ERIC MERCIECA
Date of birth: August 19, 1980
Nationality: Maltese
Position: goalkeeper
Appearances for Club: 46
Goals for Club: 0
Eric Mercieca made his debut in the 1998/99
season coming in as a substitute in a 6-1 win over Qala St. Joseph in the G.F.A.
Cup. He totaled ten appearances mostly in emergency situations backing up
Jonathan Xuereb. He distinguished himself in the Jum
il-Helsien Cup final against Zebbug R. of 1999/00 when he
kept a clean sheet in the penalty shootout loss to the
Rovers. His best effort was in the opening match of the
2000/01 league season when he also registered a shutout in
a start against Oratory Youths.
When the Club acquired
Sammy Attard, Eric sought first team action elsewhere and spent some time on loan to Qala St. Joseph. He
grew in stature as a result of an increase in playing
time and the Club reaped the benefits when he became the
Club's first choice goalkeeper in the 2003/04 season. He
came through with several good performances which took the
team to third place and to success in the Super Cup.
Eric came up through the
Club's youths system and has played for the Under/12,
Under/14 and Under/16. He experienced success with the
Under/21side with which he won two championships in
1997/98 and 1998/99. Eric was also part of the Club's
successful 1998/99 campaign in the first division (premier
format) and the Super Cup. He was also part of the
treble-winning squad in 2000/01.
Eric was the Blacks'
regular goalkeeper until Daniel Dengaky was acquired
midway through the Blacks' 2004/05 championship winning
season. Even then he made a crucial appearance in the
narrow 2nd round win over Kercem Ajax and played in all of
the Blacks' post-league cup-ties when Ghajnsielem made it
to the final of the G.F.A. Cup and Super Cup.
