Open training session at King Power Stadium
Report by Lynn Wyeth
Yesterday saw the first open training session run by Leicester City for some time. Taking place at the King Power Stadium, we got to watch training sessions for both the men’s and the women’s teams.
Free entry in the school holidays pulled in the families and 8,000 tickets were snapped up, with fans filling the West Stand and going round into P3. There were huge queues in the Fanstore for both new shirts (including the new orange/peach 3rd kit… which has fans divided) which went on sale today, and to have photos with all the replica trophies.
As well as the two training sessions, former players Matty Elliott, Steve Walsh, Ali Mauchlen and Gerry Taggart were on hand… “to mingle, and definitely not train!”, as Taggs said.
Before the training session, some of the players were out pitch side signing autographs for the younger fans. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was there as long as possible, trying to literally sign for every child and fist-bumping them before LCFC staff dragged him away. There was a lucky seat draw before both sessions for people to win kits and training wear.
The men’s training session opened with the players applauding the fans, and a motivational hello from new boss Enzo Maresca saying they will always give 100%. We also got an interview with new fitness coach, Marcus Alvares who seemed a chirpy chap. He said pre-season had gone well, they’d be looking to give us a win at the weekend and he enthusiastically embraced the Foxes Never Quit motto.
It was the first chance for many to see new signings, Harry Winks, Callum Doyle, Mads Hermansen and Stephy Mavididi in the flesh. Conor Coady was still missing through his foot injury.
With the 4 goalies off doing their thing at the North end of the pitch, the rest of the squad started with their warm ups and drills. Maresca was very vocal during the drills. There was a lot of quick one touch passing and possession workouts in small marked out areas that the squad did in their 3 small teams. Maresca made sure he worked with all the players during the session. The final part of the session saw them rehearsing build up play from the back, with the wingers crossing the ball in for someone to put in in the back of the net. Goal scoring rates were worryingly not the best.
Marc Albrighton closed the men’s session with a quick interview, saying that there was a lot of excitement and positivity for the new season.
The women then took to the pitch and fielded only 13 players, with 3 players still out at the Women’s World Cup. Sophie Howard and Lena Petermann were also not training, but were doing signings and both did interviews. Manager, Willie Kirk, was eloquent when interviewed and said he hoped to have another 2-3 signings before the season started.
Disappointingly the women went over to the far corner of the pitch, the furthest away from the spectators to start their drills. They eventually came over to start some play practice where half of the West stand could see better.
Outside a huge crowd waited to get autographs and selfies with the players, with many fans not usually having the chance to get this close to the players. They were delighted to get shirts signed and selfies with many of the payers, including Jamie Vardy in his goat hat.
Jamie Vardy photo (c) Julie Williams-Glover
Whilst we may not have learnt a great deal through the training session, and there’s still clearly work to do and more signings to be made, there was a positive connection between fans and players today that we’ve not seen in a while at the KP. It was a good initiative by the club, hopefully one that can be repeated every year. Let’s hope we can get take that reconnection into the game at the week-end.
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation