Source: Northern_Echo
Cooper declares tour a big success
AFTER watching his Darlington side record back-to-back wins, boss Mark Cooper has hailed the club's pre-season tour of the south east as a success - both on and off the field.[LNB] Quakers ran out 1-0 winners over Staines Town on Monday, before beating Brackley Town 3-1 on Wednesday.[LNB] The squad have now returned to the North-East, with Cooper's men preparing to welcome Middlesbrough to The Northern Echo Arena tomorrow.[LNB] As well as their two matches, Quakers enjoyed some team bonding activities during their trip, including a trip to theme park Thorpe Park, something Cooper believes was just as important as getting results.[LNB] The only downside to the tour was the amount of players who were forced to watch from the stands as they recover from injuries.[LNB] With seven first-team members currently out, Quakers boss revealed that an investigation is underway as to why so many have broken down injured so soon into pre-season, but insists the tour was a success overall.[LNB] He said: "They've had a good laugh and they've done some work. Obviously we've got too many injuries and we're still trying to evaluate why.[LNB] "Whether we've worked them too hard or have done certain things wrong, we'll have to look at that but I think it's important we get them away as a group and they get to know each other and get the new signings embedded in.[LNB] "Usually you get one or two in the group you're not sure about and you think they might be a little bit inward but they're not - they've all been brilliant.[LNB] "All the new boys have had to sing in front of the group - the standard was amazing.[LNB] "There's already a great spirit there and it's important you have that. It doesn't guarantee you anything, some players never get on but it helps on the pitch when you're trying to dig a result out."[LNB] A major positive for Cooper were the performances of his new signings - in particular James Walshaw, who bagged a brace against Brackley.[LNB] Walshaw, who signed a one-year deal at the end of May, showed Cooper why he has put his faith in the 27-year-old with two well-taken goals.[LNB] Despite having not played before in the Blue Square Premier League, Cooper believes the former Guiseley striker is already showing he has the potential to score plenty of goals next season.[LNB] He said: "They were two great goals from James. He works, he's one of those players that hustles and bustles and ends up one-on-one with the goalkeeper through hard work.[LNB] "You don't score the amount of goals he has in his career without knowing where the net is. He's not played at our level before but I'm convinced he'll score goals."[LNB] Meanwhile, former Darlington loanee Aman Verma has joined Kettering Town.[LNB] The Leicester-born midfielder turned down the offer of a one-year deal at the Arena and has now signed the same length of contract at Cooper's former club.[LNB]
