Sheppey United players focus on fitness ahead of first pre-season game this Saturday against Sheppey Sports as they play for the Ernie Batten Cup

It’s been fitness first for Sheppey United since the start of pre-season training.

The Ites started preparing for a new season last week and it’s been a gruelling start ahead of a first match this Saturday.

Players were spotted doing hill runs at The Glen last Saturday, completing 10k of running, and the hard work has continued since then, with the Batten brothers determined to have a super fit squad ready for the start of the season.

Co-manager Ian Batten said: “We’ve got Steve Aldridge in this season [as first team coach], working alongside Jamie Willis, so there’s quite a few eyes on them.

“With me and George, and Lee Allen [first team general manager] as well, there’s no hiding places out there. In the first few sessions back, they’re putting it in.

“We’ve said to them, ‘Look, you’re either going to be fit or you can find somewhere else to play’ because we’re going to pride ourselves on being a fit side this year. Going off their body language and the way they trained, it’s been a really good response.

“They’re coming off saying it’s hard work but they’re enjoying it. When you train hard and you think, ‘I’ve put it in there’, you do feel good. It’s not just good for the body, it’s good for the mind as well. If you’re feeling fit, you’re already one step ahead.”

The managers were happy to get involved in some of the fitness work, too.

Fresh from completing the 5k parkrun at The Leas with his seven-year-old son on Saturday morning, Ian said: “I raced George up to the top of the Glen, at the end of the [training] session. It was neck and neck. We both felt we won and my hamstrings felt like they were going to ping off!

“On the Thursday [last week], we had the balls out for ten minutes, throwing it up in the air for some