15 year old Dale Brookes, the son of club Media Officer Mike is enjoying two weeks of work experience at the club that he supports and today he looks back on time spent with our stars of tomorrow, lads not much older than himself.

"As any footballer will tell you fitness is key for being on top of your game, it is exactly the same at Rochdale Football Club. This week, Chris Beech's Youth team squad arrived back after their summer break, laughing and joking as always. " 

"Firstly, it was a trip to see kit man Jack Northover were they signed the contracts promising to look after the kit Jack had been trusted to look after."

"Then Chris started work on the player's fitness for the up and coming season. The youngsters began their day with a trip to The Soccer Factory, Rochdale, were they practised their ball skills after a session of yoga. "

 
   warming up in the sunshine

"After returning to the club, for some lunch they headed over to the gym underneath the Westrose Leisure Stand where they did a series of bench squats, lifting bar 100 Kg on their backs, still jumping which is for building and warming up muscles in their legs( 2^nd year Robert Crank jumping a huge 2.61m) then squats again with some of the players lifting 160kg. "



   That looks heavy

   Julio about to leap

"When their session in the gym ended the lads finished the day with a shower and ice bath to aid their recovery for the next day of hard work."