http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/article/tom-sheds-the-pounds-1748770.aspx You will, literally, be seeing less of defender Tom Parkes this season! On his own admission, he has deliberately shed a few pounds over the summer after words from manager Darrell Clarke at the end of last season. "I did a lot of running before we reported back for pre- season training, just to get fit and to lose a little bit of weight. While it was my own decision to lose the weight, I have to admit to taking a little bit of 'stick' about my fitness levels. The gaffer pulled me and told me that I needed to sort myself out, so I took what he said on board and now I'm looking forward to the season. The intention was to come back and prove a point that I was raring to go and to get this club back into the league. We were all given a summer programme, in any case, and I followed that. However I also did a great deal of my own routines which included a lot of long distance running. I've come back and into pre-season training and really feel the benefit, especially when I'm running. Carrying too much weight can make you feel bad about yourself in any case, so the fact that I have lost weight helps me massively." Now two weeks into pre-season training, he's very positive about how things have gone. "It's been tough, as you would expect, especially during the first week. The second week has been very similar but, as a team, we have bonded well and we are all wanting each other to do well in whatever we do in training." The five new signings, he says, have settled in well. "It's not taken them long; in fact it's as though they have been here for a couple of seasons and you wouldn't think they were new to the club. We have a great bunch of lads here at the moment and, hopefully, the team we have will do the job for the club next season." Part two of this interview will appear tomorrow.
I like the sound of these posts. It seems that there is a good respect for DC and that the bad apples in the barrel have finally been eliminated
gastro, you didnt predict for the final round of the WC prediction league. so you missed tonights game. feel free to add your prediction for tomorrows game though as its not too late for that game
Part 2 of the interview..... http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/article/looking-ahead-1751540.aspx Yesterday, Tom Parkes explained how, and why, he has shed weight over the summer months and how pre-season training has gone to date. Today he explains how relegation to the Conference affected him and how he is looking forward to the first pre-season friendly and the start of the new season. Parkes said: "Relegation was one thing I never wanted to happen to this club. But it did happen and now we have to bounce back. The only way we can do that is to prove to the fans that we are proud to wear the shirt and want to get the club back into the Football League." There has, of course, been a number of players leaving the club over the summer but, incredibly, last season's back five remains intact which gives the side a platform on which to build. "We kept 15 clean sheets last season, which was very good. We can learn from, and build on, that for the coming season and we will keep working hard to try to improve that record." Next week the players will be training at a new venue, the University of South Wales. "It's going to be great for us, because we will continue to bond as a group and get to know each other a little bit more." On Tuesday they will travel from their temporary base to Cheltenham, for their first pre-season friendly. "It should be a good workout against a League Two team. We have played them many times before and the games have always been tough. Even though it's a friendly on Tuesday, we have to take it seriously as we build towards the start of the season. Everyone is itching to play a game and the fact that it's only a few days away is a boost for us." With only a month to go before the season begins, he's already thinking of the two opening games, against former league clubs Grimsby Town and Barnet. "It's going to be a tough start as Grimsby are still a strong side and Barnet have always been a good passing team. I think it's a big help that we face two strong teams to begin our campaign, as we are a strong team ourselves, but the aim is to get off to a winning start." For a number of the squad, including 'Parkesy', the Conference is a step into the unknown. "To be honest I don't really know what to expect from the season. People have told me that it's going to be very similar to League Two but while I think that might be true of some of the games we face, it won't be the case in every game. We really do have to take each game as it comes and I'm confident the gaffer will prepare us right for the season."
How come he didn't realize he was overweight before? We could all see it! Word is that Michael Smith had a 'good' holiday and might need to shed a bit!
