Graham Stack says that is good to be back as the Barnet players reported for pre-season duty this week ahead of their first friendly of the summer against Hungerford Town tomorrow.
Speaking to Bees Player HD, the player-coach said that the squad was already looking in good shape ahead of what promises to be an exciting season:
“It is good to be back. Eight and a half weeks is a long time to be away from it all so it is nice to be back with a few new faces and a new season with new fixtures. There is a lot to look forward to.
“What you find now is that players tend to work through the summer so the lads have gone away and stayed on top of things – and you can tell that as the boys have come back in and look in good shape.”
The first day of training also gave the players the chance to officially meet Barnet’s five summer signings, and having seen the new-look squad together for the first time Stack is optimistic for the season ahead:
“Last season that positivity was something that we tried to carry in every session that we had. It is very much about the team and not about individuals and as you saw again today is going to be the case again. It is very important to have a group that is supportive and helping one another throughout.
“We have got a lively group with a few big characters in there and some experienced players and some younger ones as well. Judging by what I have seen out there today we have got a great blend and I think that they will complement each other well.”
Barnet’s preparations for life back in the Football League begin in earnest on Saturday with a friendly at home to Hungerford Town, a game that Stack is targeting as an ideal opportunity to start as the side mean to go on:
“These games are vitally important, it is about performance and fitness levels. It will be nice to have a run out and get back out there and get the ball moving to try and improve technically and physically as the weeks go by.”
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