One-on-One
One-on-one: Charlotte Abbott
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on November 5, 2009
This week we caught up with Gills Ladies striker Charlotte Abbott, who told us about her experiences in football so far, shared her ambitions for the future and tried to explain her allegiance to Manchester United!
What position do you play?
Striker. Not that I can score at the moment!
Tell us about your footballing career so far.
I used to play in goal when I was about eight for a local boys’ side but I quit because I didn’t like the fact the ball was getting kicked at me!
I then joined Gillingham Centre of Excellence U12’s and found it too hard, which probably shows why I am so lazy now! I then played a few seasons for Castle Colts before returning to the Centre of Excellence at U16 but more prepared this time.
I then had a few offers from different clubs but Ian (Varley) managed to persuade me to join up with the Ladies, and I am pleased I did!
I spent three years playing for Kent Schools FA and despite the stupid amount of money we had to pay it was a great three years! We won the South East Essex Cup Final and also travelled to America on tour, which was one of the best experiences ever. We narrowly lost in the final to South Coast Storm from Florida. What a holiday!
You’re one of the younger players in the squad, what’s it like playing against much older players, compared to playing for your school team/Kent Schools etc?
I have definitely noticed a big step up from the Centre of Excellence. Everyone is at a different level to what I was used to when playing against people my own age. The pace of the game is much quicker and also the strength of opposition is greater.
I prefer playing against older players because it is more of a challenge to play against, and with, people with a lot more experience than me. I have noticed the difference in my football since I have moved up from the Centre of Excellence!
Picture the scene – you’re picking teams, playground style, and you’re one of the captains. Which one of your Gills Ladies team-mates would you pick first, and why?
Well I would say the ‘superstars’ but on this occasion it has to be Kate Foster! I have known Kate for a long time and she is quality! Also I would have to pick her because I can’t play against her. Every time we do we end up taking each other out!
I’ve heard training is usually pretty lively. Tell us a bit about that.
Training is always lively! All the girls love a bit of banter but then again who doesn’t!
On a Tuesday we have a 6 a side tournament at the end, just a bit of fun but then it soon turns competitive. There is usually some cheating going on with people changing the amount of points they have, not mentioning any names Terri Reynolds! Thursday is more serious as we concentrate on the weekend’s game ahead but we all still have a good laugh.
You’re a Manchester United fan. Why?!
Haha typical! First of all I would just like to clear up that I am not a glory hunter! My uncle has always supported United and I was very close to him when I was younger and he used to take me to the games and I just became hooked and have supported them ever since. My dad wasn’t overly happy about this as he is a Chelsea fan and my brother is a Spurs fan, so it’s always eventful in my house on matchdays!
When I can I go to watch United play with my uncle but I usually have other commitments and it’s a bit of a trek, but I have been lucky enough to not only watch them play in the Premiership but in two FA Cup Semi Finals. The first was when we beat Newcastle at the Millennium Stadium, and the second was against Everton last season at Wembley but we won’t talk about the result on that one!
Man United are full of quality players, and I would just like to add that Gillingham have signed our youngster Febian Brandy on loan, so maybe now they might start winning! Good lad!
What are your ambitions for when you leave school?
Well I cannot wait to leave school! I haven’t quite made up my mind yet what I want to do. I am either going to go to university, probably Manchester because its far away and then I can get a season ticket at United! My other option is to apply for a scholarship in America to play football. I am hoping to eventually do both but I just got to decide in what order!
Spill the beans on one of your teammates and tell us what they’re like.
I’m going to have to pick Jess Nunn. She is a quality goalkeeper but also one of the funniest girls I know and always makes me laugh. She comes out with some of the most stupid and random comments but you have got to love her for it!
I always remember the time at Centre of Excellence and we were playing Brighton away, Jess spent the first half hour of the trip being pulled down a hill by all the girls, this was just before they pulled me down and broke my wrist, thanks for that one Lauren Harris!
When it came to the match Jess wouldn’t let the referee start the game because there was a bee in her area, which was very funny! Jess must have a thing with animals – a bee last season and a dead pigeon this season. Disappointed I missed the dead pigeon incident though.
Tell us a bit about what you do outside of football – weekends, hobbies, interests etc.
I don’t really have a lot of free time outside of football because my days are spent at school, not that I do a lot there! In the evenings if I do not have training I am usually either at the gym or sitting on the laptop!
On a Monday I help out at Gillingham Centre of Excellence for our ressies’ captain Kimi Bolden with her U10s team and then I stick around for the U14s and U16s training session. I usually end up joining in with the sessions instead of helping and whenever I am not doing anything everyone likes to crack the joke that I have been dropped from the U10’s team!
At the weekends I am usually hanging around in town with mates and although I love a good party my Saturday nights have been taken over by the X Factor, I love it!