TopJLax

TopJLax catches up with the man from Blues
For those of you who haven't heard of Matthew Bagley, then this is about to change. When this summers World Championship kicks off in Manchester, one of the players stepping onto the field in an England jersey will be Blues player Matt Bagley, who is just coming off a Southern Senior Flags winning campaign with the boys in blue. Coming to the end of a grueling training routine to get ready for the Worlds, TopJLax caught up with Matt to find out how it was all going...

MagicD: Hey Matt, for everyone who doesn't know you out there, tell us a little about where you first picked up lacrosse, and how you ended up on these shores...


Matt Bagley: I first started playing lacrosse in northern New Hampshire at my lake house when I was about 10-years-old. There was a bunch of kids who came up for the summer, and we all took part in a bunch of scheduled activities, like canoeing, hiking and sports. McWhippett was one of those options, and as soon as I got a stick in my hands, I just couldn't put it down! My Mom had to drag me home for supper most nights because I would be out on the field shooting until well after sundown!

Then, when I graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, I spent 2 years teaching at a private boarding school in Connecticut. About mid-way through my second year of teaching though, I felt I needed a break and decided to spend a year in Adelaide, Australia. I contacted a team down there called the East Torrens Redwings, and became the equivalent of an LDO for them; playing, coaching and recruiting for the club. Upon returning to the States, however, I couldn't wait to get back overseas and soon found a job teaching English and History at TASIS England, right outside of London. The rest is history!  

MD: What made you choose Blue's lacrosse club and how long have you been playing with them?

MB: After I signed my contract with TASIS, I began looking for lacrosse opportunities in England, and discovered a number of clubs around the area. I got in touch with a few of them, but it was Amit Biswas of the Blues who impressed me the most. He seemed the most friendly, and even offered to pick me up from the airport if I needed it! Ian Ballantine drove me to my first training at the Clockhouse sometime in the fall of 2005, and I remember it poured the entire time. That was 5 years ago now, but I still love every minute of it!

MD: How did trialling for England come about?

MB: In April of 2008, I went on tour with the Blues up north to the Stockport Easter 8's, where we played a warm-up game against Heaton-Mersey. Dave Hallows watched me play, and passed my name onto Phil Collier, who then came to watch me later that month in Birmingham when the South Team played a friendly against Cheshire. He invited me to trial for the upcoming European Championships that summer, and I managed to get a place on the England squad!

MD: What has been involved in terms of preparation for this year's World Cup Squads,... training/personal work/tours etc?

MB: To be honest, it's been very tough to prepare for the World Championships. Since the majority of the team is based in Manchester, they get together about 3-4 times a week to work on stick skills and fitness. Unfortunately, living near London, I can only attend sessions on the weekend, which means I'm required to train on my own time. So, I run every morning, lift in the afternoons and occasionally take a bucket of balls out to the field in the evenings. It keeps me fit, but it's definitely lonely training all by yourself! 

MD: Has your playing style changed or adapted after your time with the national squad?

MB: Definitely! Although it's not so much "changed" and "adapted", but rather "reverted" back to the style I used to play in college. The international game is much like university lacrosse is in the States; fast paced, quick transition, short shifts, and plenty of specialization. With a bench full of great players, it's not about hiding your weaknesses, but exploiting your strengths. Everyone on the National Squad has a role to play, and they are the best in the country at what they do; albeit facing off, short stick defense, attacking from X, etc. They are a small cog in a big machine, and we all understand that no one is greater than the whole.

MD: What are the expectations and goals for the team this summer?

MB: Being the host country, there is plenty of expectations on us to do well in these Games. But we haven't really focused too much on what our big goals are just yet. Right now, it's about finding that camaraderie with your teammates, learning how they play, and bonding as a unit. Obviously, we would like to finish in the Top 3, but the coaches have adopted a "one-game-at-a-time" policy, and it's worked a charm. We're focused on beating the Iroquois on opening night, and not looking beyond that. With all the pressure of a World Championship, you can get overwhelmed by expectations, and it's important the coaches break it down into bit-sized, manageable pieces for all of us. 

MD: How was the recent tour to the States, and how do you feel the team is settling together now?

MB: The recent tour to the States was fantastic, and really brought us together as a team. We played 3 games over the course of a weekend in Baltimore, beginning with the Chesapeake Bayhawks on Friday night, the HEADstrong Foundation on Saturday, and the Denver Outlaws on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, we weren't very sharp in our 26-3 drubbing at the hands of the Bayhawks, but bounced back to beat Team HEADstrong (with the Team USA keeper in net) 10-3, and played Denver to a 1 goal loss in the finale, 7-6. It was our first couple of games since the final 23-man squad was named, and we all left Maryland feeling pretty good about what we had accomplished. What's amazing though is the "team" mentality we exhibit. There are no cliques, egos or personality conflicts within the squad; everyone likes everyone else, and we genuinely have a good time playing lax and hanging out with each other! 

MD: As one of the first players who play their club lacrosse regularly in the South to make it into the England team in recent years, do you think this will encourage other southerners to trial in future?

MB: I definitely hope so! There is so much talent and potential in the South right now, that I hope people will take the initiative to trial for the England team in the future. In fact, four of our Blues juniors - James Kidd, Lewis Arnold, Ewan Willsmer and Ollie Barrett - were just selected to play for the England U-19's festival team, which will take place in conjunction with the World Games this summer. The South is starting to make more of an impact on the lacrosse world, and it's exciting to watch! 

MD: Do you have a personal points target for the championship? (C'mon...everyone has one... (10,10))??

MB: I actually don't! I would like to run on the first midfield line if I can swing it - which will give me more scoring opportunities - but I'd be much happier netting 1 goal in a win, than 5 in a loss. I just hope I play my best, and we enjoy success as a team! 

MD: The important question... next season, will you sport the Blues helmet, or will it be too hard to take the England one off?

MB: Great question! I've actually never understood why people wear their international helmets when playing for their club. Other than trying to intimidate your opposition by showing off your personal accomplishments, there really is no reason to wear it. Well... maybe if you are too broke to buy another one. :) But when I step on the pitch with my Blues teammates - I'm a part of that team, not England - and will save that lid for another time.  

MD: What has been the proudest moment in your lacrosse career so far?

MB: Man, it just keeps getting better and better! I've been lucky to have so many great lacrosse moments to choose from, but the one that springs to mind was phoning my Mom to tell her I made the final cut for the England Squad this spring. I woke her up at 6:00am and she just burst into tears. My father passed away 10 years ago in April 2000, and he was my biggest fan. So, everything I've accomplished in my career so far has been for him and my Mom, who have supported me and been wonderful throughout everything. It's the best feeling in the world to know you've made your parents proud. But I also play for the rest of my family, and for my Blues teammates as well. And hopefully I can make them all proud of me again this summer at the World Games!

Thanks to Matt Bagley for taking the time out of his busy schedule to talk to TopJLax, and there's one thing for sure if No.17 scored for England this summer, we might just been cheering that little bit harder than normal.