The Jamie Smith Interview

 In June, Jamie Smith, one of Vikings’ juniors, went to London to take part in trials for the England U16 squad.  Jamie played for Vikings U13 team in the 2006/07 season, and will be playing in the senior league next season.  The trials went well and Jamie, 13, was selected for the squad.  I spoke to him to get his views on the trials and to ask what happens next.

 How did you find the trials?

“The trials were quite tough, but fun.  There were 15 boys there trialling.  The best part was a bounce/catch exercise, where the coach would be about a metre away from you, he’d drop a little bouncy ball, it would bounce once and you had to catch it before it bounced the second time.”

 How did you think the trials had gone?

“I thought I’d done OK, but I wasn’t sure if I’d get in or not.”

 How did you feel when you found out that you had been selected?

“I was shocked.  Shocked but happy, of course.  It means a lot to me beacuse it’s something I’ve wanted for a long time.  But it also means that now I have a reputation to keep up – the coaches know who you are.”

 What happens now?

“I’m going to have to work even harder and learn more.  Training with the england squad will be once a month in London, and I might have 1-on-1’s with Pete Teague (one of the England Coaches) every two weeks or so.”