Julie Heaton - Elbow & The Enemy

By Samantha Shilton

Name: Julie Heaton

Age: 42

Nickname: None.

Position at club: Juniors catering lady.

How long have you been connected with the club: Probably the last ten years, no, a little bit less perhaps, seven or eight I think. I’ve been bringing my son Tom here for some time before that as well.

How did this come about: Well, Tom was playing in the Juniors and my husband Ian was running one of the Junior teams so where they went I went with them as well. Gradually we built it up and I’ve been helping to run the tuck shop for about eight years now. It’s been a fair while at least! I mean my dad played cricket all the time I was growing up so I’ve always been around it and watched the game, I do enjoy it.

Favourite cricketer: Erm, I do watch the game but I wouldn’t say that I had a favourite cricketer; I know more about football than cricket really.

Favourite sportsman/woman: Francesco Totti, the Italian footballer.

Favourite TV programme: House on Channel Five.

Favourite pastime: Gardening.

What music do you like: I’ve got quite a lot of modern stuff on my iPod now, that the kids listen to. My favourite at the minute is probably Elbow, who we went to see at Leeds Academy just before Christmas, and recently went to see The Enemy at Sheffield with Tracy and George [Thompson].

Favourite film: I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Gone with the Wind, and I tend to get out all the classic chick flick films every now and again like The Wedding Planner and Serendipity, but I don’t really have a favourite one, I just like films where you don’t have to think too much about them, it’s easy watching.

If you could invite any 3 people in the world over for dinner, who would you choose and why: Jeremy Paxman, I quite like how argumentative he is, and I’m struggling for the others, I’d want people who were quite talkative. I could invite Francesco Totti and just sit and look at him, I’d be quite happy to do that. Ken Bates as well, who used to be the Chairman at Leeds, he’s quite interesting and I’m sure he’d have a few tall tales to tell.

What type of food would you serve: Italian, a risotto would be lovely.

What drinks would you serve: Wine, plenty of wine. My favourite would be a nice Pinot Grigio.

Best attribute in people, or particularly cricketers: You tend to find a lot of the Junior teams can be quite competitive, with a ‘must-win’ attitude and they don’t care how they get there. I’d like everybody to play fair, and play the game as it is meant to be played.

Worst attribute: Cheating.

What is your biggest pet peeve: Oh where to begin! Probably people that cut in front of you while driving, and then just sit in the middle lane, I hate that. And people who pull out, and then slow down. If you’re going to pull out then get moving!

Highlight of your working life: I’m a primary school teacher which is a very rewarding job on a day-to-day basis. It can grind you down a bit, but it’s nice at the end of the year to be able to look back and see that one child who had been struggling all year has made a breakthrough. It’s more little rewards than any one great highlight.

What is your favourite thing about summer: Sunshine and long evenings.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what one thing would you have with you: A book, or a bookcase full of books! The one that I could read again and again is Anna Karenina because it’s quite difficult and you’ve got to read it properly.