Page 14 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.4 2021-22

An interview with…..

Cassie Hyde (Leek Town)

Leek Town are adjusting to life in the FA Women’s
National League Division One Midlands after promotion
at the end of last season and things appear to be going
well, their 4-1 win against Peterborough Utd on Sunday
taking them to fifth place in the table.
Leek defender and assistant manager Cassie
Hyde told us that she feels that the team have given a
good account of themselves so far and ar ealso enjoying
life playing at a higher level:
WSS: That was a really good win for you on
Sunday, was that one of your best results so far?
CH: Sunday was one of our more convincing results, I
would say. We managed to keep it tight at the back and
create many chances. I think it could and should have
been more.
WSS: What was the most pleasing aspect of the
teams performance on Sunday?
CH: I’d say having a mix of goalscorers, it’s always
good to have players all over the pitch scoring and not
relying on just one player.
WSS: The win takes you up into fifth place, do
you feel that the team has settled into the league
now?
CH: I think we’ve given a good account of ourselves. A think our results have shown that there
are no easy games in this league but that we are up for the challenge. We’ve had some
disappointing results but some where we have maybe surprised a few of the teams that are
well established at this level.
WSS: Just how difficult though was it to make a step up in level, especially when
the team hadn’t been able to play any competitive football for several months?
CH: I don’t think we’re afraid to say it’s been an eye opener for us all. The step up is huge, not
just on the pitch but off it also, there’s a lot that goes into it but as players we’ve realised the
step up means us as a group and individuals stepping up our own performances and working
on things that in the past we maybe didn’t need to focus on. The impact Covid had on our
pre-season made it difficult to prepare maybe as we originally would have liked, but that’s
not an excuse, we have enjoyed every minute already.
WSS: This week you play away against another Staffordshire team in Burton
Albion, what sort of game are you expecting against them?
CH: We expect another tough game, Burton have made some good signings and have had
some impressive results. We’re looking forward to it.
WSS: Overall, how have you been finding it in the National League this season?
Did you bring in many new players to the squad the summer?
CH: We’re loving every minute, it’s been a learning curve already! The step up shows that
mistakes are punished that we may have got away with in the past. The tempo is a lot quicker
but ultimately that we are in a league that we feel we belong in. Every game is competitive,
meaning you have to be at it week in week out. We kept a solid core amount of players from
last season that had got us to where we are now, as a group we have a lot of belief in one
Issue no. 4 - 23 September 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk