Latics players pass gruelling test

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE: James Wesolowski showed his stamina during a demanding day at Altcar

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

LEE Johnson showered praise on his players as they came through the most demanding day of their careers.

As promised, Athletic’s squad were pushed to their limit on a first day at the Army training camp at Altcar — an 18 hour day, from dawn to nightfall.

And as they entered their final day at the site near Southport, the manager revealed that the three big winners of a race in the dark were defender Connor Brown, last season’s captain James Wesolowski and - perhaps surprisingly, considering he’s a goalkeeper - new loan arrival Mark Oxley.

“The lads have been absolutely superb,” Johnson told the Chronicle.

“It has been really tough for them both mentally and physically, but to a man they have come through. Some leaders have come out of the pack as well.

“On the first day, we did six separate sessions, finishing at midnight with a one-hour orienteering run in teams of three.

“Connor Brown, James Wesolowski and Mark Oxley were the winners of that one. Then the boys were up the next morning at 5.30am for circuit training.”

Athletic’s players had a football session yesterday afternoon. The three-day camp on Merseyside drew to a close today, with the remainder of the time split between physical and fun exercises.



Long-standing Athletic servant Lee Duxbury is back in football as head coach of Eccleshill United, who play in Northern Counties East Division One.

The 43 year old made almost 250 league appearances for the Boundary Park club in midfield before moving into coaching when his playing days ended.

Reserve-team boss Duxbury was a victim of the cull of manager Paul Dickov’s backroom staff at the turn of the year.