Army training

[Neil]

While you're all tucked up in your beds tonight, spare a thought for the City squad who are sleeping under the stars in South Wales on this wet and windy night.

I watched them complete their assault course this afternoon before they headed out into Wales where they will camp overnight at a former USAF munitions dump having made their own shelters before they are woken at 6am (or earlier if they fail to protect their camp flag). All this on meagre rations that they have to boil themselves if they don't want to eat it cold.

I'll drop in a few pictures as I go through them although some of them aren't great because there wasn't too much light on the assault course under the Severn Bridge :(

[darrenb]

This sounds as though it will be a good fitness exercise and hopefully bring the lads closer together before the season starts - rather them than me though :thumbsup:

[bully74uk]

Do you think they were asked to pose for the photo looking peed off or they are all genuinely peed off !
Either way excellent photo Neil that certainly made me chuckle (whilst sat at my computer desk, in my nice warm house with an ice cold pint of Cider)

Unlucky boys :thumbsup:

[Neil]

That was just the start!

It was outlined to them that they should treat the officers with respect and if anyone gets cocky with them I think they'll know it. After all, they did have to sign a couple of consent forms beforehand :p

And Kev looks as though he's lost a good deal of weight :thumbsup:

Here's a nice pic of Wilko helping Jody Bevan over the wall....

[Neil]

Scott Griffin makes a leap of faith!

[Neil]

Followed by Whitts....

[Neil]

Jack Pitcher clambers over the wall - notice the position of the Severn Bridge directly overhead - thats the reason why I couldn't find the assualt course on Google earth!

[Oldie]

Ah, brilliant. Brilliant photography Neil and brilliant for them. I'm sure they know now that TH means business. Roll on the first league match, we ARE roaring back.

[Woody]

So this is what you have been up to today when off work due to strike action?

[Neil]

yep ;)

[Woody]

What a good way to spend your day!:thumbsup:

[Neil]

Whitts just makes it over the highest of the three walls but his effort is rewarded with a punishment of fifty press ups because he knelt on the top of the wall to get over....

[Neil]

Neil Mustoe balances his way along a six foot high wall before jumping off...

[Neil]

Jamie Reid takes a run and jump...

[Neil]

Matty Rose monkeying around

[Neil]

Alex Allard and Ollie Holder have a go too

[Neil]

Jody Bevan looks full of concentration!

[Neil]

Tom Hamblin and Kev Sawyer give it their all

[Neil]

No sooner had the assault course finished it was time for the proper warm up to begin....

[Neil]

Tim Harris' son ended up giving piggy backs to Kev Sawyer :notworthy:

[Neil]

They haven't lost their contact lenses - they had to sprint to one end of the course and crawl back - very hard apparently!

Here's Rosey & Jody....

[Neil]

After doing a log race (thats why they look exhausted) one "team" had to do the assault course again...

[Neil]

Muzzie & Reidy double up to help their team mates over the wall

[Neil]

Then Reidy struggles to get himself over after everyone else has gone....

[Neil]

Webby's team set off on their log race

[Neil]

Reidy,Whitts & Kev all line up with the newly aquired kit

[Neil]

"Yorkie - It's not for girls"

The rations that they were sent out with. The main meal was steamed chicken, beans and sausages....

[Neil]

and finally - the green team receive instructions before heading out into the woods.

I was hoping to hang around and get them all with their faces painted but it started to pour down and they weren't due to do it for another hour. I hope you enjoyed the photos :thumbsup:

[Jake]

:thumbsup:
An exellent piece of photographic jounalism Neil, every picture telling it's own story.
Without a doubt all the participantants will have discovered muscles they never knew they had. Only hope they won't too knackered to be able to play football on Tuesday evning.:D

PS Perhaps I shouldn't say so, but I'm glad you didn't work today so you were able to enjoy the photography. :cool:

[Clifty]

i know that Tim was really pleased that they were doing this weekend! it is also interesting to see Ollie Holder there as i thought that he was just a triallist! and Matt Smith aswell! wouldn't expect to see the trialists there!

[Pablo]

Yeah, excellent photo's Neil. This will be a great team-building and fitness weekend. I'm sure the newer guys will be appreciating this alot aswell and getting to know the squad.

[bully74uk]

Fantastic photos again Neil :notworthy:

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

I have to say that once again was unimpressed with Jody Bevan's effort and performance.

No Jason Welsh?

[yates jr]

lol :)

yer where was Sykes aswell

[Neil]

Jason Welsh is recovering from his shoulder operation and was also a little under the weather and Syko didn't arrive until the afternoon because he was at school...

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

Syko didn't arrive until the afternoon because he was at school...

Bloody hell I thought he was a bit older than that - that kid must have done a few paper rounds in his time, I'd have sworn he was in his forties.

[Pablo]

Syko didn't play at Ledbury either, he was sitting behind the goal, maybe he has an injury too.

[Mike]

Syko played his last Fussball tournament for England at the weekend and picked up two things.... a slight niggle in his ankle, and the player of the tournament award :notworthy: Not a bad way to bow out. :cool:

[Neil]

Futsal, Mike. Futsal ;)

[Mike]

Close enough for government work.....;)

[NI-Branch]

although they looked really pissed off before they started, I bet they had great fun, laughing at each others calamities and they will be a closer knit unit now.

Great photography yet again from a great guy. I assume you had permission to be there !

[Neil]

I assume you had permission to be there !Do you think I'd be daft enough to trespass somewhere where they had guns? :D

[joycie]

Syko didn't play at Ledbury either, he was sitting behind the goal, maybe he has an injury too.

spoke to syko and he said he did a bit of running before the ledbury game to test his ankle a bit. i'm sure next season he'll be able to concentrate on being fantastic next season for city. by the way neil, gr8 pictures.

[Neil]

All of the army photos in this thread (and more) should now be online here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10097363@N03/sets/72157600834890328/) :thumbsup:

[Jake]

Tired me out with just viewing. - Well done! :thumbsup:

[Tim]

Great pics, Neil, but what made me smile most was simply seeing Whits and Kev Sawyer there. Things really are looking up!

[city supporter]

FANTASTIC piccies Neil. Thanks for making the effort [taking the snaps I mean, not the assault course]:thumbsup: