: 23rd November 2008 v. Northmet (Riverside) (Mercury Waltham Sunday League Division One Match at the Holtwhites Sports & Social Club, Enfield) Reserve Team Debut:
Gavin is a skilful midfielder with good passing ability who has been brought along by his Edmonton Cricket Club colleague Alan Barnard to help out when we are short. Is probably likely to play more than he expected though due to injuries to other players, even though he needs to improve his fitness having not played at this level before. His Uncle John was Edmonton County School Team Captain back in the early 70's (in Laurence Hughes's year) though, so Gavin has a good family pedigree !?.

*JAMIE MARTIN* NEW SIGNING	Forward or Midfielder	Age 26
First Team Debut: 31st August 2008 v. Woodhurst (Pre-Season Friendly Match at the Ashton Playing Fields, Woodford) Reserve Team Debut:
Jamie is another former London Ajax player who has been brought along to the club for this season by Rob Brown, although he would have joined last season if the League had not put a block on his registration following his team's demise. Jamie is a tall, strong forward who looked impressive in his Rovers debut, and like Terry Brown, he will add to the competition for places in the starting line-up either as an out and out forward or in an attacking midfield position.

CONOR Mc,GOVERN	Forward	Age 37
First Team Debut: 15th May 1991 v. Trojans (Friendly Match at Picketts Lock Astroturf) Reserve Team Debut: 21st September 2003 v. Flamstead End (Mercury Waltham Sunday League Division 4 Match at Cheshunt School)
A tall centre-forward of Irish descent, Conor joined the club as an inexperienced 19-year-old back in 1991 and really 'learnt his trade' with Rovers before leaving at the start of the 1996-97 Season to concentrate on Senior Saturday football with Spartan South Midlands League sides Hoddesdon Town and St. Margaretsbury. Became a real 'celebrity' when Rovers videos started getting an airing on Sky Sports' 'Soccer A.M.' show in the mid-90's, as he was dubbed the 'Pony-Tailed Poacher' because of his hairstyle at the time with 'total strangers' recognising him in the street (and in nightclubs !) as a result. Re-joined the club during the 2001-2002 Season after leaving St. Margaretsbury, but missed the second half of Season 2002-2003 and the first half of the following season due to a major ankle operation. Is now sometimes used in an attacking central midfield role when a 4-5-1 system is played, but is far more effective as a forward with overhead kicks being his speciality, despite his age ! Has been the Club's Top Goalscorer for the past four seasons and recently broke the All-Time Club First Team Goalscoring Record which had stood for nearly 20 years ! Conor is now the club Assistant Secretary, and despite now living in Leigh-On-Sea in Essex and being in the veteran stage of his career, he is still keen to continue playing regularly for as long as possible. *FACEBOOK LINK*

*TERRY MOORE*	Defender	Age 35
First Team Debut: 24th July 2005 v. Ventega Sports (Risden Wood Pre-Season Tournament Group Match at the U.G. Sports Ground, Harlow) Reserve Team Debut:
Terry is an experienced defender who was brought along to the club for the start of Season 2005-2006 by Stuart Dorward, whose wife is a friend of Terry's wife. Is originally from South-West London where he played for Barclays Bank First XI in the Southern Amateur League on Saturdays and has also played in the Combined Counties League for Raynes Park Vale. On moving to live in Edmonton six years ago he then started playing on Saturdays for Old Edmontonians First XI in the Amateur Football Combination instead, even though he didn't actually attend Edmonton County School (unlike several other Rovers players). Has continued to play for them on Saturdays where he is now their Fixture Secretary, but was always keen to play Sunday football as well and has been a key player for us since joining, winning the Players' Player Of The Year Award in his first season while playing mainly as a left-back, although he can play anywhere across the back four. Terry's younger brother Barry has played for numerous clubs in the Conference (Blue Square Premier League) and is a top Semi-Pro player.

PETER MURPHY	Midfielder	Age 44
First Team Debut: 4th September 2005 v. Broxbourne Rangers Old Boys (Mercury Waltham Sunday League Division One Match at Pound Close, Hoddesdon) Reserve Team Debut: 9th November 2003 v. Rosemill Reserves (Mercury Waltham Sunday League Division 4 Match at Grundy Park, Cheshunt)
'Murf' is an experienced left-sided midfielder who can also play in a more defensive position if needed. Joined the club in November 2003 after being brought along by his work colleague Lee Osborn and immediately made a difference to the Reserve Team’s performances, especially in the League Reserve Cup Final defeat to Upshire Reserves that season where he was one of our better players on the night. On the Reserve Team's demise at the end of the 2004-2005 Season, 'Murf' stepped up impressively into the First Team to play in Division One, despite not knowing any of his team-mates with Lee Osborn and other Reserve Team players deciding to leave the club...his ability to keep possession and his surprisingly good level of fitness for a man twice their age being the key to that ! Unfortunately, Murf missed the whole of last season due to a heel injury that he suffered in his one and only 7-a-side League match for the club, but after a series of operations, he is now keen to make a comeback this season despite his age and the fact that he lives in Billericay in Essex ! Murf has been badly missed, not just for his experience and passing ability on the field of play, but also for his highly amusing match reports, this befitting somebody who has apparently written 'critically acclaimed' books about football in the past.

VERNON 'Kizza' NXUMALO	Forward or Winger	Age 21
First Team Debut: 20th February 2005 v. F.C. Boca Hill (Mercury Waltham Sunday League Premier Division Match at Hazelwood Sports Ground) Reserve Team Debut: 27th February 2005 v. Turnford Rangers (Mercury Waltham Sunday League Division 4 Match at Albany Park)
Joined the club towards the end of Season 2004-2005 after being impressed with this website, but unlike other African youngsters who continually e-mail us thinking we are a professional club who are going to give them TV exposure and turn them into a 'Superstar', 'Kizza' (as he prefers to be known) seems happy to pay to play for us, even though he has had trials for the likes of Charlton & Fulham and is still hoping to make the grade at least semi-professionally. Indeed 'Kizza' has played on and off for numerous Ryman League clubs since joining us, but never gained a regular place in any First Team, although he will keep on trying if this profile is anything to go by. Also has his own personal website in addition to being a dab hand on Facebook ! 'Kizza' is a very quick, skilful, left-footed forward or winger, but very small in stature. However, he managed to score on both his First and Reserve Team debuts and is more than capable of gaining a regular place in the side this season if he improves his reliability, having had a lot of family and other commitments since joining us. Is also known for his various mobile phones continually running out of credit and his car running out of petrol after getting lost trying to drive to venues from his home in Erith, Kent ! *FACEBOOK LINK*

OZEL OZERMAN	Goalkeeper	Age 20
First Team Debut: 12th March 2006 v. Europa (Mercury Waltham Sunday League Division One Match at Albany Park, Enfield) Reserve Team Debut:
Ozel was brought along to the club by the now-departed Colin Bester during the Summer of 2005 to play in goal in the 7-a-side League where he performed really well and showed a lot of confidence. However, as he is only about 5 foot 4 inches tall, he is probably too small to be our regular keeper in men's 11-a-side football at the high level we currently play at, and since joining, he has normally only been used for the 11-a-side game when our other (taller) goalkeepers are not available. However, 'Oz' did have a couple of impressive performances when called upon towards the end of the 2005-2006 Season, particularly on his debut against Europa when he was named Man Of The Match. Ozel is of Turkish descent and has mainly played in the local Turkish Youth Leagues and in 7-a-side football, where he is our regular Monday Night Team's keeper during the Summer. Seems to have replaced the infamous Lee Osborn as the master of seriously bad spelling and grammar on the Forum judging by his various rants in this thread...much to the amusement of his team-mates, but Oz is a real character and has the club at heart, especially as he is bringing plenty of new players along to join us.

*TONY SPELLER*	Defender or Midfielder	Age 34
First Team Debut: 11th August 1991 v. Inter London (Pre-Season Friendly Match at Picketts Lock Astroturf) Reserve Team Debut: 10th August 2003 v. Enfield Crusaders (Pre-Season Friendly Match at the Ashton Playing Fields, Woodford Bridge)
Made his Rovers debut way back in 1991 as a 16-year-old, but only lasted 7 matches before he walked out in disgust at the poor performances and lack of team spirit that was prevalent at the time. Then went off to play for the Accies in the Edmonton Sunday League and then North Enfield in the Mercury Waltham Sunday League before deciding to return to Rovers in August 1998 when North Enfield folded. Perhaps that was no surprise, as he was an ex-Edmonton County School pupil and played cricket for Edmonton Cricket Club for a number of years, so he knew several of our players when he re-joined. Then went on a real fitness drive after being given the nickname 'Porky' on his return to the club, having had all the 'typical Rovers player' attributes of being a couple of stone overweight, unable to sprint more than 20 yards, but having excellent ball control and passing ability. Since getting married though, he has now put weight back on but is still a useful player in either the sweeper's role, in both of the full-back positions or as a holding midfielder, and although he misses quite a few matches nowadays due to family commitments, he is normally named in the squad and quite often the starting line-up whenever he is available.

KRIS SPYROU	Midfielder	Age 20
First Team Debut: 15th January 2006 v. Metroline Uniques (Mercury Waltham Sunday League Division One Match at Enfield Playing Fields) Reserve Team Debut:
Kris is another friend of Colin Bester's from Youth 7-a-side football who was brought along to train with the club early in Season 2004-2005 with a view to us building a side for the future. Was then signed up to play in matches after some promising performances at training and made an impressive debut against Metroline Uniques when coming on as a substitute. Is still a bit on the small side for men's football but has good pace and fitness and could be quite effective in his preferred wide right-sided midfield role. Has been playing more regularly for us in the Summer 7-a-side League than the 11-a-side game since joining, as he has been studying Sports Science at University in Richmond, Surrey since leaving school. Is hoping to play more regularly this season though.

*GAVIN STACEY* NEW SIGNING	Goalkeeper	Age 25
First Team Debut: 14th September 2008 v. Abbey Youth Old Boys (Mercury Waltham Sunday League Division One Match at Hazelwood Sports Ground) Reserve Team Debut:
Although he has the same name as a TV comedy show, Gavin is hopefully not a comedian in goal, as he has been signed up to cover for the likely frequent absences of others in that position this season. Has been brought along to the club during the Summer by his Norsemen colleagues Danny Green and Scott Jenkins and has looked useful in our 7-a-side League matches. Like Ozel Ozerman though, Gavin is not very tall, so he may struggle to get into the team as a first-choice for 11-a-side.

*ANDREW WARMERDAM*	Defender	Age 28
First Team Debut: 6th November 2005 v. Lea Valley Royals (Mercury Waltham Sunday League Senior Cup Second Round Match at Hazelwood Sports Ground) Reserve Team Debut:
Andrew (who is otherwise known as 'Warmers') was formerly with the now-defunct ex-Premier Division side Everest before being 'persuaded' to play 11-a-side for us during Season 2005-2006 by Stuart Dorward, having featured in our 7-a-side League campaign during the previous Summer...in which he still plays regularly for us on Thursday nights. 'Warmers' is a tall central defender who has also played for Hertford Town in the Ryman League on Saturdays and also for Cuffley in the Herts Senior County League on a rather more regular basis. Is now concentrating on playing Saturday football for the newly-formed Goffs Oak in the Hertford & District League along with other ex-Everest players, but will once again help us out on Sundays if needed...as he did towards the end of last season. (He is unable to play regularly on both days due to family commitments). Is normally used in a sweeper's role when he plays for us, although he can play anywhere in defence. Used to be known as 'Flo' in his Everest days due to his similarity to former Chelsea & Norway forward Tore Andre Flo, although our players sometimes prefer to call him Calum Davenport ! *FACEBOOK LINK*

*ARON WHITE* NEW SIGNING	Midfielder	Age 27
First Team Debut: 24th August 2008 v. A.C. Enfield (Pre-Season Friendly Match at the Downs, Brimsdown) Reserve Team Debut:
Aron is a skilful left-footed midfielder who has been brought along to the club this Summer by his Norsemen colleagues Danny Green and Scott Jenkins. Has played a few 7-a-side League matches during the Summer but struggled in that due to wearing flat-soled trainers instead of Astroturf boots, but he looked good on his 11-a-side debut in Pre-Season and will definitely challenge for a place on the left-hand side of midfield.

*JAMES WHITTICK* NEW SIGNING	Forward	Age 19
First Team Debut: 31st August 2008 v. Woodhurst (Pre-Season Friendly Match at the Ashton Playing Fields, Woodford) Reserve Team Debut:
James is a tall centre-forward who has been brought along to the club this Summer by his friends from Youth 7-a-side League football, Tem Adil and Ozel Ozerman. Has been very impressive in the Summer 7-a-side League so far, scoring a number of quality goals and showing good technique, but the big test will come when he plays 11-a-side as he has not played in mens' football at our level before. However, he is keen to attend training (if we can find somewhere to train !) and learn from our more experienced players, and it is hoped that he will be an ideal long-term successor to the ageing Conor Mc,Govern (who also joined the club as a raw 19-year-old). May have to settle for a substitutes role initially, but is definitely a good prospect who is also likely to bring other promising youngsters along to join the club.

*CLARK WILLIAMS*	Midfielder	Age 32
First Team Debut: 27th August 2006 v. Flamstead End (Pre-Season Friendly Match at the Country Club, Cheshunt) Reserve Team Debut: 10th August 2003 v. Enfield Crusaders (Pre-Season Friendly Match at Ashton Playing Fields, Woodford)
Was initially brought along to the club by Lee Osborn back in August 2003 when he played five games for the Reserve Team, but he then decided to return to his former club in another League in the Boreham Wood area as he was a First Team-quality player but Osborn was not ! However, Clark decided to re-join at the start of Season 2006-2007 after getting to know Stuart Dorward and other current First Team players at Osborn's Stag Do in Bournemouth, and he ended up being one of our better players that season in a central midfield position, where he fitted in well with our style of play as he is an excellent passer of the ball and comfortable in possession. However, Clark struggled for most of last season due to arthritis in his foot (with his job as a postman not helping !?), but a series of operations this Summer and during the early part of this season will hopefully cure the problem and see him back challenging for a place in the starting line-up after Christmas. *FACEBOOK LINK*

*PAUL WOOLSTON*	Defender	Age 39
First Team Debut: 31st July 2001 v. Trojans (Pre-Season Friendly Match at Picketts Lock Astroturf) Reserve Team Debut: 10th August 2003 v. Enfield Crusaders (Pre-Season Friendly Match at Ashton Playing Fields, Woodford)
A highly experienced Central Defender, 'Wooly' was brought along to the club at the start of the 2001-2002 Season by Lee Osborn, whose ex-wife is a friend of 'Wooly's wife. Is a real 100% 'winner' (unlike some other Rovers players ?!) and therefore added some much-needed strength and commitment to the side as soon as he joined, which undoubtedly helped us to gain promotion to the Premier Division in his first season and then finish third in that Division the following season. 'Wooly' has also played for the now-defunct Enfield Park in the Mercury Waltham Sunday League in their Premier Division days in the early-90's whilst turning out for both Harlow Town & Sawbridgeworth Town on Saturdays, but he spent most of his footballing 'career' playing regularly for Hertford Town in the Ryman League until leaving them during the 2000-2001 Season to concentrate on Sunday football with Rovers. Has been a regular since joining, but missed over half of our matches last season due to family commitments and may well have to do so again this season. Despite struggling with his fitness because of that, Wooly is still an important player (when available) as he is just about the only one who shouts, calls and organises things on the field of play !