an interview with midfielder steve thompson:
August 1998: Martin Baker (aka Badger) conducted this interview with Steve Thompson after the 2-1 defeat at home to Hednesford Town on 22/8/98.
An edited verson appeared in the match programme for the home league game against Kidderminster Harriers on 31st August 1998. |
Looking at our form after three games we seem to have reverse our home and away form from last season. What do you think went wrong against Hednesford, particularly in the first half?
Well, I just thought it was a bad performance all over. There were a few players lacking a little bit of confidence today. Basically, we did things wrong, we didn't defend well, and after the first ten minutes we lost our way completely.as a whole unit.
After half time things improved. Was there anything in particular we did to sort that out?
Obviously, words were said at half time. I think after you've gone in 2-0 down and you've had a first half performance like that all you can do is improve, and that's not hard to do given what had gone before. During the second half, from the team we had far better input, but at the end of the day we lost 2-1.
Going back to the Kingstonian game, how much influence do you think that Jamie Pitman's early injury disturbed the team psychologically?
No, I don't really think you can consider that. All the players have played football at a reasonable level and have seen bad injuries to players at all times. Obviously we hoped that the injury to Jamie was not a bad one, but you just have to get on with it. You couldn't say that one injury could influence the whole game, particularly when we have got a good squad and there were good players on the bench, who can go on and do a job, one of whom plays in that position, so in that circumstance you can't make the injury in itself to be a massive problem. I certainly wouldn't use that as an excuse for losing the game.
Do you think Kingstonian were, as a newly promoted side raising their game to us, or do you see that team as having the makings of a top five side?
I think the whole league is very wide open this season. I think they could well finish in the top five, but I wouldn't have said they were good enough to win it.
Casting your memory back many years, you almost joined Yeovil around 10 years ago. What do you remember of that?
I just played the pre-season friendlies down here. John McGinley was playing at the time. I played against Mark Wright, in a game against Southampton, and I was looking to move to a club at a higher level. I was in the R.A.F. at the time, and very soon after I arrived I was posted to the London area, and decided that I couldn't stay.
You were playing for Saltash at the time?
Yes, I was playing for Saltash, and I was living in Weston-Super-Mare, and obviously I wanted to move up a stage, and Yeovil were giving me that chance. However, my wife was expecting a baby at the time, and my daytime job meant that I was going to be moving to London, and so in the end, I didn't end up coming down to Yeovil. At the time I thought the journey would have been too far. Having said that I know we have players coming down from London now.
Yes, the A303 has improved a little during that time!
Yes, definitely!
You're getting involved in the training nights quite heavily. What is your role in that?
Basically, I'm there to help Colin in any work he wants me to do. I take control of their fitness; there's a lot of expertise involved in the fitness side of things. I try to give the players new ideas, to see if they like them and to see if it benefits them.
At the end of the day, a players fitness depends wholly on that player; you can not push a player to work hard unless they really want to work. All you can do is give them new ideas.
That's what's been done to me in the past. I've picked up a few tips from people with expert knowledge on fitness, and I've incorporated them into my own training and I'm pretty sure that it has extended my career by a little bit.
Is that still part of your daytime job?
No, I've always had an interest in fitness and I spent five or six years as an R.A.F. fitness instructor. I take a great interest in fitness and nutrition, but most of my work now is doing fitness training with the kids or coaching and playing football here.
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