Gaffer praises players attitude to hard work
Graham Turner has praised the attitude of his Shrewsbury Town players after they came through the demanding physical tests placed before them with flying colours.
The Town squad spent last Friday at RAF Shawbury in among four successive days which the manager described as "a mini pre-season" to prepare them for the challenges ahead, starting with Saturday's trip to Crawley.
"It was a good day and the players worked very hard," said Graham, reflecting on the latest trip to the RAF base for his players. "The PTIs there and powers that be had a day set up for the players which was a variety of hard work, endurance and mental tests.
"It was difficult weather conditions but the players worked very hard. They were carrying stretchers with weights on and pulling landrovers.
"They set off through the woods without knowing how far they had to go and they did nearly seven miles in the end carrying different weights.
"They showed a great attitude to it.
"With the weekend free, we decided to have almost a mini pre-season so the training over Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday was very tough.
"There was plenty of variety to it. We went to the Shrewsbury Club, which used to be known as Welti, for boxercise and then spinning sessions in the afternoon.
"There was stacks of hard work and over the period I think the fitness levels will have gone up.
"We would obviously have still preferred to be in the FA Cup but you've got to make the most of your time and it was attempting to get everything done in the period between the two games, going to Crawley this Saturday, and making sure the players are well prepared.
"I think the rest from match action with the type of work we've done will stand them in good stead for the next few weeks."