The heat is on for The Shots
By Charlie OliverJuly 02, 2009
IT’S been perfect weather for tennis and cricket this week – but not so for some intense football training.
But that is exactly what has been keeping Aldershot’s players hot and bothered, as they returned to pre-season traning on Monday.
While manager Gary Waddock invited triallists along to join in training from Tuesday, ahead of friendlies away to Alton Town Saturday (3pm) and Camberley Town (Tuesday, July 7, 7.45pm, at Krooner Park), Monday was a get-together solely for the 16 contracted players.
They will not enter the ‘friendly fray’ until the visit of Queens Park Rangers to the Rec, a week on Saturday.
Given the searing heat this week, any of those 16 who had not kept up with their close-season training programmes would have quickly had their lack of fitness exposed but, instead, Waddock was delighted with the shape of his players.
“I’m very satisfied with the condition of the players,” said Waddock. “It’s been a really good test in this weather and the lads have given training a right go. Their attitude has been spot on.
“They have looked after themselves and the weight and body-fat readings have been good.”
Only Anthony Straker has not been able to take part in training, after reporting back suffering from flu – not of the swine variety, Waddock hastened to add – and being sent home to recuperate.
“The players have worked extremely hard and we have made sure the training has been varied. There’s been plenty of ball, as well as physical, work, and I even got involved. I need to keep myself ticking over, I may be needed," added Waddock.
While 47-year-old Waddock speaks in jest, he suggested that his squad may not be expanded far beyond the current number of 16.
“With the budget I have, I may only be able to bring in a couple more players,” said Waddock. “I may possibly only be working with a squad of 18 players this season. Getting in a new right back is a priority and perhaps there will be only one more player after that.”
Waddock is still waiting to hear whether a players’ transfer fund set up by club press officer Nick Fryer has gained Football Association and Football League approval.
“There is no news on that and I am eager for the outcome to be known. I have one or two things in the pipeline; whether or not I can finalise those deals remains to be seen and that money could be pivotal," said Waddock.
Not that the manager had any negatives to say to his men when they de-briefed on Monday morning.
“It is a tough time for everyone, in all types of work. But everything we said was extremely positive,” said Waddock. “We showed in the first half of last season how capable we can be at League Two level and the players, I hope, will have learned from that experience and also from mistakes that were made.
“I have a good group; I have quality, if not quantity, and that may not be a bad thing. We have to remember where this club has come from and we are slowly building a solid foundation, that hopefully will last. We are not so far away from as high as Aldershot football has ever been, let’s not forget that; we have come a long way in the two years since I joined.”
As for the Alton and Camberley games, Waddock said they were important matches, at which he could assess a number of non-contracted players. "All of our friendlies are important and they will build towards that first game of the season, against Darlington in five weeks' time."
Aldershot’s League Two match away to Northampton Town has been moved forward a day to Friday February 12, with a 7.45pm kick-off.
Club physio Jim Joyce has left Aldershot to join League One’s Brighton & Hove Albion. Sean Faulkner has joined Gary Waddock's coaching staff, as conditioning coach. Faulkner previously worked with Waddock at Queens Park Rangers.
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