Jason Cowley Interview
It’s Play-Off Semi-Final time tomorrow, and to build up to the occasion, we caught up with our top goalscorer this season Jason Cowley.
Cowls has scored 31 goals and assisted 11 this season in the league, and shared with us his thoughts on qualifying for the play-offs, the season as a whole, and the big game!
Feelings of making the play-offs
“We feel like we deserve to be in the play-offs. We have all worked hard, and I think the fact that we got their on goal difference just shows that we worked very well as a team going forward.“
Feelings of playing in the game at the weekend
“We had no nerves at the weekend, our main aim was to beat Sudbury. We knew that we had to win, and hope that everything else fell into place. We won, in good fashion, but obviously couldn’t impact on what was happening elsewhere. Sometimes replying on others puts the pressure on them, because they have more to lose in some way. Kettering & Needham have had great seasons, but both had tricky tests on the final day, and it allowed for us to get into the play-offs on goal difference.”
Awareness of the other scores while playing
“At half-time, we all had a look at the scores, and were well aware. During the game, I had no idea what was happening, aside from the odd cheer around the ground. It made the atmosphere even greater because we were celebrating even though we hadn’t scored at that moment. We weren’t certain exactly what was happening with regards to which result was going our way, but we were feeding off the fans who knew, and then it was just about us getting through to the end. Obviously I came off the pitch a bit earlier in the second half, so I knew that Needham were losing. Then, it was just a waiting game until our whistle was blown to see how it ended in Suffolk.”
Celebrating with the fans after Sudbury game
“We knew it was a very important job to get into the play-offs, but we know that the job is far from done. The celebrations after the game, which we’ve all seen, were amazing, but we want to be celebrating even bigger, and have even more memories to share with the fans this time next week. We obviously kept it under-raps because we still have two games to achieve our goal, with Spalding, and hopefully the final. The fans were unbelievable, and it just makes me want to know what it will be like if we can achieve even greater things in the next week.”
How the season as Jason Cowley has gone
“Personally, I feel like I have performed not to the best of my ability because i still feel like I have more to give to the team. I beat myself up when I don’t score because I back myself, and I’m constantly wanting to improve. In all honesty I feel like I could have scored more goals than I have. I enjoy scoring goals, and that’s why I am here to put the ball in the net and help us win games. I started the season, very fit and happy. I’ve know Keith & Russ for a very long time, and some of the lads, so I always felt coming here was a good fit for me. I’ve been happy here since day dot, and it’s shown on the pitch because when I’m feeling good, and go onto that pitch, my only focus is on playing to my best, showing that I’m capable, scoring, and helping the team out. I don’t have a favourite game this season. Obviously every game I’ve scored in, but aside from that all I see is that each game in the next game. All I think about is scoring, but I’ve got to be honest I did enjoy the games where we came from behind. The Bishop’s Stortford game where we were 4-1 down with minutes to go and we were able to bring it to 4 all and grab a huge point, what an amazing night that was.”
Feelings ahead of the play-offs tomorrow
“I’m excited, and ready to go on Wednesday. I don’t feel like we have any pressure. We finished 5th, they finished 2nd. They could have won the league, because them and Harborough were consistently the best two sides in the division. We know their qualities, but we are ready to have a good go at it. We were obviously disappointed with the way the league game went against them last month. We know what we did that game, and how to not do it again. We know we won’t be able to go there and turn them over, because it’s a one off game and anything can happen. It’s a bit like the FA Cup, when Bristol play Man City, we all know the game can go either way, because it’s all about what happens on the day. We need to be ready for Spalding, and try our very best to be in Monday’s final.”
Message to the Yeltz fans
“To the fans, get down to the game if you can because your support is second to none. I love the fans here, home and away always singing and chanting my name. I just love it. I can hear them from anywhere when I’m on the pitch. I know we can bring just as many fans to the game as Spalding, and I just want to see the ground packed out with our fans, cheering us on, and being that 12th man because it helps the team out massively”