ESP columnist Phil Adlam is back with more news from Peterborough United…
I am currently writing this column from the home of English football, no not Wembley, but St. George’s Park, the national training centre where Peterborough United are currently enjoying a pre-season training camp.
With COVID restrictions, an overseas trip was out of the question for Darren Ferguson’s squad this season, but the facilities at the complex in Burton are top notch and we have thoroughly enjoyed our stay here.
We have played six friendlies in all at the time of writing with two this week against Stoke City under 23s and Derby County with Wayne Rooney taking a watching brief rather than being deployed in a Rams side which included former Posh front man Jack Marriott.
It’s certainly been a very strange time. We’re midway through August and we’re still in pre-season with the first Carabao Cup game against Cheltenham taking place in early September before the Sky Bet League One campaign gets underway on September 12.
COVID provides a whole host of challenges as you can imagine and we’ve been working through those challenges with amber, yellow and red zones restricting your movement at games at the Weston Homes Stadium.
A rainbow appears over St. George’s Park during the match against Stoke City Under 23s
Our Stadium Manager Dawn Brittain and Head of Security, Sye Roberts have been working through more protocol than having hot dinners right now and credit to them for the work they are undertaking for the safety of us all.
While plans for the new stadium continue to develop at a fantastic pace thanks to the work of the co-owners, the recent thunderstorm battered our current home with water being swept away thanks to the hard work of staff. It was a proper deluge as my own garden will testify and with an old stadium like London Road, it was inevitable that there would be a battle, but when there is a battle, we battle, as one former boss screamed in a certain TV show, albeit without the use of a certain expletive!
I never cease to be amazed by the superb support the club receives from the fan base and we can’t wait to get underway and hopefully reward you all for that loyalty.
Phil Adlam
Photos: www.theposh.com
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