08 January 2009
It was both cold and foggy tonight but that had no bearing upon Liam Bradley and his dedicated staff, as they worked an Antrim football Panel, of some 40 prospective senior players, through a gruelling hour and a half of highly structured training.
The venue was the new Astro-turf pitch, recently opened at Creggan Kickams. This workout, the first real training session of 2009, was, from the 'warm-up', a demanding and disciplined endurance course, clearly designed to provide maximum benefit by way of preparation for competitive football.
Bradley has a no nonsense approach to the task at hand. [For the benefit of anyone who might be inclined to wonder as to how he might cope with any evidence of historical dissent or indiscipline, from individual players, they need have no such worries; Zero tolerance may be the uncompromising and absolute expectation.]
Liam Bradley is evidently a natural born achiever but importantly for Antrim County he also evinces a capacity to inspire others to better performance.
His totality of approach to training clearly merits and in turn will rightly earn, due respect from serious players. That said and should the need arise, he comes across as someone who could and unquestionably would, command respect, as and if such was required, for the sake of preserving and protecting the totality of the unit.
He is a man of both stature and substance and is worthy of the full support of clubs and officials throughout our county.
The mood tonight was up-beat and rightly so. The high numbers of players now willing and prepared to come forward, in the hope of getting to wear an Antrim Jersey, with pride and dignity, is now unprecedented - perhaps because, at last, a door of opportunity has been opened and an invitation extended to all aspiring players?
On Saturday we have the scheduled under 21 trials at Rossa ground; some sources suggest that already there have been over 60 enquiries for places.
Antrim is at last awakening and everyone should be prepared to welcome this sea change in outlook. These are early days but we have both the talent and the potential.
It is surely time to adapt a more positive outlook and seek only to find the good within our county.
Lawrence Smyth PRO.
