Well, the World Cup is almost over with England meekly surrendering to beaten semi-finalists Germany whilst, back in Europe, the Bees have swapped sunny West London for sunnier Portugal. You could be forgiven that things would be quiet in the local football scene but we still had time to catch up with Kevin O'Connor before the team flew out and asked what they would be up to?
"We haven't got games against any other opposition but we go Monday and usually train twice a day. Firstly in the morning, then you miss the boiling sun in the mid- afternoon and we train again early evening. Basically have something to eat and then bed. There may be a day where we have a game of golf but it's tough work. We're doing 1000 metres this week and 500 next, although more of them. It's just to get everyone together, the new faces, and just bond. We work really hard and everyone's together. It's a really good idea. Pre-season is so long that it's kind of like a break, even though you're working really hard."
Prior to Portugal the team have already been back together for a week but for Kevin, who plays his testimonial game against Fulham next week, the hard work started even sooner.
"I tend to work really hard in pre-season because it puts you in good stead for the coming campaign. Years ago you could get away with it but now things have become so hi-tec. The club take your body fat levels before you leave and you have to hit certain levels when you come back or otherwise you're in trouble. You can't get away with it so you have to train hard, which is only a good thing."
Away from the training presumably Kevin, with six Irish under-21 caps to his name, has been catching up on the World Cup?
"It was disappointing, firstly Ireland not getting there and the way they didn't, which really riled me and then England just not performing. It's disappointing they can perform like that when it's once every four years, although it's hard to comment without knowing what happened. France was a shambles, an absolute shambles. Even more annoying when you see how they got there at the expense of Ireland and didn't do anything. In a way it was bittersweet, because they got there by default."
Kevin's testimonial game against Fulham is next Wednesday, July 14th, at Griffin Park with an 8pm kick off.
Nick Bruzon
