Corinne Yorston Interview on Women's Soccer United

CY: It feels unbelievable, to know that in a few weeks we will be stepping out to play in the final of the biggest competition in the game, in front of a massive crowd, with the chance to lift a trophy..it doesn’t really get much better! It’s the first time the club has got to the final, so everyones buzzing around Bristol, we can’t wait!
WSU: After your WSL opening match defeat to Birmingham, how did your manager Mark Sampson inspire and motivate you as a team to bounce back and achieve a fantastic 3-0 victory win in the FA Women's Cup Semi Final against Liverpool?

CY: We were all hugely disappointed after the Birmingham game, but the feeling the next day was more that we didn’t want to let it ruin our season, and that we had to get over it quickly. Mark spoke to us before we had even got off the bus that night and was already motivating us for the next game, if

WSU: How would you describe the quality of football in the WSL compared to the FA women's Premier League?
CY: The standard has stepped up a level, you can see it from the games that have been played so far this season. The matches are really well contested now, every team seems capable of beating everyone else and this raises the excitement in the game. The players have had a very long pre season, and so the fitness levels are better than they’ve ever been. And this is transferring into the play on the pitch

WSU: Has your training regime with Bristol Academy increased since joining the WSL, if so how?
CY: To be honest I’ve always trained pretty hard, I’m used to training everyday. However, it used to mainly be training on my own whereas now at Bristol I’m lucky enough to have the rest of the team to train with. This season we have more squad training sessions than ever, we also do more fitness sessions in groups which is a lot easier than trying to run on your own! We’re lucky here as a lot of the girls live close or work at the club, so it means we can train together a lot more. 

WSU: Is there added pressure on you to perform, with the large amount of spectators at the games and the live TV coverage, is this something you have easily adapted to?
CY: I don’t personally feel any added pressure. I have always felt pressure on me to perform as you always have to make sure you’re playing you’re best if you’re playing at the top. But I guess with the increased levels of media attention and with more people coming to watch you’re more wary of

performing well, and we all want to put on a good show so that everyone enjoys the WSL. I think there’s more pressure on Bristol Academy to do well now due to the increased quality we have in the squad, more than ever we’re expecting good things from this club.

CORINNE YORSTON'S TEAM MATES (Bristol Academy WFC)

WSU: Biggest joker at your club?

CY: Molly Clark and Lille Bilson are always messing around and winding people up in some way!

WSU: Most skilful player?

CY: Molly Clarke

 
WSU: Quickest player?

CY: Lauren Dykes
 

CY: Definitely Emma Jones (Vinne)

WSU: Worst dancer?

CY: Has to be Stevie, our coach..he’s shown us all some funny moments on our nights out so far!

WSU: Worst taste in music?

CY: We’ve all picked a song for the changing room playlist..and most of them were ok, but Jess Fishlocks song was absolutely awful, it’s a really old and unheard of Tina Turner song!

 

WSU: You have had a great football career so far both domestically and Internationally, what would you say has been your career highlight to date?
CY: I have had a lot of great moments in football, but the top one has to be my debut for England Seniors when I came on against Germany.

WSU: How did you feel when you first learnt that you had been picked to play for the England International team?
CY: I was so so happy. It was a massive surprise when I got my first call up at youth level, I was just playing for Southampton Saints at the time and was young so hadn’t really expected it. And then being involved in the international set up and competing in the younger age groups in international competitions all I wanted to do was make it to the seniors, and so when I got my first call up it was the best feeling ever!

WSU: Not only have you been successful in your football career you also have outstanding academic achievements (Degree in biochemistry, graduated with Masters and studying for an MPhil at the FA women's Player Development Centre). If you were not a football player what career would you be doing?
CY: I currently work with the club as a Strength and Conditioning coach and this goes with my studying at Loughborough. I definitely want to progress in this career and this couples well with my football at the moment.

WSU: What advice would you give to someone thinking about playing girl's football in England?
CY: It’s such an exciting time to be playing football in this country. We’ve never had so much hype and so much interest in the game than we do now; it feels great to be a part of it. So any girl that enjoys football and who wants to get involved should do, 100%. The accessibility to clubs now is