With over 40 senior games already under his belt, Mason Terry has more experience than most Academy goalkeepers his age. Aspiring to follow in the footsteps of England internationals Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope, who also made a name for themselves in non-league before making it in the Peemier League, Terry is fully embracing the challenges of National League football.
As was the case with his first loan spell at Concord Rangers, Terry is quickly becoming a fan favourite at his new side Hornchurch. Despite their midtable position in the National League South, they have one of the best defensive records in the division, Terry contributing three clean sheets, including in a recent 1-0 win over Farnborough.
Terry, who served as the first-choice goalkeeper during West Ham U18s’ historic 2022/23 season, admits the next step in his development has been a stark contrast from his title-winning days at Chadwell Heath. During his first loan spell last season with Concord Rangers, the 19-year-old shot-stopper found himself on the losing side in 22 of his 34 appearances. Despite the team’s relegation, Terry was a standout performer, earning the club’s Supporters Player of the Season award.
𝑺𝑼𝑷𝑷𝑶𝑹𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑺 𝑷𝑳𝑨𝒀𝑬𝑹 𝑶𝑭 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑬𝑨𝑺𝑶𝑵
Congratulations to Mason Terry who before kick off today was announced as our Supporters Player of the Season!
A very well deserved award and thank you to Mason for your efforts this season🙌#YAMC💛💙 pic.twitter.com/OJsOW7U0tR— Concord Rangers FC (@ConcordRangers) April 20, 2024
Reflecting on his time at Concord, Terry said: “Spending a season on loan was all about building my CV and getting a taste of men’s football. I remember my first game at Concord was away at Hastings — we lost 3-0, and I was peppered with shots. I thought, ‘What have I got myself into!’ It was completely different from what I was used to.”
“It was a bit of a shock, coming from a winning environment. Playing in front of a thousand fans, having them shouting at me, giving me loads of stick, calling me West Ham reject! Mentally it was tough to deal with because you don’t experience that kind of environment at youth level.”
Now plying his trade at another club close to home, National League South outfit Hornchurch, Terry is looking to add another 40 senior appearances to his resume and believes back-to-back promotions with his new club is a realistic ambition.
“My aim is to get another 40 games this year,” Terry said. “I’m hoping we can push for promotion. I think the play-offs would be a really good achievement. The team is full of experienced players, and there’s a real togetherness among the group which I believe can make promotion a realistic ambition.”
A winger when he first started playing football, it was between the sticks where Terry would truly find his calling. When his local team faced an unexpected goalkeeper absence, the tallest player was asked to step in, enter Mason Terry.
“Once I was put in goal, I never looked back. With every game I continued to improve and at the age of eight I was on trial at West Ham! I’ve been here ever since, going through every age group, all the retain and release years, before being offered a scholarship at 16. You don’t realise how quick it comes and goes!”
At just 19 years old, securing a second loan spell is a significant step in his development, and Terry has a clear vision for his future.
“When I look at English goalkeepers like Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson, and Ben Hamer; they all went out on multiple loans and played loads of men’s football. That pathway is something that inspires me. I want to work my way up the pyramid and reach the top.”
Terry's Hornchurch return to National League South action this Saturday as they travel to the south coast to face promotion hopefuls Worthing.
