Page 121 - HMS 2020

Q Do you have a favourite memory from your time
at Heath Mount?
For me it is very hard to pin point one favourite memory as the school was magnificent! I loved every minute of it and have very fond memories. We had excellent sport
– rugby, football and even cricket – against the rivals Edge Grove, Westbrook Hay, Kingshott – but also excellent arts and crafts – pottery, cooking, etc ... school gave us all something new and different to do. We’d spent break time outdoors running around, making dens. I was also very fortunate to be able to go on a trip to the Ukraine and meet a pen pal who I had been speaking to throughout the school year.
Q What was your favourite subject?
Obviously sport is a given, but I also used to love Design Technology as we got to build loads of things and get creative. I also loved the sciences as we were able to do so many cool experiments.
Did you play plenty of Q football?
Yes, I loved it. Heath Mount was great as we were able to do such a
varied amount of sports. But yes football was probably played 90% of the time!
Q Were there any specific teachers who
encouraged you?
Yes! The Reverend Harry Matthews, who was my Headmaster at the time, the Head of Sport, Mr Paul King,
my history teacher and sports coach Mr Roger Snelling, Mr Simon Pay – who was my first football coach at Heath Mount, Mr Ivan Rock (football coach) and Mrs Maureen Brown –
my English/form teacher.
Q Have you kept in touch with any friends from
your school days?
Yes. I feel Heath Mount created an environment for us to make friends for life.
Q What is one thing you always do after a good
performance on the pitch?
I always reflect on the game. We have an app now where we can watch our clips of games so we can see how we did. I am probably my worst critic, too, so I’ll go through everything I’ve done in a game to
the utmost detail. This can help me improve my game and therefore be more productive for the team.
Q What do you do to calm your ‘butterflies’ before
you compete?
I have my ritual playlist before the game – which isn’t fast tempo music. It is very calm and soothing so I can get my mind in the right state. I also visualise a lot in the tunnel and during the warm up so that most situations that I’ll come up against in the game I’ll have already played over in my head a couple times. I feel this helps.
Which footballer do you Q look up to?
Ashley Cole. In my opinion, he’s the best left back to play in the Premier League and for England. He’s had an incredible career and you have to strive for the best to keep improving, whilst setting small and medium term goals to get there.
Q If you could play another sport, what would it be?
Golf (sunshine and travel around the world!)
Additional reporting by Zac H-L
Alumni
Interview with
Harry Toffolo
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Harry attended Heath Mount from 2000–2007 and is a Championship-level footballer who plays for Huddersfield FC. Here he shares memories from his time at school and how he stays on top of the beautiful game.