| Information:
When this interview took place Leisa had just returned from the
Champions Trophy in Macau, China and was at a pre-season tournament at
Canterbury September 02, with the Ipswich squad. The rest of the squad
had played several successful pre-season games without her.
|
| 1)
You seemed very much at home in the England squad at the Commonwealth
Games. Do you think that your fellow players now regard you as a senior
member of the squad?
|
| Probably
in age! But that's as far as it goes I think! No. I guess we regard each
other as equals and selection is so tough you can never guarantee
yourself a place at all.
|
| 2)
What is your most favourite memory of the Commonwealth Games?
|
| If
you are talking about on the pitch then I cannot single out one
particular game. Generally the whole atmosphere was so special, and the
crowd were fantastic. Away from the pitch just being in the village,
walking in and everyone saying, " hi how did you do"? That was
unique. Not just the other athletes but also support staff and the
volunteers. It was such as big team thing not only hockey and it was
great to see every England team there.
|
| 3)
Do you think the Indian's controversial last goal, should have stood?
How would you as a player like to have seen it resolved.
|
| I
still think it is a grey area and it's quite difficult. Being in that
game you wish it hadn't happened and I 'd love to have played that 2nd
half again. But that is a difficult question really.
Were
you happy with the way it was resolved?
No! I think we had to appeal for it but all in all you wish it had never
happened, when the whistle went you wished you had either won or lost,
because we had worked so hard and played so well it didn't feel like we
deserved to lose like that
|
| 4)
Despite the disappointment, winning the Silver medal was still a major
achievement. Where is your medal now?
|
|
My medal is with Hilary Rose because she wants to show it to her Primary
School team because she had forgotten hers! But once I get it home it
will go up in one of the rooms, proudly showing. I am very proud of it a
Silver medal in the Commonwealth Games is a huge achievement.
|
| 5)
Looking ahead to the World Cup in November, how do you rate England's
chances? And if selected what are your personal goals?
|
| Chances
wise we have improved so much in 18 months and how we played at the
Commonwealths was brilliant because we are such an attacking team now
and a very confident team. We've got a lot to do after the Champions
Trophy but I think we can do well if we play to our potential.
Personally it's trying in the next two month to be the best I personally
can
(Leisa
was selected for the squad and will travel out to Australia in early
November)
|
| 6)
You missed out on the last GB squad to go the Sydney Olympics, do you
feel that the Athens Games marks your last chance at making an Olympic
team?
|
| I
haven't looked that far ahead! It's every athletes dream to go an
Olympics and it has been mine and hopefully I can fulfill it.
If
you don't make it will you stay in the game at that level to aim for
2008 in China?
I
don't know, I think I want to take each tournament as it comes and try
and keep improving, that's all I want to do and I'm enjoying it with the
team we've got very much and if I keep doing that then I'll keep going
|
| 7)
Will you view your hockey career as unfulfilled if you do not make the
GB squad?
|
| I
would be disappointed, yes because it's your dream to go to the
Olympics, so yes I will be but then I've been to the Commonwealth Games,
something I really wanted to go to and also the World Cup if I'm
selected.
|
| 8)
The English coach Trisha Herble seems to have had a startling effect on
the success of the England team. What does she do differently to other
coaches you have had?
|
|
I think it's how she makes players feel included and involved in the
process of improving the team. Everyone has an opinion and she will
listen to it which not many coaches do, they seem to have their opinion
and that's it. All 22
people or however many in that squad have a view and she'll listen and
she'll give people a chance.
|
| Do
you think that's because she has this Australian culture towards sport
or is just her personality anyway?
|
| It
could partly be to do with their culture but more than likely she has
brought some of that and some of her own personality into it. She makes
everyone feel equal, there are no real stars, everyone is treated the
same.
|
| 9)
We all know you as Ipswich stalwart Leisa King, how do you think your
club mates will react to your Commonwealth success? And do you think
they will expect more of you?
|
| No
I don't think they will because I'm having a bit of trouble getting in
the team! So no their great, they bring you down to earth and it's great
to be back with the Club, no one has given me a hard time yet! But I've
still got to get into the team!
|
| 10)
You were the hat trick heroine of the Ipswich Cup triumph last season,
what are Ipswich's targets for this season.
|
| To
try and win the games we need to win or should win and then anything
else is a bonus, but it's trying to be consistent the whole way through
the season and not just up to Christmas!! Try not to look too far ahead
and take each game as it comes, get a result and try and be consistent
and then we can get to the Cup, get to the playoffs.
|
| 11)
If you could start your hockey career all over again would you do
anything differently?
|
| I
probably wouldn't have taken a year out and would have gone to Ipswich
earlier. But all in all I'm in the England squad now and enjoying it at
the minute! I guess I wouldn't have taken that year out when I was 21
between Junior and senior squads, but would have taken the advice that I
was given, which was to continue but I only didn't because I couldn't
afford to continue. Basically it was an issue of funding and there was
not much guidance then, so it was difficult.
|
|
Thanks Leisa and Good Luck in the World Cup |
| Follow Leisa's and the team progress here |
