The random drug testing policy employed by the FA has been in place for a number of years now, and is proving to be something of a success.

Club Physio Dolly explained what it was all about:

"The testing team can turn up whenever they want. In fact, they came to check on us twice within the space of a month towards the end of the season, so it literally is any time. 

How it works is that each player in the squad is given a number and they pick a couple of the lads out at random. At some point, either before the match or at half time, they give us a sheet with those names on, and there are also a couple of nominated reserves just in case one of the chosen ones gets injured. 

Once the game is over, that's when it really starts. Whoever has been picked isn't even allowed back in the dressing room, and they can't listen to the team talk, or anything like that. They are taken to sign the forms to give their consent for the test to take place. 

Once they've done that, they are then allowed back in to the changing rooms, but only with a chaperone who follows them everywhere until they've given their sample. Even if they go for a shower the chaperone will be just outside making sure they can't go anywhere else, or do anything to mess with the test. They also have to stay within the building until they're done.

From the last two we had tested, Johann was OK, he produced his after about ten minutes, but Jeff was there for about an hour and a half. I think it was about six o'clock when he managed to get his sample done. 

In terms of other staff, we're not really needed from that point on. Once the player has signed his forms it's all handed over to the guys from the sports council, and there is actually a guy from the FA who comes in and works on our behalf. It's their job and they handle it all for us which means that we (other staff) don't have to hang around waiting. The problem only really comes when you're the visiting team. If someone can't pee then the whole lot get held back.

At the Bristol City game up here, for example, they were still parked outside at ten to six and I think they were waiting for Enoch Showunmi - I don't think he'd had a shower or anything, he was simply sitting around waiting. You can imagine that for them that was a bit of a problem!

We had a similar thing at Darlington last year, but luckily the one who couldn't go was Lummy, so we just left him! He's from that neck of the woods and he had his car, which is just as well, because I think he was there until about seven o'clock. It can be a disaster, I mean, you can imagine the trouble if we were at Torquay or somewhere.

I heard one story from the Premier League, where the club simply left a lad because they had a flight to catch. The plane went at seven so he was on his tod. The plane was leaving so they simply had to go ... and he ended up paying £300 or so for a taxi. Then again, when you are chartering jets for ten grand it doesn't matter too much.

Once the samples have been taken (and there are two for each player, an A and B sample) they get boxed up, coded and taken down to a lab in London.

They test the first sample, and if that's clear then they don't use the second. However, if it's positive then the club and player will be notified within a week that they have a hearing. The second one will then get tested as well.

Thankfully all I've ever had is a little letter after about three weeks which tells you that they are fine, and that's the end of the process. In a worst case scenario, obviously you get told what it may have been you failed for and then you get the chance to either own up, or explain what might have caused the positive outcome.

It used to be that something as innocuous as a flu remedy was banned because of what was in them. In Athletics they list everything they take, eat and drink and it's a similar process here. We write down everything they take.

Whether that is pills, energy drinks, or whatever, the lads are not allowed to take anything without my or Doctor Howarth's consent.

That even counts for the kids, because they do test the Youth players as well.

You can imagine the potential problems if you've got a young lad off ill. His mam, very innocently, could go and get him something from the Chemist that might then turn in to a big problem further down the line. We simply have to know because the minimum ban is three months. It's harsh, but that is the way they have to run it because of the nature of the job.

Like I say, we've never had a fail ... but one of the Youth teamers once got caught out with his drinking. He'd had his birthday on the Sunday night, had a few jars, and when he got tested he was still over the limit."