Fitness coach to help get Chesham United into shape

Jun 28 2012 By Yann Tear

CHESHAM United players can expect a greater emphasis on building up their muscles than on working on rusty ball skills when they resume training on Tuesday after the summer break.

Former player Shaun Reece, who is taking a masters degree in sports science, has stepped forward to offer his services in pre-season as a strength and conditioning coach and boss Andy Leese thinks it is a good idea.

“I don’t think our general fitness was a problem last season, but maybe we would benefit from building up core strengths and we will be concentrating on our physical toning at the start,” the Generals boss told the Examiner.

“The players will be taking part in exercises specifically geared to developing muscles and strengthening joints most needed in football and if it gives us that little bit of an edge, it’s worth doing.

“The aim is always to just keep improving that little bit and that could just make the difference in matches.”

Leese has yet to announce any new signings but says he is close to bringing in ‘two or three’ new players. The names are being kept secret so as not to alert any other potential suitors.

Although strikers are top of the shopping list, Leese has also expressed concerns about his team’s occasional defensive vulnerabilities last season and he has hinted he also wants to draft in a defender or two.

“I’m hoping to get four or five players in during the coming weeks,” he said. “We need to be scoring more, but we conceded more than usual last season, so that’s something we need to look at.”

United are not in pre-season action until July 21, when they play their first friendly at Waltham Abbey.