Interview: Mark Waters

Mark Waters joined Tooting & Mitcham United during pre season after impressing at a series of trial dates. Unbeknownst to the coaching staff at the time, Mark came with an impressive footballing CV having played for Edinburgh University, the Scottish University National Team and local team Worcester Park in their most recent winning season. We caught up with Mark after his excellent start to the season for the Terrors…

What do you do outside of football?

Well I’ve spent 8 years study architecture and currently work for a practice called KSS. The practice specialises in sports architecture, so stadiums and training grounds, working with some of the biggest clubs in the country such as Liverpool and Leicester.

What brought you to Tooting and Mitcham?

When I was returning from Edinburgh after studying I was looking for where I wanted to play next and Tooting and Mitcham was the option that covered all bases. A club with great fan base, brilliant club infrastructure and that has ambition on the pitch too.

What was your personal highlight of last season?

Captaining and winning the university league with Edinburgh.

What are your current footballing ambitions?

I want to win trophies. Those are the memories that I look back on with the most fondness so far. Personally, I would also love to continue to test my abilities at the highest level I can reach.

What is a highlight of your football career?

I’d probably have to say scoring in the last minute for the Scottish University National Team against Wales away from home. The goal was a beauty as well, got the whole bench up onto the pitch.

What do you think is the best thing about playing for Tooting and Mitcham?

It’s definitely the fans, it an honour to play for a club that has so many people invested in it. It is what drew me to come play for Tooting and Mitcham. It’s the only club I have played for where there is such a good connection between both players and fans.

Who was your favourite footballer growing up?

Frank Lampard, his goals and assists are what everyone remembers but there was so much more to his game.

If you could sign one player you've played with to play for Tooting and Mitcham who would it be?

Jack Waters, my brother. For purely selfish reasons, he has lived in America for the last 8 years so we don’t get to play together anymore.

Who or what inspires you?

Anyone who is invested in their craft, whatever that may be.

What is your favourite film/album/tv series?

Any Disney film is a winner for me.

 What is your goal for this season?

 Simple. Get promoted. On a personal note, I am aiming for both 10 goals and assists.

What team do you think was the toughest we faced so far this season?

The frustrating thing so far this season is I feel that no team should have beaten us. It has been us not performing to the level we know we’re capable of. However, as a footballing side I would say FC Romania were the toughest team we faced. The first half they were very comfortable playing around us, it took until the second half to really get a foothold in that game.

If you were in charge of the world for the day, what one thing would you change?

Find a cure for Covid so we can all return to normality.

If you had a time machine, where would you travel to and why?

A pre pandemic pub.

Do you have a message for the Tooting and Mitcham fans?

Thanks for being welcoming to me and hopefully come the end of the season we can all be celebrating a successful season.