I started off by congratulating him on their promotion to the premiership and his big contribution over the course of the season.

Jason Roberts

He spoke of his partnership with veteran striker Jason Roberts and how they complimented each other.Roberts the experienced campaigner has benefited from the enthusiastic and willing younger strike partner. The Times News Paper recently published the stats on Noels previous four strike partners having their best seasons when partnered with the Rathgormack man(we’ll claim any connection J).Food for thought for Trap ahead of this summer but Noel is  well aware of the Italians “loyalty” policy.

He spoke of Roberts strict vegan diet over the course of the season and how it can lapse off season into beer and burgers, very extreme on the face of it but perhaps it just helps his mindset when the serious time of year comes around,” have something to work off”.

Pre-Match

On the subject of nutrition I asked Noel on his typical pre match meal. He spoke of how recently he’s struggling to find a pre-match that suits him, he’s feeling bloated and heavy of late and considering going lactose and carb free. His typical one would be poached eggs on toast, with possibly salad or veg. The awareness and interest amongst players in nutrition of late has surprised me but refreshing to hear. It’s the single most factor you can influence immediately whether its performance or body composition you are after.

Supplements

Noel gave me the run down of his supplement plan for the summer in his conscience effort to get stronger and leaner without adding any unnecessary bulk for the forthcoming Premiership season. At 28 this is a career defining year for him and with his career to date been plighted by injury I get the impression nothing is been left to chance for the forthcoming season.

Anyway here is his supplement list:

Glutamine:

Is an essential amino acid that is readily used up by the body in intense exercise.

Multivitamin:

This will help cover all wickets.

Fish oil:

It’s anti inflammatory (helps joint care) and helps reduce the lowering of testosterone during and after intense exercise, remember testosterone is the responsible for muscle growth and recovery and the aggression and focus for competition and training.

Vitamin D:

Is responsible for helping immune function, so if your training or involved in a heavy match schedule vitamin D will reduce the risk of getting run down or feeling constantly lethargic.

It’s a good “cover all bases” supplement plan but no more than you’d expect from full time athlete.

Strength Training

Over the last few months strength training has been reduced due to the heavy load of games which has generally been Tuesday /Saturdays so as a result recovery has been the main emphasis. But he spoke about the Olympic lifts such as cleans to develop power and front squats which are important for him to maintain leg strength after two knee operations.

Brotherly Love

With Noels brother Stephen one week away from returning to training after groin surgery I asked him his thoughts on Stephen making the euros.

“He’ll be on the plane”. Noel Hunt 20/04/2012

I have to say (non-biased)I totally agree but wouldn’t it be unbelievable if they were both involved!!!!

I wrapped it up by inviting myself over to Reading for pre-season and true to form  Noel was more than obliging, so keep an eye out for “Pre-Season With Reading In The Premiership” post on FitnessFreak.ie

I would like to thank Noel for taking the time to chat to me at a time when he was in big demand for interviews and comments on the recent promotion.

This week I spoke to David Forde the current Millwall number 1 goal keeper and Ireland hopeful to make  the  squad for the European championships,

I asked  to him about his nutrition and training program and  his thoughts on  making the squad for this summer.

Breakfast:

A green food smoothie i.e.kale,cumcumber apple, celery,romaine lettuce ,spinach,1/2  lemon squeezed and all made with coconut water

Train 10:30 to 1230-1300.

Lunch

Post training lunch would consist of lean white protein and veg.eg fish, chicken or turkey with stir fried veg.decaff coffee.

Snacks are mainly fruit and nuts

Dinner

As lunch. Lean protein and salad or veg  eg oven roasted salmon and veg

David has gone gluten and lactose(dairy) free for the last couple of months and preached of the improvement in his physical condition and vitality.

I asked him on his reasoning on going dairy free and loved his explanation he has obviously done his homework)

“We’re the only mammals that continue to drink milk after our baby years and we then  consume it from an other animal. Our digestive systems are not made to handle it.”

He uses rice milk in his coffee and where ever a “milk product” is required.

He is reading the Paleo diet at the moment which is a book that promotes the caveman diet, rich in meats, nuts ,seeds and if it doesn’t swim, fly ,run or you cant pick from the ground or bushes don’t eat it.

His pre match meal is porridge in the morning and beans and grilled chicken three hours before kick off.

Supplements

Supplement wise David takes Cherry active post training and games, it’s a strong anti-oxidant and also spirolina ,a strong green food supplement that also contains amino acids to help muscle repair.

Training

Our conversation was coming to a conclusion at this stage but I briefly asked him about the gym facilities at Millwall.He said they were basic but good and had the main pieces necessary for developing strength and power. He mentioned the good work ethic at the club and the interest and awareness amongst the players in strength training and gym work.

He has also started BikramYyoga which is performed at 40 degrees but he raves about the benefits and how it compliments the usual rigour of goalkeeper training.

Euros

He’s already in the squad for a pre tournament camp in Malahide in June and he is quietly confident of making the squad. Having been Millwalls number one for the last three seasons and their player of the season last season surely strengthens his cause for a place in the final squad.

I ended the conversation by asking him was I still the best midfielder he ever played with but unfortunately we got cut off before he could answer…

I spent Last Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th of March at West Ham training ground under the wing of head sport scientist Eamon Swift.

The training ground itself is actually made up of large porta-cabins more like a halting site(Eamons words),with a large indoor astro turf used mostly by the academy.

This time last year I spent a few days at Wolverhampton Wanderers and there definitely is a certain gulf in the standard between both training ground facilities.

Wednesday was primarily spent with head physio Stijn Vandenbroucke  whilst he rehabbed ex Irish international Joey O Brien. These two are cycling fanatics,Stinnys a keen cyclist from Belgium and Joey is in to it for no apparent reason. Of course I threw in the Sean Kelly connection…lives down the road…we meet up every Sunday morning for a spin…best pals..etcJ. With his contract heavily incentivised on a pay as you play type of agreement Joey was anxious to do everything he could to be fit for the Reading game on the upcoming Saturday (which he didn’t make).

Thursday Started at 7 am in the gym for a staff workout session.

This was followed by a medical team meeting at 8:30am where the different stages of the player’s rehab, or strength and conditioning programs were discussed.

Training started at 1015 in the indoor astro area for fifteen minutes of a mini mobility ,flexibility and activation circuit. Five stations which included: a)core, planks etc,b)dynamic stretches,c)SAQ with ladder’s,d)Lunges and squats on BOSU discs and finally e)hurdle step overs working forwards ,backwards and from the side.

Then the outdoor session was broke into two groups, the older and “fatigued” players from Tuesday played head tennis and the rest did a few shooting drills and a small sided game.

At 12:30 those that wanted to had 30 minutes of yoga with a brave female yoga teacher who had a small on looking audience to contend with.

After lunch a few small groups did strength and core work with head Strength and conditioning coach Mathew Monte-Colombo.

England number two Rob Green and Irish keeper Stephen Henderson worked together on a lot of core exercises while some of the younger pro’s did weights.

Monte and Eamon spoke of the players wanting to do “beach weights” at this time of year as the summer holidays were approaching and following there own individual programs wasn’t top priority!!!

I spoke to Eamon about nutrition and supplements and he told me that they all have mini supplement packs that include fish oil,amino acids and a recovery drinks for every training session.

The canteen food was very good,fresh fish and veg ,berries and natural yougurt….home from homeJ.

It was great to make some new contacts and every one at he club was genuinely very welcoming and hospitable.

What did I learn over the few days??

I learnt that when you attend to the players every need it can create an ungrateful and lazy mentality. Players from amateur sports have to educate themselves a lot of the time and source and seek out the right people to help them achieve a better physical and mental edge, and pay for it out of their own pocket.

Or maybe its just human nature at every level, give an inch…