Mendy thrilled to touch Wood
FROM BUILDING SITE TO A DATE WITH EVERTON
A YEAR ago, Jacob Mendy was scrapping at the bottom of the National League with Wealdstone and working on a building site to make ends meet.
Tonight, the wing-back who spent a year as a teenager in the Atletico Madrid academy and last year studied for a business degree, will step out at Goodison to try to topple Everton and book a quarterfinal place for Boreham Wood, this year’s FA Cup fairy tale.
Having seen off Barnet, Eastleigh, St Albans City, AFC Wimbledon and Bournemouth – without conceding a goal – The Wood enter a different realm against a team who may be in Premier League danger but still rank 79 places higher in the pyramid.
As he prepared for the biggest game of his life, the 25-year-old from Gambia said: “I’m only experiencing the magic of the FA Cup this season.
“Nothing compares to the experiences I’ve had this season coming from where I’m coming from and how hard I’ve worked.”
At 17, Mendy spent a year in Atletico’s academy after initially rebuffing their interest during his time in Spain, where he had moved to live with his father. But the Spanish giants returned at the end of the season.
After his time in Spain ended, Mendy had spells at Shoreham, Redhill and Carshalton Athletic before joining semi-pro Wealdstone which led to his big break with Boreham Wood last July.
While at Wealdstone he worked on a construction site, helping to build houses in Kensington.
Although Mendy has played as a winger and a full-back, Wood manager Luke Garrard nudged him into the wingback slot where he has thrived this season.
Mendy said: “When I started as a full-back, Dani Alves was in his prime at Barcelona. I looked up to him and Eric Abidal, but I was more like Alves.
“I love attacking and defending. He was the modern wing-back before it became a thing.
“I like driving past people to create chances but I love defending as well.”
The only thing he would love more is a quarter-final tie.