Saddlers' boss reflects on our T&T Tour...
THE SADDLERS have returned from an extremely productive one-week pre-season training camp in Trinidad & Tobago.During our stay, the players were put through their paces on the training pitch whilst playing three games – beating Stokely Vale and a T&T Pro League XI and drawing with our hosts, Central FC - and also took part in numerous coaching sessions within the local community, where we made plenty of friends.
“It was a really good trip and something very different for us,” said manager, Dean Smith. “We stayed in Tobago first, which is a beautiful island.
“The players found it hard initially to adapt to the heat and humidity, but they knuckled down and did some good work during what was a productive four days.
“We then moved on to Trinidad, which, as a place, is a lot more fast-paced and totally different to Tobago.
“It was a busy three days there which included two games and more work within the local community as we continued to spread the word.
“There were so many positives to come out of the trip; the lads all mucked in together and in terms of the mental side of things and the camaraderie and spirit amongst the group, it only strengthened what is already an extremely tight unit.
“We had very little down-time throughout the trip, but we used what time we did have wisely and we all return with special memories from our time over there.”
The attention now turns to Saturday’s game at Kidderminster Harriers.
“We now have a few games coming up in a short space of time,” added Smith. “We’re looking at a number of trialists, so it will give us the opportunity to see what they are about as well as continuing to build up the match fitness levels of the rest of the lads.
“It will be a tough game at Kidderminster. They did well last season and came close to securing a return to The Football League.
“They are a good side, but it is the kind of test that we need.”
Admission prices at Aggborough are £10 (adults), £5 (concessions) and £2 (under-16s).