Aberdeen FC train at Warwick University

Aberdeen have spent their pre-season training at Warwick University in preparation for the upcoming Scottish Premier League season.

Peterhead goalkeeper Graeme Smith took part in the Warwick bootcamp back in 2010, and warned Aberdeen players “if you don’t like running, then it is going to be pretty hellish.”

The Dons did indeed have something of a gruelling week, as forward Declan McManus confirmed in his tweet: ‘14 sessions in 7 days without a day off!! Yeap it’s fair to say i am fecked!! Calfs are in bits!! #preseason #solid”.

Aberdeen were a strong team in the 1980s, even overcoming the mighty Real Madrid in 1983: however, after Alex Ferguson’s move to Manchester United in 1986, they struggled to maintain their status. A combination of debt and a new spending policy led to a less successful club run on a tight budget.

In 1995, they had to rely on a play-off victory against Dunfermline Athletic to maintain their Premier League status. But in 2004, after the appointment of Jimmy Calderwood as manager, the club began to see some success, even qualifying for the old UEFA Cup in the 2006/07 season.

2013/14 sees a new manager, Derek McInnes, taking the reins, replacing Craig Brown. McInnes has played for several teams in England and Scotland, and has even played for Aberdeen’s biggest rivals, Rangers.

He also has plenty of managerial experience, having managed St. Johnstone and Bristol City, as well as coaching positions at West Bromwich Albion and Watford. He led St Johnstone to promotion to the SPL in 2009; however, he did not do so well with Bristol City, eventually being sacked on the cusp of their eventual relegation to League One.

Lifelong Aberdeen fan Roberto Moretti, though, believes that McInnes will rejuvenate his side, who limped to an eighth-placed finish last season.

‘I’m really excited about Derek taking over the team. He is obviously selling a compelling vision of what he is trying to build that has enabled him to sign key players such as Niall McGinn and Ryan Jack on new contracts, as well as bringing in fresh quality such as Willo Flood, Barry Robson and Calvin Zola.”

When asked about how he felt the Warwick bootcamp will have helped the team, Roberto added: “I am sure the team will have benefitted enormously from using the excellent facilities at Warwick to prepare them for what is sure to be a tough season. I am really looking forward to things kicking off next month and seeing how they perform.”

If nothing else, the Warwick bootcamp is considered a tough training regime by any footballer’s standards, and the week of training should have helped get the Dons into shape for the start of the Scottish Premier League campaign in August.