This week during the squad’s South West tour, the players will be staying and training at Navy Camp HMS Raleigh, where they will be put through their paces by the Navy’s PT Instructor.
They will have very little luxuries, sleeping on hard beds, eating when they are told to eat or not at all, and maybe even harder to deal with for some of the players, very limited access to modern day necessities like televisions or wifi.
We recently spoke to new signing Steve Jennings about his time with the Navy so far.
He said: “It’s pretty basic at the camp and I think people like to moan just in general but it is what it is. It’s done for a purpose so you do get a lot closer as a team. I think it’s probably comfier sleeping on a washing line than some of the beds here, but you’ve just got to get on with it.
“Its proper forces stuff, we’re no different to anyone else on the camp now. We’re marching around and saluting our superiors when needed, we’re also getting up anytime they’re getting up, so it’s a good experience for everyone.”
Steve says that although he’s very close to being fit after being in pre-season for over 3 weeks, he feels he’ll be ready for the opening day game against Walsall on the 9th Aug after a week of training with the Navy.
He continued: “I’m going to be fit by the end of this week that’s for sure because I think the Gaffer’s going to give us a couple of hard tasks over the week, but we’re all enjoying it because it’s good to get away with the lads and get to know each other a bit better.”
Steve and the rest of the team will continue their tour of the South West with another tough challenge against South West Peninsula League Premier Division side Bodmin Town tonight KO 7.30pm before rounding off the tour at Tiverton Town on Saturday kick-off 3pm they will then head back up north on Sunday.