Football: Back in - boots, nappies and all

Kushla Glover with children Freya (2) and James (4 months). Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Kushla Glover with children Freya (2) and James (4 months). Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Kushla Glover is not letting breast feeding and dirty nappies get in the way of her sport.

Glover (32) is back playing football for the top Roslyn-Wakari women's football team, just a few months after giving birth to her second child, son James.

In fact, she was back kicking a ball just over a month after giving birth.

"To be honest, I could have come back about two weeks afterwards. I felt fine. I started training five weeks after I gave birth and it was no problem," she said.

"I did not want to give it away. I still enjoy it too much, and I get a lot of family support and help which makes it a lot easier. Plus the kids are pretty cool and help me out."

But when James gets hungry, he has to be fed.

"With breast feeding, I try to give James a feed just before the game starts, and also express some milk. I have done it at halftime and no-one seems to mind.

"The kids have always been good sleepers, so that makes a big difference."

Glover has played for Roslyn-Wakari since she was 13, and plays in the central midfield after beginning her career as a sweeper.

When the children came along - she also has a daughter, Freya (2) - she never thought about stopping as her love for the sport was too strong.

"I started out as the youngest and now I don't know how many games I would have played. It soon adds up.

"I've never had any serious injuries and have just wanted to keep playing."

She does not do any extra training, apart from going to practice, and said her body was holding up well.

Support from husband Mark gave her time to play. Mark plays for a Roslyn-Wakari masters side on Saturdays while she usually plays on Sundays for her side.

James' birth was planned in between the football seasons, although she had to end the season early last year as she got bigger with James.

James will get his first trip away with the football team on a trip to Christchurch today.

"My dad is going to be the driver of the bus and James will be right for the trip up there. I'm getting a wee Roslyn-Wakari vest done he can wear. Dad also drove the bus when Freya went on her first trip."

Roslyn-Wakari, which is unbeaten in the league so far this year, will take on Coastal Spirit in Christchurch tonight in a quarterfinal of the national women's knockout tournament.

It is the second year in a row the two sides have met in a quarterfinal. Last year, the Christchurch side won 5-2 but if Glover has anything to do with it, there will not be a repeat.

"We can beat them. We've got a strong team, better than last year, and the girls are in good form."

 

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