After a lengthy break from playing 11-a-side football, Lottie Weeks successfully became a part of the ‘Gas Girls’ Development Team last Summer.
12 Months later and Weeks is temporarily hanging up her boots to take on the role as Assistant Coach for the first team next
season. The UEFA B License student spoke to us about her new role and her first season with the ‘Gas Girls’.
GG: Hi Lottie, firstly we’d like to congratulate you on your new position as Assistant Coach for the First Team. Are you looking forward to getting stuck into the new role?
LW: Thank you! Yes, I can’t wait! Coaching fills a big part of my life, but not so much with the adult side of the game, so it’s an
exciting new challenge to get stuck into and I couldn’t think of a better club to do it with!
GG: As the new position is incorporating more of a coaching role, you’ve taken a step back from playing for the time being. Was this a tricky decision to make?
LW: When the opportunity came along it wasn’t one I could turn down. To be able to complete my UEFA B is an aim I’ve had for a year or so and it’s great to be able to do it here. I’m obviously going to miss playing, but hopefully I can have an impact off the pitch rather than on and support the girls from the side lines. I may have to work on making sure my voice is louder than
Nathan’s though, which could be an impossible task!
GG: The Club may have finished it’s first season, but can you see the potential that Bristol Rovers Women’s has in the years to come?
LW: Most definitely. The way our first season ended wasn’t ideal, but it’s happened to lots of teams and we’ll just use that to build on for the upcoming season. This club is full of very talented, hardworking and inspiring individuals so the only way I can see us going is up (please ignore the cheesiness of that line!). The backing we’ve received from so many local Gas Heads
has been fantastic and that’s really helped us push on. Hopefully we can continue to pack out Estadio de Leaze!
GG: And finally, what has been your highlight since you’ve been back playing 11 a-side for the first time in many years with Bristol Rovers?
LW: Being back part of a team has been brilliant and it’s been even more enjoyable because of the results we were getting on the pitch. One of the reasons I started playing again was to hopefully inspire some of the girls I coach through work and if I’ve done that with just one, then I’ll be delighted. I’m extremely proud to pull that shirt on, just like the other girls are, and it’s had a massive impact on many of us this season. Here’s to many more years!!
(reproduced with the kind permission of Bristol Rovers Womens’ FC)