Feature Interviews, Features

The Midweek Interview with Lou Jackson

Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on October 5, 2011

Louise Jackson has been one of the standout performers for the Reserve side this season in their first season in the Reserves Southern Division One.

Already she has played in games against Arsenal, Bristol Academy, Charlton and West Ham this season.

The Gills Ladies site caught up with Lou after the recent defeat against West Ham to get her thoughts on the season so far.

Speaking about her start to the season, Lou said: “Yes, I think it has been a very good start to the season for me personally. I feel that I have really found my place within the team and have put in some good performances to prove that I am good enough for the squad.

“I worked really hard over the summer, especially on my fitness and I think that this has definitely helped me to maintain a good level of football throughout the whole period of time I am on the pitch.”

Last season Lou was used more as a substitute and she admits that it was probably a season she needed to get used to women’s football.

She added: “As a player, it was very frustrating for me last season to not get as much match time as I had wanted and to miss out on important games like the cup final.

“I think looking back, that I did need last season to get used to women’s football as it is a big step up from playing at the centre of excellence. I also think it made me really push myself and want to prove my abilities to everyone this season, making me a better player.”
During pre-season Lou spent some time on loan at Ebbsfleet and she believes it was a massive help to her.

She said: “Going on loan to Ebbsfleet in pre-season was a very valuable experience for me. The match time and experience that I gained at Ebbsfleet was extremely good for me.

“It helped me to gain match fitness that I knew would be extremely important when coming back to Gills especially with the teams we face this year, but also gave me a massive confidence boost. Putting good performances in with fleet justified the hard work I put in over the summer and restored the confidence I had lost in my abilities the previous season.”

Lou and Enya Lynch look to be forming a good partnership and she likes having Kimi and Whit alongside them.

She added: “I feel that Enya and I have formed a good partnership at the back and work really well together. We work for each other which is really important and I feel really comfortable and confident playing next to Enya in the back four. Having Kimi and Whit on the wings is also very helpful because their experience really helps me and Enya as young players and they are two great players who always put in solid performances.

The West Ham game might not have been the right result but Lou is confident that the season is on the up.

She said: “I think we put in a great performance as a team today and the result does not reflect the hard work and effort that everyone on the pitch put in today. Everyone worked so hard and put in the maximum effort they could, which was especially difficult with the heat. We had spells of extremely good play within the game and should really focus on the positives to take forward into future fixtures.

“I think Bex becoming manager of the Ressies is brilliant for us. She has great experience as a player herself and I think she will be able to use this to develop us as a team throughout the season. She is very enthusiastic and is always very positive, giving us loads of encouragement. I think she will give the Ressies the boost we really need.”