Faye White MBE Interview
Captain of the
Arsenal and England Ladies football teams agreed to take part in
the LMS Interview! As well as playing, Faye coaches football to
girls in the greater London area for Arsenal FC, is a patron of the
Women's Sport Foundation and has worked as a commentator for Sky
Sports, Eurosport and the BBC. With her impressive career
achievements she is a true inspiration for women and girl's
football.
LMS: How old were you when you first started playing soccer and who/what inspired you to play?
Faye White: "I started playing at school, in the playground with my brother probably around the age of 7 or 8 . I used to go along to my brothers team and I used to just go along and train with them and join in but I was never allowed to play in games. I done that from about age 9/10 up to 13 and that’s when I joined a girls team because that was the first I’d heard there were any in my local area. "
LMS: What has been your career highlight to date?
FW: "European Final last summer. Getting to the Final with your country!."
LMS: What is the best/worst game you have played in and why?
FW: "Best game probably in the World Cup against Germany in 2007, we drew 0 – 0 with them. Worst game was probably losing the European Final (last Summer). "
LMS: Do you have any superstitions or pre-match rituals before a soccer match?
FW: "Not really just the fact that I like to listen to my ipod and there's a certain playlist that I like to listen to."
LMS: What advice would you give to someone thinking about getting involved in women and girls soccer?
FW: "Join a local club early, when they are at a young age because there are so many more available now a days. And just practice, don’t listen to attitudes that girls shouldn’t play football that’s long gone, there are so many more opportunities so practice hard and enjoy it."
LMS: What are your hobbies/interests when you are not playing soccer?
FW: "When I get time its just spending it with my fiancé or watching him do triathalons – he competes in triathalon competitions. Also I like to go to the cinema, I like watching movies."
LMS: In your opinion, how has women's soccer progressed since you first started playing and what would you like to see for the future of women's soccer?
FW: "In the future, it would be a professional league in this country that’s sustainable on its own right. That gets crowds of 5 to 10 thousands watching regularly, I don’t think we are gonna see 40, 50, 60 thousand people ever watching women’s football but to see a regular league in the Summer playing – I know they are looking to change it soon to a summer league but to see it getting that kind of crowds regularly would be brilliant. I can not see that happening straight away but in a few years. Its changed in the fact there are so many more girl's teams available, that there are girls who really want to pursue and play at the highest level there is a clear pathway through for them to develop that they can start from u15s and can play for England right up to the Seniors. And that so many people are now coming to watch the England matches we get up to 10 thousand people coming to watch. "
LMS: Congratulations on reaching the European Final in Finland this year. Has your experiences in the tournament influenced how the England team are preparing for their World Cup 2011 campaign?
FW: "Yeah I think so, as a player it changes your mindset as in your belief that you can play against the big teams. In the past thats not always been the case but now we do since the World Cup and the Euros its certainly in the players attitudes, and changed the way we prepare. Also as a club and as a Country, how the Coaches go about setting us goals has changed a lot as well. So we expect a lot more from our perfomances now and we want to achieve a lot more against the weaker nations and also against the better nations."
LMS: Chicago Red Stars have recently signed Katie Chapman from Arsenal. Do you feel that losing players from the Premier League is having a positive/negative effect on the English game and will this encourage a professional league in England in the near future?
FW: "I think for England it’s a positive thing because they are now getting to be a professional and can really concentrate on being a footballer and we have got quite a few girls out there now. For the league I think its quite negative, I think the quality of our league has dropped and its going to continue, we need the high quality players in our league to promote that. But what that does allow is that the younger players can now get the opportunity to be playing in first team football certainly at this club (Arsenal) and when players leave it allows the next player to come in and take their place so perhaps that’s a positive that the younger players will be playing more regular football in top level with the best teams but I think the quality of the league as far as spectator if you were trying to promote the league will drop a little bit unfortunately. "
LMS Member Questions:
Hannah Ford: Hey, I'm huge fan... Something that is on my mind is that I love football so much, but I'm 18 and only at club level. Is it too late for me to make it, am I too old now because I'm not already in an academy or have progressed through a center of excellence? I'm just worried that clubs a lot higher up are going to be focusing on younger players/talent etc.?
Faye White: "If you have been able to get in a academy at a younger age it helps but I didn’t sign for Arsenal til I was 16 so you never know, if you have got the ability and the attitude and the determination but its about getting spotted and having the chance. Have you enquired or looked at going to another club, it can depend what club your playing for."
Maire Ryan: Do you ever plan on playing in the WPS at all and what would be your ideal situation if you do/were to?
Faye White: "That depends if you get drafted and things like that. I had the opportunity but it wasn’t right for me at the time when it first started a year a go. Possibly if it came up in the future, but I am more looking forward to the start of the Summer league and helping it again to grow in this country."
LMS: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.
Visit Faye's Official Website: www.faye-white.co.uk
LMS: How old were you when you first started playing soccer and who/what inspired you to play?
Faye White: "I started playing at school, in the playground with my brother probably around the age of 7 or 8 . I used to go along to my brothers team and I used to just go along and train with them and join in but I was never allowed to play in games. I done that from about age 9/10 up to 13 and that’s when I joined a girls team because that was the first I’d heard there were any in my local area. "
LMS: What has been your career highlight to date?
FW: "European Final last summer. Getting to the Final with your country!."
LMS: What is the best/worst game you have played in and why?
FW: "Best game probably in the World Cup against Germany in 2007, we drew 0 – 0 with them. Worst game was probably losing the European Final (last Summer). "
LMS: Do you have any superstitions or pre-match rituals before a soccer match?
FW: "Not really just the fact that I like to listen to my ipod and there's a certain playlist that I like to listen to."
LMS: What advice would you give to someone thinking about getting involved in women and girls soccer?
FW: "Join a local club early, when they are at a young age because there are so many more available now a days. And just practice, don’t listen to attitudes that girls shouldn’t play football that’s long gone, there are so many more opportunities so practice hard and enjoy it."
LMS: What are your hobbies/interests when you are not playing soccer?
FW: "When I get time its just spending it with my fiancé or watching him do triathalons – he competes in triathalon competitions. Also I like to go to the cinema, I like watching movies."
LMS: In your opinion, how has women's soccer progressed since you first started playing and what would you like to see for the future of women's soccer?
FW: "In the future, it would be a professional league in this country that’s sustainable on its own right. That gets crowds of 5 to 10 thousands watching regularly, I don’t think we are gonna see 40, 50, 60 thousand people ever watching women’s football but to see a regular league in the Summer playing – I know they are looking to change it soon to a summer league but to see it getting that kind of crowds regularly would be brilliant. I can not see that happening straight away but in a few years. Its changed in the fact there are so many more girl's teams available, that there are girls who really want to pursue and play at the highest level there is a clear pathway through for them to develop that they can start from u15s and can play for England right up to the Seniors. And that so many people are now coming to watch the England matches we get up to 10 thousand people coming to watch. "
LMS: Congratulations on reaching the European Final in Finland this year. Has your experiences in the tournament influenced how the England team are preparing for their World Cup 2011 campaign?
FW: "Yeah I think so, as a player it changes your mindset as in your belief that you can play against the big teams. In the past thats not always been the case but now we do since the World Cup and the Euros its certainly in the players attitudes, and changed the way we prepare. Also as a club and as a Country, how the Coaches go about setting us goals has changed a lot as well. So we expect a lot more from our perfomances now and we want to achieve a lot more against the weaker nations and also against the better nations."
LMS: Chicago Red Stars have recently signed Katie Chapman from Arsenal. Do you feel that losing players from the Premier League is having a positive/negative effect on the English game and will this encourage a professional league in England in the near future?
FW: "I think for England it’s a positive thing because they are now getting to be a professional and can really concentrate on being a footballer and we have got quite a few girls out there now. For the league I think its quite negative, I think the quality of our league has dropped and its going to continue, we need the high quality players in our league to promote that. But what that does allow is that the younger players can now get the opportunity to be playing in first team football certainly at this club (Arsenal) and when players leave it allows the next player to come in and take their place so perhaps that’s a positive that the younger players will be playing more regular football in top level with the best teams but I think the quality of the league as far as spectator if you were trying to promote the league will drop a little bit unfortunately. "
LMS Member Questions:
Hannah Ford: Hey, I'm huge fan... Something that is on my mind is that I love football so much, but I'm 18 and only at club level. Is it too late for me to make it, am I too old now because I'm not already in an academy or have progressed through a center of excellence? I'm just worried that clubs a lot higher up are going to be focusing on younger players/talent etc.?
Faye White: "If you have been able to get in a academy at a younger age it helps but I didn’t sign for Arsenal til I was 16 so you never know, if you have got the ability and the attitude and the determination but its about getting spotted and having the chance. Have you enquired or looked at going to another club, it can depend what club your playing for."
Maire Ryan: Do you ever plan on playing in the WPS at all and what would be your ideal situation if you do/were to?
Faye White: "That depends if you get drafted and things like that. I had the opportunity but it wasn’t right for me at the time when it first started a year a go. Possibly if it came up in the future, but I am more looking forward to the start of the Summer league and helping it again to grow in this country."
LMS: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.
Visit Faye's Official Website: www.faye-white.co.uk
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