Pre-season training can be tough, demanding and difficult to get through, whether you’re a Sunday league football player or a professional, and it can take a considerable amount of time to get up to speed.

Pre-season is all about regaining fitness, and it’s crucial whether you play for a rugby team, a cricket tea or a rowing club. The ultimate aim is to make sure you’re ready to give 100 percent when the competitive matches begin, and you can soon find yourself on the sidelines if you haven’t trained hard enough.

In football, it’s common to pick up injuries during pre-season, and that’s because the body goes from relaxed mode into intensive training, so you have to be careful and give yourself some recovery time between sessions. Make sure you prepare well for your next season ahead, whatever sport you’re involved in.