Lorraine Cole - Close encounters
Author: Derinda Fullerton
Date: 11 Oct 2006
Category: Interviews
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE BADMINTON KIND
#1 LORRAINE COLE
Lorraine Cole is a very well known face in badminton, especially to the hundreds
of juniors she has coached since she retired from playing professionally.
Lorraine played for Warwickshire as a junior but joined Worcestershire as a senior. At 19 she started playing open tournaments around the country (and regularly
lost in the 1st round!). She found a great coach and supporter in Maurice Robinson and his wife Cicely
and over a period of 6/7 years started to compete with international players.
After reaching the semi-finals of the Nationals, she took a gamble and gave up
her job to train full time. At the ripe old age of 28 she won her 1st England cap and beat the Chinese at
mixed doubles with partner Julian Robertson in the England v China tour.
Lorraine now coaches Worcestershire, Leicestershire, an East Midlands Squad and
an elite cell in the Midlands. She is a high performance coach at Loughborough University alongside Andy Wood,
and is Under 19 National coach.
At the height of her playing career she was ranked No 10 in the world for ladies
doubles and No 12 for mixed doubles, and was ranked No 1 in Europe for a year
in mixed and ladies doubles.
She is in the process of creating her own website which will feature badminton
tips, information about coaching and a diary of her travels with the England juniors.
Let's probe Mrs Cole and see what we can find out……….
How did you start playing badminton?
The maths teacher at my school ran a club at 7.30 in the morning!
Did he spot your potential straight away?
He picked out another girl and myself and made enquiries at a local sports shop. They suggested a club for us to attend and we then had trials with Warwickshire
and were selected.
Were you good at other sports?
I was U19 National javelin champion and represented England at international
level, throwing further than Tessa Sanderson and Fatima Whitbread at the same
age! I played county netball and was 2nd in the West Midlands for discus.
You've had some pretty good partners haven't you?
Yes, Julian Robertson, Nathan Robertson, Anthony Clark and Tony Cole!
Who was the most influential person in your career?
John Patterson, who coached me in javelin and badminton.
What was the highlight of your playing career?
Representing England and winning my 1st International Tournament in Ireland.
Tell us some of the places you have played badminton.
Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark,
Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Iceland, Norway, Russia,
America, Canada, Mauritius, Thailand, Malaysia.
Where is the best place you have played?
Mauritius.
And the worst?
Russia. It was so grey, and there were wild cats chasing mice in the playing hall! The food was terrible. Kelly Morgan and I cried because we wanted to go home!
What is your most embarrassing badminton moment?
I was playing the Welsh Open wearing a pair of black shorts with pockets. I got my thumb stuck in the pocket and ripped my shorts all the way down, revealing
my knickers! I desperately looked for another pair and ended up borrowing some from Jo Goode!
You must have had some brilliant opponents. Who would you say were the toughest?
Probably Gail and Nathan. Also, Kim Dong Moon and Ra Kyung Min. Before the World Championships the Korean team came to Milton Keynes to train
and we had a team practise. James Anderson and I played them and beat them - mind you, they had just stepped off a plane after travelling for 24 hours!
How did you make the transition from player to coach?
I took all the coaching courses while I was a player and then an opportunity
arose while I was training at Loughborough University. A part time job came up in the high performance centre which helped me make
the decision to retire. Badminton England really encouraged me to become a coach.
What do you think are the most important qualities in a good coach?
To understand the players you are coaching. Find out what makes them tick and how much they are prepared to do. Then you can get the most out of them.
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
Seeing improvement in my players and watching them play and enjoy it. If I'm watching them compete and they do something we've worked on in their
game, they look at me and it's a great feeling.
What is the best piece of advice you could give a young player?
Listen to everyone. Respect the information people give you whether you agree with it or not. Keep an open mind. Try things. Everyone has something to offer you.
Now you spend so much time coaching, do you find time to play yourself?
I only really play Premier A county weekends for Worcestershire. I would still play tournaments but it would clash with my role as Under 19 age
group coach.
Do you ever feel sick of badminton? If so, what do you do?
Sometimes, but only because I have to spend so much time indoors and I love being
outdoors. To recharge I get outside with Tony and our three rescued dogs. They're lurchers and they're my babies! I also love to play golf, go cycling and ski.
Are you excited about the London Olympics?
I was so excited when I heard the news I burst into tears! I'm going to have 2 weeks off and see everything!
What do you think we ought to do in the run up to it?
Provide more facilities purely for badminton which are affordable for children. Facilities in the UK are so poor compared to Europe.
Who is your all time favourite player?
Park Joo Bong of Korea who coached me at the National Badminton Centre. I also looked up to Gill Clark who was a role model for me. She had such a strong personality.
And your current favourite players?
Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms, and I'm lucky enough to have played doubles with
both of them. They are such an inspiration to juniors, showing them what you can achieve,
as was our friend and Worcestershire team-mate Simon Archer. Tony and I jumped up and down in bed in the early hours of the morning watching
him win his Olympic Bronze medal. It was really emotional, we were so proud of him!
Have you encountered any discrimination in badminton because of your ginger hair?
No! I only get abuse at home where I'm called Ging!
Do you have any ambitions?
Professionally, I would love to run a badminton centre offering a good service
for players at all levels. Personally, to stay healthy and have a balanced life, spending time with Tony
and the dogs and doing all the things I enjoy.
Do you have any regrets?
Only that the two people who started me playing and had the biggest influence
on me didn't see me play for England. But otherwise, no. Badminton has given me so much and I've had a brilliant time!
