City bounce into training programme (From Worcester News)

City bounce into training programme

4:20pm Sunday 5th July 2009

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By Steve Carley »

RICHARD Dryden has praised the attitude of his Worcester City players following their return to pre-season training.

The City manager put his troops through their paces at King’s School’s Slingpool Walk sports fields as they prepared for the first friendly at Stafford Rangers a week tomorrow.

New recruits keeper Jake Meredith and centre-half Wayne Daniel both joined up with their team-mates and several trialists.

As well as Meredith and Daniel, Graham Ward, Shabir Khan, Tom Kemp, Kevin Spencer, Gary Walker, Jordan Fitzpatrick, Craig Wilding, Matt Dinsmore, Marco Adaggio and Jack Connolly have agreed deals with the St George’s Lane club.

Former Northern Ireland defender Mark Clyde was also in action as he bids to prove his fitness to Dryden and assistant manager Carl Heeley.

With five training sessions planned before the trip to Rangers’ Marston Road to take on Daniel’s former team, Dryden is happy with the fitness levels.

More than two months have elapsed since City wrapped up their 2008-09 campaign with a 0-0 draw at home to Basingstoke.

“I was pleasantly surprised how fit the lads had kept themselves,” Dryden said.

“One or two lads last year hadn’t worked as hard as some people and it proved to be their downfall when the season started. We are trying to be as fit and strong as we can.”

The manager was also pleased to sense a good atmosphere among the squad.

He added: “When it’s going to be a small squad and players are going to have to scrap for places, it’s important we have that camaraderie in the changing room.”