Feature Interviews
Hincks: It was amazing to be involved again
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on May 5, 2010
Ashlee Hincks made her come back from injury on Sunday against Norwich and for Ash it was not a moment to soon.
Ash has been in fine form this season and has been frustrated in recent weeks at not being able to play the game she loves.
Talking about how delighted she was to get 45 minutes on Sunday afternoon, she said: “It was amazing to be involved again on Sunday and just to be in and around the girls and the squad again was a massive boost.
“It is very safe to say I get frustrated when I have no influence on the outcome of games. I am a rubbish spectator I just want to be out on the pitch doing what I can for the team but being injured has proved how much I love football and need to be playing.”
Ash recognises that the Gills had enough chances to actually win the final but it just wasn’t the Gills day.
She added: “If Nat’s shot had gone in during the first half I reckon it definitely would have been a different game, once we score we tend to kick on and really push forward but unfortunately that didn’t happen.”
It is fair to say that in her first season with the Gills that Ashlee has been nothing short of sensational, and she has loved every minute of it.
She said: “this season has been amazing for me, playing in the Premiership I have never been at a club where we need to worry about getting relegated but in fact to try and win the league.
“With the Gills it’s about promotion which I have never gone for before so it’s been a first for me and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.
“Winning the League was the main objective set by Ian and Martin when they invited me to the club and Gills is such a massive club we definitely deserve to be in a higher division and next season that’s where we will be playing.
“Winning the Kent cup was a bonus and to be the best team in Kent just shows how far we’ve come as a team. Although the evening was a mixed one for me breaking my arm in the first 10 seconds if we hadn’t won I’d have been 10 times worse but I’m so so proud of all the girls for winning that game and gaining me a winner’s medal.”
Looking ahead to next season the striker knew it is going to be tough for the Gills because she has been there and done it before, and that experience will help her team mates.
Next season will be a huge challenge for us, it’s such a big step up and I think people need to work very hard as of now to get there fitness up and be ready to start the season the way we have this year.
“Next year the games will be a lot harder and like the Barnet game in the FA Cup that’s what we’ll have to give week in week out in order to survive in that league. I have no doubts once we strengthen our current squad we will really push for promotion again. It is just up to us and all the coaching staff to get us the right training facilities to enable us to grow as a team (first and reserves).
“This year is the first year since I was like 17 that I’ve scored the amount of goals I have. It has been great and I’ve really started to find my form again, next year will be a lot harder to score goals but I have no doubt if I keep getting the chances provided by the girls I will score plenty next year.
“It’s not about me personally, I don’t care who scores as long as we win and I can help us do so, but to score over 60 goals in one season is an achievement for anyone and I’m very proud to have done that for the Gills.”