Thursday 25 December 2014 17:47, UK
Fleetwood Town players fronted up for a Christmas morning training session but despite a busy holiday programme, Fleetwood manager Graham Alexander said footballers don’t mind the small sacrifices.
Fleetwood are preparing for a Boxing Day match with Bradford ahead of a local derby with Rochdale and their first match of the New Year, on January 3, against Swindon.
Fleetwood Town aren’t the only team training on Christmas Day, with nearly 90 per cent of Premier League sides also making the trip to the pitch for a festive session. Manchester United are one of the few teams not training on Christmas Day.
Alexander, a former Scotland International, said Christmas Day training was part of a professional footballer’s life.
"It’s the norm now. Back in the day when I was a player, I might always moan at the manager about bringing me in but I can’t moan about it now," Alexander said,
"But it’s something that footballers are used to, it’s part of the job.
“We’ve got a fantastic job, it’s a great career to be in. There’s a lot of positive sides to it but on the other side side you’ve got to make these kind of sacrifices
“The modern player knows now they have to prepare right and if you don’t you get found out."
And he leaves it to the footballers to think for themselves - as professionals - when it comes to what they eat and drink on Christmas Day.
