JAMES HATCH REVEALED

Behind Closed Doors caught up with the Hatch-meister. Hatchy had an impressive first season with LSAFC, demonstrated by him being named in the LSAFC Online Team of the Season. He is a quality midfield player who will be looking to progress through the squads next year, and considering his undoubted quality that shouldn't be too much of a problem for the lad. In this feature Hatchy reveals the highlights from his footballing career and his views on the football world...

Can you tell me about your time at Loughborough, highlights and lowlights...  
Well my highlights are pretty much going out most nights (except before matchdays obviously lol), of course being in 05/06 team of the season and playing for the freshers dream team towards the end of last season. Is an honour to be chosen amongst all the players eligible for this, as the standard is very good!

Lowlights involve getting an award after managing to sky two shots over the bar from about 10 yards in my first game! One more thing, not sure whether it’s a highlight or a lowlight, some how managing to get the semi final of the league (freshers 1^st team), even though we’d probably only won about 2 games, quite disappointing and amusing at the same time!

Can you shed any light on your footy career outside of Loughborough?
Erm… well started about the age of 11, which I suppose is quite late. I played for Leicestershire county U16’s to U18’s, being captain in my last year and got my county cap at 17. Played for Hinckley United's first team at the age of 16. Have had numerous trials for Leicester City, spent a few months at Coventry City’s academy, and rejected a contract from Mansfield Town’s Youth Team to carry on with my studies. Probably my highlight was having England School Boys U18’s trials, unfortunately I managed to get injured, and was still injured for the next trials that came round a few months later!! Seriously annoyed about that one!!

What is the highest achievement in your career so far?
Probably the England trials and playing for Hinckley United’s First Team.

And which is your most memorable game for Loughborough?
Don’t think I really have one to be honest, probably for me the best football I played, and the team as a whole was in the Inter Uni Cup thing, when we lost to the 2^nd team in the final.

Who is your best friend in LSAFC (not including Nick Drew)?  
Don’t really have one, but quite a few. Have some great mates in the freshers team last year, the bant was unbelievable, training wouldn’t be the same without the likes of Drew, Chazzy P, Pubby etc, in fact all of them. Pretty good mates with Scotty, as he lived about 5 doors down in the same corridor, we always had these competitions see whose better, think I'm winning at the mo!

Have you any funny tales that you can tell us?
Yeah, I've got quite a few, just cant remember them, pretty sure they probably involve one if not all of the 3, Drew, Chazzy P and Pubby!

Which team do you support?  
Man U****d

Who is your childhood hero and why?  
Zinedine Zidane since I started playing. So about 8-9 years or so. The things he can do with a ball makes him nothing short of a genius. He makes the game look so easy, and he glides past players as though their not there! Despite what he did in the world cup, it was never going to change what he’s already accomplished and why he is the best player there has been for years!

What three items would you take to a desert island and why?
A desert island! Why would you wanna be on one of those, well probably a boat and sat nav to get me off it…..erm… and a seriously hot bird to keep me occupied on the boat, say Jessica Simpson she’ll do! Lol.

Are there any youngsters we should look out for coming through the ranks?
Ask me in about 6 months! 

Who has the most bant in the whole club?
Lol there’s a quite a few people, for me Drew, prob the one I know best, the guy cracks me up big-time!

Have you any sayings that will become part of Loughborough Life next year, e.g. ‘unbelievable scenes’?
Not at the mo no.

What’s your preference between these street cred benchmarks:  
Lost or Prison Break? That’s a tough one, gonna have to go with prison break
Pat Butcher or Pauline Fowler? Honestly…. Never herd of either of them!
Prada shoes or my granddad sandles? What kinda Q is that, Prada shoes obv.
Peter Crouch or Michael Owen? Crouchy, he’s playing amazing at the mo!
Russ Noble or Andy Noble? Hmmm…. Have to be Russ; don’t think I've played with Andy yet!
Pint or girlie bottle? Quite close, have to say pint.
Eddie Izzard or Jimmy Carr? Both pretty funny, have to say Carr.

Lastly, what does the future hold for your football career? Do you have a message for the lads at LSAFC?
Hopefully lots of success and medals. Lol. Erm a message…. Nope not really, I've ran outta ideas, this is like writing an essay!


A huge thanks to Hatchy for this article. Thank you also for your help with things fella, it's really appreciated!