Players raring to go, says Small

Pre-season training has started – three sessions already under their belt – and the fixture list is out, so Carrick Rangers are gradually beginning to savour the early stages of settling into the groove of life as a Premiership club. And Stephen Small (pictured) says it’s a great feeling.

By The Newsroom

Published 30th Jun 2011, 09:52 BST

“Life as a team in the top-flight of local football is still in its infancy, but we’re now slowly getting to grips with it and the excitement is beginning to build for everyone connected with the club,” said the manager, who got his players together for a first session on Saturday.

“We enjoyed the return on Saturday and had another training session on Monday night, then Tuesday and Thursday and it will be the same for the second week ahead of the big opening pre-season game against Linfield at Windsor Park on Saturday week.

“Then we will settle into a three-times-a-week programme of training on Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays until the season kicks off on August 6.

“Everybody was glad to get back and all were looking surprisingly fit and they are raring to go, the mood a mixture of expectation and anticipation – as you would probably expect,” explained Small,

Read more in this week’s Carrick Times