If at first ...

By David B30/3/2022 00:41Wed Mar 30 00:41:58 2022

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In summer 2020 Rihards Matrevics didn’t have a club and, having done well in his short spell with Hendon in the Covid-cancelled 2019-20 season, the club kept an eye on his progress. When Jonathan North picked up an injury, Lee contacted the big goalkeeper and he was back between the posts for the Greens. He joined St Albans and played for them until their 2020-21 season was cancelled and went home.

His performances in the Latvian Premier League earned him a call-up to the national squad last summer and he has been a regular on the bench for Latvia since then. Yesterday, at Ta’Qali National Stadium in Azerbaijan, Rihards came off the bench with Latvia drawing 0–0. He kept a clean sheet in the second and Latvia scored once to win the game.

Heartiest congratulations to a lovely bloke who deserved everything he gets because he has worked so hard and overcome many obstacles.

Hendon have, once again, helped in the career development of a full international.