AFC Bournemouth captain Lloyd Kelly makes the first pre-season diary entry on the summer, returning to training and Premier League anticipation.
Over pre-season, Cherries first-team players will be making first-person diary entries to give supporters a behind-the-scenes look at training ahead of the Premier League season getting underway on 6th August.
From a personal point of view, the off-season has been good. I got a longer break than I have in previous seasons, which has been nice.
I managed to get to a couple of places on vacation either with my friends or family. There was Dubai, Marbella and then Miami; they were all great experiences.
After coming back, I’ve just started to settle down again and I’ve done a little bit of training in Bristol before we came back for pre-season just to get me ticking over.
Overall, the summer was a good one, but I’ve been ready to come back in and the first week’s been good – although everyone was dreading that first day!
You know what’s expected with the infamous 1600m, we’ve managed to tick that off and it’s building from there after we’ve set a good foundation.
I feel like we’ve all come back good even though it’s going to be a sore first or second week, it always is! But you’re in a good place to keep kicking on once you get through that.
I’m sure there will be a couple of days where I’m down and out with the amount of load that we’re doing but that’s just how pre-season is.
Some days you’re going to feel okay and the next day you could be struggling or feeling fatigued.
It’s all part and parcel though, it’s all fun!
I think looking back, for us as players, we knew how hard last season was and to be able to say that we managed to get promoted is good but that’s in the past now.
We just have to look forward to what an amazing season it could be being back in the Premier League.
For me, that’s where I want to be playing my football and I’m sure everyone else would say the same.
Then for you, the fans, looking back over the years at the stint that we did in the Premier League, it was amazing.
Now being back there, I’m sure all of you are ready to go for the new season and I’m sure you’ll back us 100% along the way.
- Lloyd
