David Lee and his colleagues in the Academy have been working tirelessly through pre-season to ensure that all ages in Wanderers' youth set-up are ready for the start of the new campaign

Writing in the match programme against Sunderland, the Assistant Academy Director offered a preview of how things are shaping up a week ahead of the U18s league season. 

"After a long, hard and physically demanding season, it was important that the academy players had a well earned break from football. The demands put on the players by the staff are very challenging, thus making their break worthwhile and also giving the players time to recover.

"With the academy season running from September through to May and the school academic year lasting from September to mid July, the players don't really have a long enough break to try new or different sports and activities outside of football. That is why this summer, we decided to return back for pre-season at a later date than we are usually accustomed to. Therefore it was July 16 for the older U15s and 16s, and 15 August for the younger players.

"It is, though, very important that when the older age group of players return for pre-season that they establish a good, solid base of fitness training. With Neil Pointon alongside me, we planned a thorough programme at a venue called Haigh Hall. With long, undulating paths throughout the park, it was an ideal venue to establish a solid base of stamina for the Under 15s and 16s.

"The stamina levels gained within pre-season will stand the players in good stead and will play a major part in their hard season at academy level, enabling them to compete at their maximum - what academy football demands.

"Our younger age groups don't need that level of fitness as it is a natural asset installed into their bodies. It is medically proven that boys of 15 or 16 years of age require hard pre-season to re-establish their top condition.

"We have pre-season fixtures lined up for all age groups, and a couple of tournaments for two of those. The U13s will visit Holland for a two-day competition, one that we have previously been invited to. It's a great experience for the players to compete against different styles of play and to socialise with juniors the same age from Germany and Holland.

"The U15s will take part in a tournament to be held at Warwick University hosted by the Premier League. This again helps development as there are clubs from France and Italy who have been invited to participate.

"Other fixtures for the academy include Tranmere Rovers, Wrexham and Preston North End. These fixtures will be a good test for our players before the start of the new league season, which commences on September 6.

"I know the coaching staff are already geared up for the start and I'm positive that the players are too. Our aim is to develop all the boys so that they can reach their maximum potential and enjoy their football."

David Lee,
Assistant Academy Director