From Fulham to Argyle: Sorinola on trio's reunion

FROM playing for Fulham as eight-year-olds, Xavier Amaechi, Luca Ashby-Hammond and Matty Sorinola are all now teammates far away from southwest London at Plymouth Argyle.

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

The trio are all aged 24, with Amaechi and Ashby-Hammond both signing for the Pilgrims this summer and being reunited again with Sorinola, who has been at Home Park since January 2024, making him one of the longer serving players after a major turnover of the squad in recent months.

Anis Mehmeti, who is currently starring for Bristol City in the Championship, also played for Fulham at a very young age alongside Amaechi, Ashby-Hammond and Sorinola.

Sorinola said: “Me, Xav, Luca were all together from probably seven, eight until I think maybe 13-14, then Xav left. Then it was me and Luca for a bit and then I left. Now we are all back together.

“We were just playing for fun back then and seeing where it would take us. It’s nice that we have all come back together. We were all quite close back then. We are close now as well.”

He added: “I think playing football is always fun. It's what you choose to do, it's what you love doing from when you was a child. It’s what everyone wanted to grow up and do, but then there is also the part where you know you need to get three points on a matchday, so you need to put the fun to one side and get the job done.”

Sorinola, who comes from Camberwell in south London, joined Argyle after leaving Belgian club Union St Gilloise and has gone on to make a total of 38 starts and 17 substitute appearances, with his industrious displays making him popular with the Green Army.

“I have felt at home for quite a while, I feel like I have settled in really well” he said. “Obviously, I have been here quite a while now. I feel like this is my home, I feel good here.

“I really enjoy it here. It's a nice club. It’s quieter than London. We have got a few London boys in the team, maybe four, five, six of us. It’s better to get out of that London hectic environment and be just peaceful and calm.”