Tuesday saw the return of the double sessions for the lads so I was up shortly after 6am to get prepared for the day ahead.
It was at 8.45am start, so I headed down for breakfast shortly after 7.30am. I try and stay away from bread normally, but thought I’d treat myself to a slice of granary toast with cheese and tomato, accompanied by a mug of cappuccino, which down very well.
It was an overcast morning at a ‘cool’ 23.5 degrees with a very welcome slight breeze. After arriving at the T3 I went straight to work, interviewing Beechy, before heading over to spend a bit of time with Josh, Johny and Steve as I didn’t want them feeling neglected. After their initial 20 minute warm up session, the ‘keepers tend to spend around the same amount of time again going their own routine with Steve, before joining in on the main sessions. You can have a look at some of their session on Dale Player by clicking HERE.
After getting some content in the bag, I thought I’d make use of the wifi on the fifth floor as it’s worlds apart from the connection in the hotel. As well as uploading Beechy’s interview, I also put the Gaffer’s goal on YouTube, which had he rattled into the bottom corner the day before. Would I be lying if I said that he may well have been dining out on the goal? No is the answer, but in fairness it was a decent strike! Haven’t seen it yet? Watch it HERE.
Jack was almost mowed down on the way back from training by a push bike, drawing every type of expletives from his mouth that you can imagine. I know I shouldn’t laugh, but his reaction was hilarious. You can put that in your ****** diary, he said after complaining to me that the cyclist shouldn't have been on the pavement in the first place.
After lunch, it was back to the raining ground for a 4.45pm start and the Gaffer, who was in a brilliant mood, joined in with Josh and Johny’s warm-up and it was great to watch as they were sent balls from every angle from him and Steve. They were made to work ridiculously hard but it was a joy to watch and the pair were pulling off some magnificent saves. KH was full of praise for them both and particularly for Josh, who has been in excellent form all week.
Jim McNulty, who had jumped in with us on the way up in the car, was forced to sit out of the session after picking up a nasty infection in a cut on his leg. The best way to describe is that he looks like he’s got an egg on his shin. Thorpey and Gaz have sorted him out with anti-biotics, which should kick-in in a day or two.
The brief respite from the burning hot temperatures was short-lived and it was just under 30 degrees when the players got their second session of the day underway. You can watch some it on our YouTube channel by clicking HERE.
As usual, tea followed at 8pm and afterwards I retired back to my room. The early rises and late nights definitely caught up with me on Tuesday night, so I headed to bed shortly after 11pm and nodded off a few times while still on the phone to my other half (no joke!) It’s not because he’s boring, but more of a reflection that I’m getting on a bit and I can longer cope like I used to in my heyday.
Oh, and I should note that it was Peter Vincenti’s birthday today. Unfortunately for him there was no cake, no card and no presents, so a Happy Birthday (which is now belated) from me will have to do!