FORGET Erling Haaland, it’s Eddie Simon who is the deadliest striker in England at the moment.
The non-league star made history for eighth tier Walton & Hersham over the weekend.
His hat-trick against Uxbridge was his fourth consecutive three-goal haul – the most prolific run ANY footballer in England’s top eight divisions has managed..
Astonishingly, he’s netted 12 goals in his last four matches for the Non League Division One club, as they challenge for the title.
But, football isn’t how he makes his living.
For Simon is also a qualified dentist.
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History maker
Simon appeared on Sky Sports News, where he was asked how it feels to be called ‘England’s most prolific striker.’
“Really proud to be labelled as that,” he told Sky Sports News.
‘It’s been a really good couple of months, especially the last month, scoring four hat-tricks in a row. You couldn’t really dream of something like that.”
Astonishingly, the hot-shot forward wasn’t aware that he was in line to break the record for most consecutive hat-tricks with his third strike against Uxbridge.
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Carrying a knock, he had asked his coach to take him off as a precaution – with a top of the table clash against Basingstoke Town coming up next.
Simon revealed: “I didn’t even know that was an English record. I found out after the goal.
“When I scored the second goal, I’ve been carrying a muscle injury for a few weeks, I did say to the bench to take me off as a precaution because we’ve got a big game coming up on Saturday.
“I managed to stay on for a couple of extra minutes, a defender slipped, and I was able to capitalise.
“But I was just about to be taken off just before the third one went in.
“Now I know that it’s an English record, I’m happy I didn’t come off!”
Haaland comparison
Erling Haaland has scored six hat-tricks in all competitions this season, albeit for Man City.
However, Simon’s goalscoring feat has led to him being compared to the Norwegian superstar.
“Seeing all these things going out – comparing our goal records… obviously they play a slightly different level,” the non-league hitman said.
“But it’s good to be in that conversation.”
Unlike Haaland, though, Simon’s not been able to keep the match balls.
“If I take all the match balls home, the boys said they would have to order a new batch,” he joked.
“So I haven’t been taking them home.
“Unfortunately at the level we play at, we don’t really do that.”
Dentistry and Wag
For his day job, Simon is a qualified dentist.
He works at a practice in west London, and hopes to run his own in the future.
Asked if dentistry is tougher than scoring goals, Simon joked: “My practice owner would not be happy if I say root canal.
“Scoring hat-tricks is definitely harder.”
For now, he’s happy to bask in the glory of his record-breaking achievement.
After scoring his hat-trick clinching goal last time out, Simon was seen running to the crowd to kiss his fiancee, Miriana.
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He laughed: “She wasn’t too happy that has gone all over the place, she’s a bit embarrassed.”
Simon is taking is taking his new-found fame in his stride. And he’s certainly ‘filling’ his boots in both of his jobs.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
