Mark Ellis on Cassius Camps and pre-season so far
We spoke to defender Mark Ellis ahead of training on Monday morning about a tough first few weeks of pre-season training."The Cassius Camps session on Friday was really difficult but I feel better now than I did a couple of days ago," he told us. "I've been in bits for two days. I'm still hurting and it was definitely one of the toughest things I've ever done.
"I thought we were fantastic as a group with the stuff we had to do. There was a real team spirit and we all helped each other through it.
"The lads who went last year were telling us how difficult it was going to be but I was excited. We knew the obstacle courses were going to be tough but it was enjoyable.
"It definitely brought us closer together. We had to help the lads through who were struggling towards the end and I think it was vital for everyone to help each other out."
On his pre-season so far, he said: "Pre-season has been good. I've been happy with my fitness since we came back. We've been doing 400m runs, which have been difficult, but I feel good and ready to go.
"I had a personal trainer during the close season because I do find it difficult to train on my own, as a lot of people do. I was doing things like heavy weights that you can't do during the season and I think it's paid off."
With the friendlies already under way, he said: "All the lads are looking forward to the games now. We've had a tough couple of weeks so we're all looking forward to getting out on the pitch and winning games again.
"We're all playing for places and we've just signed another centre half so there's more competition for places. I need to make sure I kick on and do as well as I can.
"We're all playing for places and we've just signed another centre half so there's more competition for places. I need to make sure I kick on and do as well as I can.
"The new lads who have came in aren't going to want to sit on the bench, but we've got to do what we can to try and keep them out of the team."
On last season and looking to push on as we head into the 2016/17 campaign, he said: "You always look back over the season and think about where we could have picked up extra points. We've got to go one step further this year and go for promotion.
"We faded towards the end of last season, which we were disappointed about, so we'll all be looking up and trying to push on.
"If you look at the players we've brought in there's a lot of lads who have got promotion under their belts and to have that within the group gives us a good chance.
On last season and looking to push on as we head into the 2016/17 campaign, he said: "You always look back over the season and think about where we could have picked up extra points. We've got to go one step further this year and go for promotion.
"We faded towards the end of last season, which we were disappointed about, so we'll all be looking up and trying to push on.
"If you look at the players we've brought in there's a lot of lads who have got promotion under their belts and to have that within the group gives us a good chance.
"I just want to play as many games as I can and be a winner at the end of the season."
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