Post by leicesterlass on Jul 30, 2006 8:55:20 GMT -1
Paddy McCarthy pens his first notes for the matchday programme and club website since being named skipper by boss Rob Kelly over the summer.
It's a real surprise to find myself writing these notes but nevertheless a great honour.
Thoughout my career so far I've been fortunate enough to have been made captain by several of the clubs I've played for since I was a young lad.
Schoolboy teams back home in Ireland through to the youth team with Manchester City.
But this has to be the biggest honour so far and, at the age of 23, I'm very proud to have been given the job.
I got a little taste of it last season but had no idea what was in store until the manager spoke to me in the summer.
As far as I'm concerned, though, there's a lot more than one captain out on the pitch.
We've got some vastly experienced players in the squad - guys like Danny Tiatto, Andy Johnson, Alan Maybury and Rab Douglas - who are all strong voices in the dressing room.
And it's going to be a collective effort from all of us over the season.
Ask any footballer and he'll tell you that pre-season is always tough going.
This one is no exception but I think that all of the lads are feeling the real benefits of the hard work we put in.
The manager spoke to all of us at the end of last season about the need to report back in good shape.
And every player has been looking good. If I think back to last season, Nisse (Nils-Eric Johansson) found the cross-country tough going in Bradgate Park.
But this time he was one of the lads up at the front helping the others get up those hills. We're all in this together and there's been a great spirit among the lads.
Now I've been told I need to dish the dirt a little on the lads in this column throughout the season.
And I'm afraid our Australian duo of Paddy Kisnorbo and Danny Tiatto are going to have to take some stick for their dress sense.
Danny's rather large nose manages to divert some of the attention away from his clothes. LOL!!! ;D
But as for Paddy ? you ought to have seen him the day he came in with trainers and shorts, with long grey socks pulled up to his knees.
On the holiday front, we had hatched a plan for a few of us to go away to Las Vegas at the end of last season.
Sadly, it ended up with only Maybs (Alan Maybury) and myself making the journey. We had a great five days there.
In fact, Maybs has been bitten by the gambling bug so much that he's just become a fully paid-up member at Gala Casino!
To date, results have been good in pre-season - we're unbeaten so far.
And although scorelines aren't what you judge a successful pre-season upon, it's good to get into a groove.
I'm sure that Real Sociedad will be our biggest challenge so far on Friday night.
It's a glamour friendly and one that the players are looking forward to as well as the fans.
Thanks again for all your support and enjoy the game.
What a guy!
It's a real surprise to find myself writing these notes but nevertheless a great honour.
Thoughout my career so far I've been fortunate enough to have been made captain by several of the clubs I've played for since I was a young lad.
Schoolboy teams back home in Ireland through to the youth team with Manchester City.
But this has to be the biggest honour so far and, at the age of 23, I'm very proud to have been given the job.
I got a little taste of it last season but had no idea what was in store until the manager spoke to me in the summer.
As far as I'm concerned, though, there's a lot more than one captain out on the pitch.
We've got some vastly experienced players in the squad - guys like Danny Tiatto, Andy Johnson, Alan Maybury and Rab Douglas - who are all strong voices in the dressing room.
And it's going to be a collective effort from all of us over the season.
Ask any footballer and he'll tell you that pre-season is always tough going.
This one is no exception but I think that all of the lads are feeling the real benefits of the hard work we put in.
The manager spoke to all of us at the end of last season about the need to report back in good shape.
And every player has been looking good. If I think back to last season, Nisse (Nils-Eric Johansson) found the cross-country tough going in Bradgate Park.
But this time he was one of the lads up at the front helping the others get up those hills. We're all in this together and there's been a great spirit among the lads.
Now I've been told I need to dish the dirt a little on the lads in this column throughout the season.
And I'm afraid our Australian duo of Paddy Kisnorbo and Danny Tiatto are going to have to take some stick for their dress sense.
Danny's rather large nose manages to divert some of the attention away from his clothes. LOL!!! ;D
But as for Paddy ? you ought to have seen him the day he came in with trainers and shorts, with long grey socks pulled up to his knees.
On the holiday front, we had hatched a plan for a few of us to go away to Las Vegas at the end of last season.
Sadly, it ended up with only Maybs (Alan Maybury) and myself making the journey. We had a great five days there.
In fact, Maybs has been bitten by the gambling bug so much that he's just become a fully paid-up member at Gala Casino!
To date, results have been good in pre-season - we're unbeaten so far.
And although scorelines aren't what you judge a successful pre-season upon, it's good to get into a groove.
I'm sure that Real Sociedad will be our biggest challenge so far on Friday night.
It's a glamour friendly and one that the players are looking forward to as well as the fans.
Thanks again for all your support and enjoy the game.
What a guy!