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Gillingham first-team coach Nicky Southall writes exclusively for the KM Group

Gillingham player-coach Nicky Southall
Gillingham player-coach Nicky Southall

While Burton have been training at the FA’s National Football Centre this week, myself, the gaffer and others had to go down to our training ground and remove the snow ourselves.

It just shows sometimes what we are up against. Our priority is to get those boys on a decent surface because we can’t afford any more injuries and that’s what the snow-clearing was about.

Because of the conditions, we had to give the boys Monday off. The 3G pitch we often use was still covered with snow and only half the team can use our indoor facility at 44Two as they might be carrying ankle, knee or back problems.

We were determined to get some training in, so we went down to the training ground with shovels, and even the kit man helped. I have to say, my back is still hanging off now!

Malcolm the kit man, bless him, was out of puff. It just shows what love he has for this club to come out at that age. It was all hands to the pump.

When the players came in on Tuesday and we told them we were heading down the training ground they just looked at each other and said "no chance". They couldn’t believe we had cleared it and they appreciated the hard work we put in.

We had a decent training session but we started with a bit of rugby in the snow, which was a good laugh, and there were a few high tackles going in! It was a good day’s training.

We’re now hoping the weather improves a bit so we can have a game on Saturday. The boys should certainly be bright and recharged.

Last weekend’s postponement meant I was able to enjoy a bit of time with my family before my birthday party in the evening. It was great to see some old faces, and my parents also made the trip down here.

The likes of Marcus Browning, Ian Cox and Alan Walker were there among a few old Gillingham players who turned up, which was much appreciated. There were people with one eye on the weather and one eye on the disco, unfortunately.

I think Barry Fuller had a few issues getting home, which can’t have been nice, but apart from the weather it was a great evening.

We’ve got a busy period coming up now, with two games in three days, and we need to get a bit of momentum going.

We need a good run of results now, a bit like Swindon and Cheltenham are showing, and once we get a bit of momentum going you can be difficult to stop. We need a right good charge at it now with 19 games left.

Kent Matchday Live
Kent Matchday Live
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