Player Interview: Katherine Jaycock

Posted on 07. Oct, 2012 by Stephen Kennedy in Features

It took SWFitba some time to catch up with our Stewart First Aid Training Player of the Match for our First Division League Cup Final way back in July. Firstly we were not permitted to present the trophy on the night and then the problems of linking up the player, our sponsors and myself proved to be a difficult task as everyone was so busy at the time.

However we finally came together at Lesser Hampden before Queens Park’s Scottish Cup tie against Hibernian, where April Stewart Cross and Joanna Dunbar from Stewart First Aid Training presented the trophy to our winner. Her interview was carried out online with her responses below.

For those that may have forgotten – Queens Park defeated Paisley Saints on penalties after the match remained goalless following 120 minutes of football.

Name: Katherine Jaycock

Image by Stephen Kennedy

Age: 21

Home town: Athy, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Employment/Education: Student at Glasgow Univeristy studying Primary Teaching

Team: Queens Park

Position: Central Midfield

Time at club: Two seasons

Previous clubs:  Glasgow University Women’s Football Club and before that just playing for fun with my friends in fields!

Team supported:  There aren’t many good Irish football teams so I supported Rugby more because we’re actually good at that but if I’m watching football I can’t help but root for the underdog.

Favourite Food: Lemon Cheesecake

Favourite Drink: Ice Tea

Favourite TV show: One Tree Hill

Favourite Film: Coach Carter

As our Stewart First Aid Training Player of the Match please tell us how you feel and what it means to you:

It was great to win Player of the Match, it was a tough battle in the centre of the park and it’s always nice to be recognised for the work you do but to be honest, everybody deserved to be Player of the Match on this evening.  It was a true team effort to win the Cup.

If you hadn’t been chosen as our POTM, who would you have given it too and why:

As mentioned above, the whole team deserved Player of the Match but if I was to pick one player it would be Carol McCluskey. Carol’s battling for the ball in the centre of the park and leadership throughout the game was pivotal to winning the match.

What did winning the cup feel like; what does it mean to you personally and the team:

It was amazing experience. Queens Park are constantly fighting and it was nice to have something to show for it. There was definitely a sense of satisfaction knowing we had battled our way above other teams in the league to win this Cup.

How did you get involved in football: You can blame my older brother. He needed somebody to pass the ball back to him in the garden or be his goalkeeper. From then on I just ended up loving the game and eventually joined the women’s football club when I came to Glasgow University.

Who were your heroes that inspired you to play the game: Pretty stereotypical but David Beckham when I was younger and in the women’s game,  Abby Wambach from the USA Women’s National Team.

SWFitba: It’s good to see a female player being mentioned!

What is your best memory from the game: Probably playing St. Andrews in the University League before I joined Queens Park. I’d always struggled to transfer my game from 7 a-side to 11 a-side and then in that game it just clicked. Even though we lost, I really enjoyed the game.

And your worst: I once had my front tooth knocked out in a clash of heads during a match. Although I don’t know whether I’d really say that was a memory as I still can’t really recall what happened.

What is your greatest achievement in the game: Probably being voted  to be Captain of the Glasgow University Women’s Football Club.

What would you like to achieve: To keep challenging myself to improve and getting as far as I possibly can.

Every fancied coaching/management: I have coached children in summer camps and Primary Schools, which was really enjoyable, so I would definitely try coaching if the opportunity arose.

Which team is the most difficult you have played against and why: We recently played Hibs Premier team in the Scottish Cup. They were just so organised and fast and definitely a team which was difficult to play against but a great experience nevertheless.

What can be done to improve the status of the women’s game in Scotland: Encourage more young girls into the Sport with school programmes and other opportunities of entering the game. Also, more advertising of the women’s game and improved live coverage of the top women’s games in Scotland.

What can SWFitba do better or add to what it does for the women’s game: Possibly have video highlights of the games which are attended but other than that just continue to promote women’s football in all leagues in Scotland.

SWFitba: I would love to introduce video highlights but time is a major factor. If anyone out there wishes to volunteer their services, SWFitba would welcome you.

What do think about the current set up such as leagues or cups in the game, could it be improved: I think the current set up is acceptable.

Who is the club’s party animal: Probably Megan Lloyd.  She loves to go out and is generally always organising a night out for the team.

Who is the club’s comedian: Kirsteen Martin (Keeks). She is a joker, just always doing something stupid and funny.

Tell us something about yourself we do not know: I have weird phobia of Ketchup.

SWFitba: How I wish you had expanded on that quote

Many thanks to Katherine for taking part in our interview and being a good sport. Good luck to you and the girls in the future.