Interview ~ Mark Rogers

Updating 'The Story So Far' of our first current Full International player, Mark Rogers.

WWISC: Mark! Its unusual for me to interview someone twice but since I last interviewed you a lot has happened. As I recall the last time you had just signed your first contract with Wycombe Wanderers.

Mark: Yes! That's a long time ago now. I hadn't thought about it as being so long ago and yes a lot has happened since then. But it is just as special now as it was then to play for Wycombe Wanderers. Back then it was a big moment for me to sign a pro contract but you have to keep moving onwards and upwards as the gaffer says in the programmes. I feel I've done my best playing for the club and one of the benefits has been playing for Canada and recently captaining Wycombe Wanderers which was a goal I'd set for myself but more towards the future. It's all happened quite quickly and I'm proud of that accomplishment.

WWISC: As we've said a lot has happened since the last interview and one of those was you getting married.

Mark: Of course, your wedding day is one of the most special days of your life and married life is great. We have a nice home in Wycombe and we're very happy. There's probably not enough tape on that machine to talk about it all.

WWISC: Tell me about your Canadian call-up. How it’s affected yourself and your family back in Canada.

Mark: It was a very difficult decision at first as I didn't want to fly all the way over there and miss four games at Wycombe Wanderers and not play for Canada. As it turned out it was ok! As I only missed one game for Canada, I got four caps and only missed the game against the USA in the semi-final. It was disappointing that I didn't even get on as a sub, and rightfully so as it turns out as we lost on penalties in the end. It’s quite an honour and obviously I was proud to play for my country. All the games were televised live in Canada and my family got to watch and the whole town got behind me. It was a good time for my family and I think that I performed fairly well with only one hic-cup of the own goal but it wasn't as bad as it sounds.

WWISC: We saw that you'd put through your own net and we were a bit concerned for you.

Mark: It was a great experience and I don't think I did myself any harm, hopefully I'll get another call-up in the future and hopefully it won't affect any Wycombe games.

WWISC: We've noticed that instead of the few minutes you were getting when they first called you, you seem to be getting more full or best part of the games now.

Mark: Yes out of the four I got two full caps, one eighty-two minutes, I came on after about ten minutes and the other was about thirty/thirty-five minutes and I came on at right wingback.

WWISC: Is that the position you were selected to play?

Mark: No! Only that one game, we were two-nil up at the time and he put me out there just to help defend the lead. The other games I played at centre half.

WWISC: Since we last talked you have moved 'inside' towards a central defensive position, are you happier playing there?

Mark: Oh yes of course and I bet you can see that from the stand. I've always said that I'm a centre half but I was happy to play in any position for the Gaffer and if I could do a job at right-back for him, then I was happy do it. Just as long as I was playing but I'm defiantly more comfortable in the middle and I think it’s shown.

WWISC: Being awarded the Captaincy, was it a shock to you?

Mark: Defiantly! Without a doubt I was defiantly shocked. To be awarded that this early in my Wycombe career but if the gaffer thinks I can fulfil that role then I'm proud to wear the armband for Wycombe. I think at the moment I'm just keeping it warm for guys like Paul McCarthy, Rhino and Cousin.

WWISC: You say that but Rhino played tonight and you were still skipper.

Mark: Yes but I think that was a superstition as I'd gone three in three.

WWISC: I think that might have been blown tonight after the Blackpool game.

Mark: We'd won the first three where I was captain, but the Gaffer wants guys who have a 'captain-type-personality' and if he thinks of me in that category then that's great, it's quite a compliment but as I said the other lads have far more experience then me and they'll wear it far more often then me. You can add Brownie to that list, those guys have big personalities and they're good leaders. And if I can be added to that list, then it really is quite an honour.

WWISC: We'll put tonight down as a hic-up, how do you see the rest of the season going?

Mark: We have to fight for a play-off spot, we do have a chance and we have to go for it. I'm not a fortune teller but just like I said, I think we have a great chance. I'm not going to stand here and say that we are or we're not going to do it but we're going to give it 110% every game. The thing is we had a bad game tonight but we worked very hard, we just played poorly.

WWISC: Nothing went right for us tonight.

Mark: That's right, no matter what we tried it was just frustrating and the players are as disappointed as anybody.

WWISC: As long as they're disappointed it show a good attitude towards the club.

Mark: Of course they are. You can see the reactions of the players on the pitch, were throwing tackles in. We're trying to get back in the game. I was caught offside for one, in fact I don't even know if it was me that was off-side. Then with Jocky's goal and we're back in it but what can you do about a ball that gets stuck in the mud.

WWISC: Mark I'd like to thank you. We wanted an update from you as so much has happened to you since we last talked.

Mark: You're welcome! Anytime.

WWISC Notes:
Mark really is a gent and it’s obvious that he is Wycombe Wanderers through and through. Long may he continue pulling on the blue quarters of Wycombe Wanderers.