This will turn out to be the toughest season yet, warns Munday

Sunday 10th January 2010

FRUSTRATED Whitstable Town manager Mark Munday says his side are keeping themselves fit during the current cold snap that wiped out the entire programme in Kent yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

ARTICLE INCLUDES DETAILS OF INDOOR TRAINING FACILITIES HERE IN KENT

“During this very difficult period it’s been hard to organise training at our normal training ground as the G3 pitch we normally train on is frozen and covered in snow; has been shut for safety reasons,” Munday told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk.

The Margate based manager added: “I have made arrangements to ensure that all the players maintain their fitness; but it has not been easy and without its problems as there are many clubs looking for the same thing, often halls or anywhere in the dry are already booked up.

“This Monday we are all together, but sometimes its been necessary for the lads to make sure they maintain their bodies and keep mobile, even if it’s just a bit of running or indoor work.

“Almost without exception most of the squad have their own gym memberships so that those that haven’t been able to get through to meet up with us because of the weather have been keeping themselves fit.”

Whitstable’s home game against local rivals Ramsgate on Tuesday night is expected to be hit by the big freeze, but Munday wants his side to hit the ground running when they next take to the field.

Third-from-bottom in the Ryman League Division One South table, Whitstable have bagged 17 points from their 21 league outings and are only one point above the drop zone.

Munday said: “It’s important that we maintain our recent good form and although the weather has played havoc with the matches it has given one or two of the lads who have been carrying knocks the chance to rest their bodies in preparation for a very busy period coming up once the weather breaks.

“All teams; not only in our league but at every level of football will be playing catch-up with postponed fixtures being re-arranged after a month has been wiped off the football calendar as first we suffered waterlogged and frozen pitches; then the snow.

“I can foresee in the weeks ahead that we will be playing some weeks three times inside seven days in order for us to complete our league fixtures, plus the remaining cup games we still have to play.

“This season, more than another is going to sort out the men from the boys as it will test the players and indeed management team to the limit when we resume playing again. We need to be at our very best every game from the re-start until the last kick of the season.

“I think this will turn out to be the toughest season yet and will be a real test for any football club at whatever level as the effect on clubs finance through lack of games will hit some clubs really hard.”

Meanwhile, Kent football clubs that are searching for indoor training facilities should look no further than Gay Dawn Farm, the home of Kent League side Corinthian.

The Longfield based club are offering indoor training facilities at around £50 per hour, which would help players ticking over during this wintry weather.

The impressive facilities are already utilised by Blue Square South club Welling United and further details can be obtained by clicking on the following link www.golfandsport.co.uk/csc/ballcourt.asp

(Please mention that you read this article on www.kentishfootball.co.uk when making contact)

Quotes courtesy of www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk