CHATTERIS Town have needed every ounce of their fighting spirit in the league this season and it was put to the test again on Saturday... in the boxing ring.
With West Street covered in snow, the Lilies replaced 90 minutes against Fulbourn Institute with 60 minutes of intense training at Chatteris Amateur Boxing Club.
Leigh Matthews and his troops were put through their paces by teenage star Jordan Gill - who is preparing for his fourth professional bout next week.
“I’m still aching from it to be honest,” said joint boss Matthews. “I had to join in with them.
“We had a warm-up and then did a big circuits session. The boys found it hard but it was well worth it. They will all be feeling it now.
“We’re going to try and set up a session like that on a regular basis as I think fitness is a massive factor in our league.
“We didn’t really have a proper pre-season with everything that was happening at the club so we’re still playing catch-up fitness wise.”
Chairman Shaun Hayden, who took the reins at West Street in October last year, has hailed the positive atmosphere that has returned to the relegation-threatened Lilies.
Matthews said: “The atmosphere is good and doing things together like the boxing is good for team spirit.
“The banter was flowing for the whole hour. They’ve all got boxing nicknames for themselves now.
“Jack Saunders (midfielder) definitely fancies himself as a bit of a boxer - he was jumping over the top rope to get in the ring!”
Gill, who is unbeaten in his three professional bouts, said it was “a pleasure to be able to give the Chatteris boys a small taste of what I do day in, day out”.
The Lilies, who sit second-bottom in the league, travel to Littleport tomorrow.
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