Fitness key to success - Burgess (From Dudley News)

Fitness key to success - Burgess

3:10pm Thursday 28th June 2012 in Football

DUDLEY Town will have their focus on fitness this season, says manager Andy Burgess.

The Robins have already had five training sessions after boss Burgess decided to bring his players back earlier than most for pre-season.

He plans to follow the example of last year’s West Midlands Premier champions Gornal Athletic, who he believes gained a big advantage from having superior fitness.

Burgess said: “We need to be fitter than we were last season because we lost so many points in the final 10 minutes of games.

“We’ve already had a couple of gym sessions as well.

“I’m looking to take the model of Gornal last season, who were the fittest team by miles.

“They dominated the last 10 or 15 minutes of our games against them last year and it made a huge difference.”

Burgess says his squad for next season is “finished” after adding five more new faces.

Chief among them is former Tividale striker Grant Joshua, who has arrived from AFC Wulfrunians, while Cradley Town skipper Karl Gardner has also joined.

Dan Williams has signed from Aberdovey, with former Dell favourites Ant Cox and Todd Warner re-joining from Tividale.

Burgess added: “My squad is done now. I’m not looking to add any more players.

“That’s what we wanted to do, we can now start preparing for the new season and it’s up to the lads to step up to the plate.

“Last year we lacked strength in depth and had a weak bench but we’ve managed to keep most of the squad together and I’m really pleased with the additions we have made.”

Meanwhile, the club’s recent sportsman’s evening, which featured Liverpool European Cup winner Alan Kennedy and comedian Lea Roberts, has been hailed a success.

Chairman Stephen Austin said the event at Gornal British Legion had been well attended.

He said: “It was a wonderful evening enjoyed by all.

“Events like these provide much needed finances for clubs like ours.”