Etheridge sits out first game with Charlton

MANILA, Philippines - Neil Etheridge, the 21-year-old goalie for the Azkals, showed up for his first game with the Charlton Athletic in the League One Tuesday.

The 6-foot-1 goalkeeper did not get to play but said it was a good feeling to be out with his new team after being loaned by Fulham for a month.

 “Didn’t play tonight. Disappointing loss but was good to get to know everyone,” said Etheridge on his Twitter account following a 2-0 loss to the MK Dons.

Charlton Athletic will play Brentford on March 12, and Etheridge should be hoping that he gets his first crack as the newest member of Charlton Athletic.

 “It was like the first day at school again,” said Etheridge, whose mother hails from Tarlac.

He made a lot of heads turn, mostly women, when he played for the Azkals in the AFF Suzuki Cup in Vietnam, Laos and Indonesia last year.

Then last February, he was at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City where the Azkals defeated Mongolia, 2-0, in the opening leg of their AFC Challenge Cup tie.

Etheridge will miss the second match against Mongolia on March 15 in Ulan Bator.

Etheridge came close to his first appearance for Fulham when he was named on the substitute bench as second choice for Mark Schwarzer following an injury to regular second choice goalkeeper David Stockdale.

Etheridge’s name now appears in Charlton Athletic’s official lineup in the Internet, with the Philippine flag posted as well.