Filipino Neil Etheridge made history by becoming the first English Premier League player from Southeast Asia to secure promotion to the English top flight, as we reported in May this year.
Etheridge’s side, Cardiff City, finished second after a goalless draw with Reading in the final match of the second tier of the English Football League Championship, securing their place in the Premier League next season.
Despite signing for Premier League side Fulham in 2008, Etheridge was never included in the London club’s squad. He later had short spells with Oldham Athletic and Carlton Athletic before joining Walsall in 2015.
It was there that he began to make a name for himself, making a total of 94 appearances before being acquired by Cardiff in 2017, where he played in all but one match that season.
Etheridge, who traces his Filipino roots to Tarlac through his mother, said he was “thrilled” by Cardiff’s success this year and the prospect of a move to the Premier League.
“The team has been strong all year and to finish in this style was fantastic,” he told Cardiff City FC reporters.
“There aren’t many words that can be said, it’s just amazing.”
Etheridge is also the goalkeeper for the Philippine national team, known as the Azkals.
“He has been an integral part of Cardiff City’s success this season. We hope that one day he will become the first Filipino player to play in the English Premier League next season,” said PFF president Mariano Araneta Jr.
While many outstanding East Asians such as South Korea’s Ki Sung-Yeung and Japan’s Shinji Kagawa have made their mark on the English Premier League, Etheridge can now be proud of being the first Southeast Asian player to he made his debut in the league and the new season started in August this year.
Source : Asian correspondent
