Rochdale ready for pre-season trip to Cadiz

Rochdale Association Football Club News

Rochdale players and staff will be entering unchartered territory for the club when they fly out to Cadiz in Spain for a pre-season training camp. Manager Keith Hill sees the training camp in Cadiz as a vital ingredient of the preparation for the coming season and the build up to 11 August, when the season begins at Peterborough United.

Hill said: "It's very important to us because it gives us a unity and a togetherness of collective effort. The trip gives us a real chance to bond and work at a fantastic facility. This is not the proverbial "booze up"- it is definitely a working environment that the players are all looking forward to.

"It is new to the Football Club in respect of organising a trip like this but myself and Dave have done it as players and we know what to expect. I know that it is going to be a really good environment to work in."

Physio Thorpe talks about importance of pre-season

Pre-season training is always tough for the players. The Rochdale players have been back in training for a week now and Rochdale physio Andy Thorpe has spoken about the impact that pre-season training will have on the players.

He said: "I've only actually seen them for one of the days but though there is a lot more ball work now than in my day they will still be feeling the same effects that I did. It doesn't matter how much you have done in the summer break there will still be niggly hamstrings, groins and the like - it is just fatigue and that is part and parcel of pre-season."

"It is vital that the players get the fuel in the tank because it gives a player the base from which to start. It is like doing the marathon but only training for a half marathon. It is about building stamina and speed. Everything works, or should do in co-ordination and if you haven't done it then you are on the back foot. If you have a player that, for whatever reason, hasn't done a proper pre-season he is more likely to get injured. If like us you have every player getting a really good base then hopefully my job will be easier in the long term."

Thorpe said of the pre-season trip to Cadiz: "It is common sense really that everything works better in warm weather. It is easier to get going and easier to recover and it makes for a better environment for the players, especially when you consider the weather that we have been having lately!"

Comyn Platt gone without playing a game

21 year old defender Charlie Comyn Platt has left the club having had his contract cancelled by mutual consent. He became frustrated at Rochdale having not made a first team appearance since signing from Swindon Town in January this year. It was felt to be in the best interest of both parties for him to seek pastures new.

Prices announced for Southport friendly

Prices for entry to Rochdale's pre-season friendly at Southport have been announced. Dale travel to Southport on July 21 and prices to get into the game are £7 for adults and £4 for concessions.