Martin gives us the latest news as the squad depart for Le Touquet
Good Afternoon
We have just left Priestfield Stadium with the players and staff packed in to two minibuses and good old Malcolm in the kit van, tucked in behind with our physio Gary. They are all following behind me and Monty, leading the way to our pre-season training camp in France.
Monty is hanging out the window on the M2, the music is blaring and I’m grinning from ear to ear, looking in my rear-view mirror, seeing our professional footballers in the minibuses, wearing Gillingham T-Shirts, like schoolboys on the way to an after school match.
There are no aeroplanes, there is no luxury travel team coach, it is a very special feeling.
We are one player short of what we were due to take this morning but hopefully that will be resolved this afternoon.
The young players that we have taken have done well in pre-season, improved their testing times and have earned the opportunity to be on the trip.
The full travelling party for the training camp in Le Touquet is:
PLAYERS
Stuart Nelson, Tom Gowans, Matt Fish, Stephen Butcher, Joe Martin, Josh Hare, Adam Barrett, Danny Kedwell, Leon Legge, Callum Davies, Steven Gregory, Devante McKain, Chris Whelpdale, Harry Grant, Amine Linganzi, Adam Birchall, Bradley Dack, Antonio German, Sam Muggleton, Myles Weston, Tom Derry, Bayo Akinfenwa and Charlie Allen.
STAFF
Martin
Monty
John Schofield
Carl Muggleton
James Russell
Gary Hemens
Malcolm Stedman
I was going to announce the squad numbers for the year ahead this morning but I will now leave this and announce them on our official website this evening at 6.00pm.
We have no injuries and a fully fit squad ready to cross the channel. I think it will be a good idea to share with our supporters the training schedule in place. I’m sure people feel it sounds wonderful to be going to France for a week but rest assured, when we come back up this motorway next Sunday morning and return to our great country, all those players will be sharp, fit and ready to go. We will put something together for tomorrow morning as it’s important to me that you all know what your men are doing.
God Bless Ya
Martin