Butt role model to young guns
Veteran attacker still going strong in fifth World
Cup...
YOU could forgive Sarah Butt if she decided to hang up her
international boots up, put her lacrosse stick away to the
back of a cupboard and deservedly plonk her feet up after
four successful World Cups, a record for any woman player
in the English game.
But not this experienced attacker, 38 and still going strong,
in this her fifth World Cup since the competition's inception
in 1982.
Sarah, who plays for Berkshire Wanderers and whom heralds
from Wimbourne in Dorset, is just one of three players from
England's team with World Cup experience.
Defender Alex Harle (29) and attacker Katy Bennett (22) the
only other players to have sampled international competition
at the highest level before this year's ten-day competition
in Annapolis, Maryland.
Both Alex and Katy played in the 2001 World Cup in High Wycombe
when England won bronze, the same award that the national
team achieved at the 1997 World Cup in Edogawa, Japan.
Butt was playing her third World Cup in Japan and also played
for England in Edinburgh (1993) and in Perth (1989) - her
debut year when England won silver Down Under.
So how does she do it - keep playing to such a high standard
that is?
"I still love playing for England, but I have to admit
the heat has been very tough this year - and so have our matches,"
revealed Butt, referring to the soaring temperatures of 80+
degrees that she and the England team have been forced to
play in.
"Japan was hot and the competition was very tough, but
that's half the challenge for me. I think we've got a good
team this year. We've had a really good build up and are confident
we can win a medal.
"I've got fond memories of all the World Cups I've played
in. It's a real honour to represent England, but it does seem
to get tougher every year. If I didn't enjoy it I wouldn't
be playing."
Only Vivien Jones, the veteran Wales international, who played
in six World Cups, and current Scotland attacker Valerie Houston
(41) - now playing in her sixth World Cup - outscore Butt
in appearances in the most prestigious of women's competitions.
But does that mean Butt, England's leading scorer with ten
goals in Japan 2001, has aspirations to equal that impressive
record.
"As an older player I'm here to hopefully use my World
Cup experience to help the other girls," added Butt.
"As an older player I think that's always the case. We
have got a young team, but the more games we play the better
we will get.
"Myself and Alex Harle have been trying to help the rest
of the girls. We've had a tough induction, which I think had
a lot to do with nerves, but we're starting to perform better
now."
England were beaten by tournament favourites Australia and
the United States - no 'real' shock respectively - but victory
over Wales (opponents they have not lost to for donkey's years)
and a pending clash with Canada, potential bronze-medal hopes,
have left Butt and the national side with plenty to play for.
Butt has been in these situations before, but has special
memories of her last meeting with Canada, in Japan four years
ago when she scored the first goal and went on to score two
more in a 9-4 victory in the bronze-medal play-off.
"I remember that game really well. It was a great feeling
to play so well, but also because we won the bronze medal,"
Butt, wearing a wide smile, said.
"We know Canada will want revenge, even though we beat
them four years ago. It's a big match for both teams.
"Although it's a pool match both teams want to finish
third in the group.
"We haven't played them for four years so it will be
a bit strange, but I'm sure if we play to our strengths then
we are more than capable of winning."
No rest for the wicked then!!
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