Features

Entry 5: Viva Espagne!

On the 13th January I met up with the Women's England squad for our annual training camp in La Manga (Spain).

We flew out the following morning from Gatwick, arrived in Spain early afternoon and trained later in the day. For those of us that did not have a game on Sunday, we were required to train in what is known as a 'blow out' session, high intensity circuit training incorporated with footy drills. It was tough but we got through it!

We then joined in with the team session, which was tactically oriented. We trained twice a day for the rest of the week bar Thursday, where over the course of the week and prior to the trip we were required to do the Yoyo test. I did it on the Thursday, testing not being something anyone particularly enjoys but, it is an important component of measuring fitness- it was tough running against the wind, but we sufficed and joined in with the rest of the session.

Everyone's scores have slightly dipped since China but, it's a good base to build on for the rest of the year as our next major competition (UEFA Euro 2009 - Finland) is not until next year.

I guess most people would wonder what we do in between training sessions. If my roommate and I are anything to go by, mostly power napping, trying to fit my studies in, watching the universal channels of CNN/ BBC World News, or general chit chat with our team mates, eating, pool and meetings. In this time we also had one weight session in small groups, across different days bright and early with a 7.15 am alarm call.

On the final day as expected, we played three 30 minute games, we were divided into two teams and had to devise our own set pieces and warm up. It was very competitive and finished 3-1 and funnily enough it was the hottest day of the week, stark contrast  to the weather back home.

After the games we were treated to dinner at Luigi's and I can safely say there was more than enough food, much to everyone's delight! All in all it was a very intense week but, I think it's fair to say we got a lot accomplished and the coaches appeared to be happy with the aptitude of all the players, in what was a very short but effective week.

Entry 4: Hitting the big time

I was fortunate enough to attend the BBC 2007 Sports Personality Awards and it was brilliant to be sat among so many talented and legendary sports women and men. Slightly, disapointed that my team was not in the final shortlist for team of the year! But enough said on that matter! All in all this year has been positively good-it feels like two rolled into one with all the training and prep at the start of the year for the world cup, and then starting my Mres in November. The last few months have been pretty hectic with all my uni assignment deadlines and  two footy matches squeezed in per week!!! But, honestly with alll the sleepless nights and stress, i wouldn't change it for a thing, because i figure being busy all the time creates an automatic semblance of routine that is sometimes hard when you have to create it yourself! Maybe its a student thing, i don't know!!!

Usually, New Years Eve is a quiet affair for me, but this year i decided to go and see the fireworks at the London Eye and what a night it was. The fireworks were brilliant less can be said for the journey home though! What should have taken 1hr actually took over 2hrs, but it was worth it!Anywayz, after enjoying some time with my family and stuffing my face with x'mas pud i'm ready to get back to that routine. Footy training starts today (thursday 3rd) and i can't wait to catch up with all the girls and continue where we left off before x'mas. 

Happy 2008 all!

Entry 3: Another Award!

On Monday evening Arsenal Ladies went to Islington Town Hall to receive the Freedom of the Borough of Islington. 

It was awarded to the club for all the trophies we won over the 2006/2007 season and our contribution to Women's football in general. It was really an honour to be recognised for our achievements. Several local MPs were present along with a local celeb, comedian Rhona Cameron. To be honest I didn't have a clue about what this honour meant, until I saw Arsenal Ladies inscribed on the Freepersons of Islington wall, just below Arsene Wenger's name.

This honour means that we are entitled to walk sheep through the streets of Islington among other strange things. The most beneficial entitlement is free coffee at Euphorium Bakery on Upper street; being a coffee drinker this suits me down to the ground. I'm sure when I retire from football I'll look back on this day and think: Wow - we really did achieve all this! Right now, I feel proud and fortunate to participate in the game at the highest level and meet some really amazing and inspirational people.

Tuesday it was back to the training ground to put in some practical work. It was a really good session as it incorporated lots of agility and skills-based exercise, co-ordination of left foot and right foot passing, turning at pace, heading and volleying. The next part of the session focussed on individual concentration, being able to pass the ball through a target then defend in a 1v1 situation.

The final part of the session focussed an 8v7 situation, where one team is chasing the win or seeking to hold a draw.  What we got out of the session was a combination of things; quick transition of play from back to front using longer passes to go for a win, or retention of possession using shorter passes to hold on to a draw. Then off home - everyone dashes to their cars eager to get home and watch the Champions League fixtures; the Arsenal and Man United matches being the order of the night!

Entry 2: Give 'em the gong!

The highlight of this week was Arsenal winning the team of the year at the Sunday Times Women in Sports Awards - and meeting Billie Jean King. She was the guest speaker there and it was amazing to hear her talk about her career - how she used to get paid just $14 dollars a game.

She's a really inspirational person - and she did so much to help women get on in sport. If it wasn't for people like her, we wouldn't be where we are today. 

Having said that - there is still a long way to go before there's equality in sport.  It came out in the news last week that the England woman's football team only earned £40 a day while we were at the world cup. 

None of us are motivated by money but if we want to improve as elite athletes, it's important for us to feel valued. I'm not sure it's the right message to the sportswomen of the future if we're not earning much. 

Football is the fastest growing participation sport among women - but there's still a huge discrepancy between that and many other women's sports, like athletics.

The low point of the week was going out of the Uefa Cup on Wednesday night in the quarter-finals against the French team Olympique Lyonnaise.  We drew 0-0 last week in Lyone - which wasn't a bad result   - but they beat us 2-3 at Meadow Park. It wasn't a meadow though - it was a mudbath.

It was the same night as the England men's team played Croatia - which wasn't ideal for our crowd numbers. We also lost by the same score. So our defence of our Uefa Cup title is over, but unlike England we're still in the hunt for three other trophies this season. 

Entry 1: It's been a pretty eventful week this week.

Mondays are always my longest and most stressful day as I'm in lectures from nine thirty til six.

I'm doing an MRes in Politics at Brunel, which is a year's masters course before I begin my PhD. I live in Edgware and get the train: an hour there and back so I'm pretty tired when I get home. 

And Tuesday I'm back in uni  - from eleven until two thirty. But then I get to go training; I drive up to London Colney for six. It's a general training session - lots of drills, passing, technical and tactical work. 

Wednesday's another long day at uni but being a student works well with my football commitments. I got into this course through a woman who works at the club and I get funding to study. Eventually I'm going to focus on sports-related stuff.

Match day

Thursday was match-day, so I took it easy most of the day. I got to our home ground at Borehamwood for six-thirty for the game against  Watford. At half-time we were still goalless when we went back into the changing rooms - and found that all our bags had been stolen!

I only take a shoulder bag with me to matches, but it still had my Ipod, wallet and phone in it. 

Rachel Yankey's rucksack had been taken so it seems that they put all our stuff in that and walked off with no-one noticing.

The match had to be abandoned after that - no one was in the mood to carry on. I wasn't that annoyed really, once it's gone, it's gone. Still, the dressing rooms should have been locked. 

One of the girls' passports had been stolen and we've got Uefa Cup games and European Championship qualifiers coming up in Spain and France so she was pretty upset.

In training

Friday was a weights session up at Hertfordshire University with Gemma Davidson.

Because we only played half-a-game the night before it was quite intense. But after that to Brent Cross for some shopping then a half an hour run round my area. 

I didn't go out on Friday night, but I usually do, either to Upper Street or Covent Garden.

Sometimes I go out with girls from school, other times with some of the Arsenal girls, like Lianne Sanderson. I drink a little bit , not too much, of course.....

So that evening I was on the radio - speaking to the Sports Show at BBC London 94.9 about the robbery - and I sorted out my new mobile!

Pulling the boots on... again

Saturday was a lazy day ahead of matchday on Sunday. League Cup against Chelsea. It was one nil at half time, thanks to Caz Carney, but my England team-mate Eniola Aluko equalised ten minutes after the break... But it was three one at full time.

Jayne Ludlow and Lianne scored. It was a good game  and I know most of the girls.

They're all ex-Arsenal, either academy or reserve team, or I've played with them for England.  And there were about 200 supporters there which is pretty good going.

Some more good news to finish off the week: our manager Vic Akers was standing there with the bag with all our stuff in it! The police had found it in Finsbury Park. 

Obviously all the cash and phones were missing but they left the wallets and all our ID cards etc. So they were quite considerate thieves!