Work begins as Boston United bid to be among fittest sides in National League North

Elliott determined to match last season's flying start...
Boston began last season with an FA Cup win against AFC Mansfield. Photo: Oliver AtkinBoston began last season with an FA Cup win against AFC Mansfield. Photo: Oliver Atkin
Boston began last season with an FA Cup win against AFC Mansfield. Photo: Oliver Atkin

Craig Elliott wants to ensure his Boston United squad are among the fittest in the National League North.

With 14 members of last season’s squad already signed up, the club have begun working on programmes with players in a bid to make sure they can hit the ground running, literally, when they meet up for pre-season.

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United began last season in superb form, winning four and drawing one of their opening five matches - which would likely have been five wins from six had the match at Darlington not been abandoned at the death.

However, Covid postponements began to take their toll.

After a couple of two-week lay-offs, in which the side could not train together as they were forced to isolate, the squad returned to action with defeat at AFC Fylde, the team visibly tiring in the second half.

As someone who prides himself on putting together teams with mean defensive records, Elliott - a Leeds United fan - concedes he won’t ever be convinced to follow in the gung-ho manner of Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa.

But he does agree with some of the Argentinian’s methods - especially when it comes to getting players in prime condition.

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“I think I’d be a bit worried with the amount of goals they concede. I don’t think I could cope watching games like that,” Elliott said.

“But I think the fitness and style of pressing they do is what I do want my teams to do anyway. There is an element of that.

“And one thing we can always take pride in is that our teams are one of the fittest in the league. That’ll be one thing.

“We’ve started doing bits of training now to make sure we’ll be as fit as we can.

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“Hopefully we can begin the season like we did last year and get off to a good start.”

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