9 January 2017
The football season got underway with the senior and under 16 boys taking advantage of the new 4G facilities at Tilsley Park in a busy and productive three days of pre-season training. In addition to a number of hours out on the training pitch, the boys welcomed specialists Aynsley Fry and Amanda Ford to lead seminars and practical sessions on nutrition and Pilates. The boys also benefitted from taking part in a conditioning session led by Oxford United’s Head of Strength and Conditioning, Scott Daley.
The three day training camp came to an end with the inaugural Old Abingdonian Returning Captains fixture. It was fantastic to see a fine squad of 16 Old Boys that have left in the last two years take on the current 1st XI squad in what was a hard fought and highly competitive fixture under lights.
Further down the school the Lower School and Third Year made the most of their pre-season morning, whilst after two days of preparation, the U15s played Shiplake College on Saturday morning. On what was the team's first outing of the season the side played well, and goals from Hector Chambers and Jude Green helped the squad to a pleasing 2-0 win.
The five days of pre-season finished with the1st XI attending the pre-season football tournament at Rugby School. Encouraged by their performance on Friday, the side started well, and two 2-0 early victories over Oundle and Rugby gave the side great confidence. The third game of the day saw the team face a very well organised Malvern, and when Oise Emafo was fouled in the box it was left to Patrick Leggett to finish confidently from the spot and give the Abingdon side a well earned 1-0 win. A further victory against Oakham and a draw against St Edward’s in the final two games of the day meant that the side finished as thoroughly deserved tournament winners, unbeaten and having not conceded in 140 minutes of football!
The Football Club now looks forward to their first block fixture of the season next Saturday against St John’s, Leatherhead.
