Ipswich Town FC

Andy Liddell says the Town players return to pre-season training as fit as he has ever seen any team.

The Blues’ players will be back on the training ground at the start of next week after a two month break as the build-up to the 2014/15 campaign begins. 

Andy, Town’s fitness coach, provided fitness programmes for each player over that time and expects the players to be up and running, literally, from day one of their return. 

“The programme is tailored to the individual but basically it’s two weeks rest, then building up exercise through the rest of the break,” he told the Club website.

“Some will do it, some will do their own thing but the players are a good group and I’ll know they will come back fit. 

“They will do bleep tests at the end of this week. Last season when we tested them, they ran right through it. The gaffer asked me if we could get the balls out straightaway and I said ‘yeah, look at the test results’. 

“They came back as fit as I have ever seen any team and that is testament to the players, the manager and TC [Terry Connor]. 

“When you  look at the stats last year, we were one of the top three teams in the Championship fitness wise. 

“The manager and TC demand high standards from the players and Ipswich Town run for 90 minutes and beyond, in training and in games.”