Earlier this year, Impetus chief editor Ben Gilby was on the judging panel for our partner club Pride Park’s Junior reporter competition. The prize for the three best entries was the opportunity to interview a Pride Park first-team player which we would publish on the site (14/9/23).
Above: Summer Evans (blue shirt) in action for Pride Park. Photo: Shaun Hardwick.
At the end of last season, Pride Park FC ran a competition to find our best Junior Reporters. To enter, participants were asked to submit no more than five questions they would like to ask one of our first team players – with the winners picked out by our expert football panel, including Impetus editor Ben Gilby, Jen O’Neill the Editor of She Kicks Magazine and Faye Hackwell, freelance journalist and blog writer for Her Game Too.
In the second of our winners’ interviews, Katie-Louise of our newest team, the under nine Pumas, put her questions to striker Summer Evans:
Kate-Louise: What age did you first start football and why did you choose Pride Park?
Summer: I started playing football from being a small child and played right up until I was about 16 – I then had a break and started again when I was 23, that was when I found Pride Park. There was no doubt in my mind that I would try anywhere else after a few weeks during summer playing five-a-side with the Pride Park girls at Willows, because the girls just made me feel so welcome and I just seemed to slot in.
Kate-Louise: How many goals have you scored?
Summer: Our statto tells me I have scored 82 goals in 74 league and cup games. In terms of achievements with goals – I’ll never forget setting a club record of scoring seven in one game and scoring our first goal in the Women’s FA Cup.
Kate-Louise: Have you ever been bullied about playing football?
Summer: I haven’t ever been bullied about playing football actually. I grew up playing football since a small child and always played with all the boys when I was in primary school.
Kate-Louise: What inspired you to keep going playing football?
Summer: I found my love for football again after having my daughter and I wanted a hobby. I was actually inspired by going to watch my best friend’s horse shows on weekends (show jumping) and watching her achieve ribbons and socialise with a group of people that love the same thing. I missed having the sense of achievement. So that was what gave me the push to get back into football.
Katie-Louise: Who is your biggest fan?
Summer: Definitely my dad
Katie-Louise: Thank you, Summer
Summer: Great questions, and you’re welcome!
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