Rover and out on the summer training field
By Dan Rookwood on Thursday, 10th August 2000.
PAUL Goodman is a hard taskmaster. It might still seem like the middle of summer, but the new manager of Haverhill will not let his side ease into the new campaign.
“I wanted pre-season to be tough,” he said with relish. “I wanted to test the squad to see what they’ve got mentally as well as physically.
“Anyone can play when you’re winning, but it’s a different story when you’re one or two down.”
The team’s pre-season friendlies have been testing affairs and last weekend’s away day at Stowmarket showed there was still plenty of room for improvement.
“We certainly made a few mistakes at the back on Saturday and our keeper kept us in the game,” said Goodman. “We learned some lessons to work on in training.”
Rovers have been working hard since early July, sweating through two training sessions a week. And Goodman has brought in two fitness coaches and two football coaches to get the squad into shape.
And the future looks bright with the emergence of four teenagers from the Haverhill Academy. Neil Hammond and Brad Deeks will help bolster the defence, while Chris Claydon will slot into midfield alongside Adrien Hunt, who will be more attack-minded.
As well as the homegrown talent, Goodman has brought in Paul Miles and Eddie King, two promising prospects from Kettering.
“We’re going to have two young sides this year,” said Goodman. “But I’m working on bringing in a bit of experience too.”
“I wanted pre-season to be tough,” he said with relish. “I wanted to test the squad to see what they’ve got mentally as well as physically.
“Anyone can play when you’re winning, but it’s a different story when you’re one or two down.”
The team’s pre-season friendlies have been testing affairs and last weekend’s away day at Stowmarket showed there was still plenty of room for improvement.
“We certainly made a few mistakes at the back on Saturday and our keeper kept us in the game,” said Goodman. “We learned some lessons to work on in training.”
Rovers have been working hard since early July, sweating through two training sessions a week. And Goodman has brought in two fitness coaches and two football coaches to get the squad into shape.
And the future looks bright with the emergence of four teenagers from the Haverhill Academy. Neil Hammond and Brad Deeks will help bolster the defence, while Chris Claydon will slot into midfield alongside Adrien Hunt, who will be more attack-minded.
As well as the homegrown talent, Goodman has brought in Paul Miles and Eddie King, two promising prospects from Kettering.
“We’re going to have two young sides this year,” said Goodman. “But I’m working on bringing in a bit of experience too.”
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