Source: Northern_Echo
Bardsley points to boxing regime
WHEN the majority of footballers were enjoying the last few weeks of summer lying on beaches and relaxing, Phil Bardsley was undergoing a gruelling fitness regime in Manchester in an attempt to return to pre-season fighting fit.[LNB] Towards the end of the last campaign, Bardsley lost his right-back slot to Alan Hutton, who was on loan from Tottenham, and the Salfordborn defender was determined to come back after the summer ready to regain his position.[LNB] However, with Bruce preferring Nedum Onouha and Kieran Richardson in the full-back positions, Bardsley again found himself down the pecking order at the Stadium of Light.[LNB] It seemed the former Manchester United trainee could be heading for the exit door, with his contract expiring in June and a new deal yet to be offered by the club.[LNB] But when a hamstring injury ruled Richardson out for a few weeks, Bardsley was called into action on the left and his solid performances have earned him a new contract and a new position, something he feels is down to his hard work during the summer.[LNB] I went to a boxing gym in Moss Side in the summer, the Scottish international explained.[LNB] The reason was in the last few summers when I have come back I have felt the lads have been a bit ahead of me in terms of fitness so this year I promised myself I would go and give it a crack.[LNB] I rang Steve Foster senior who is my dad's best mate and asked if I could train with his son, Steve junior at the Champs' Gym.[LNB] I went for two weeks and I was in at six in the morning for two hours. I would go home and would be back in the gym at 12.30pm doing pads and stuff. I did it off my own back to give myself the best chance of playing.[LNB] Ensley Bingham, a former boxer, grilled me for two weeks and some of the stuff we were doing was outrageous.[LNB] At six I would be running on the treadmill and aerobic stuff and then in the afternoon I would do ten rounds on the punch bags.[LNB] I would then do a 45- minute non-stop circuit session around the gym. You are not allowed to even stop for a drink.[LNB] I'd also end up doing another seven or eight rounds on the bag. The first time I did it I only did three rounds. And it nearly killed me.[LNB] Some mornings I did think, what on earth am I doing here' in the middle of summer, getting into the gym at six o clock in the morning but I have felt the benefit unbelievably.[LNB] Physically, I am in so much better shape and I have noticed the difference. I think that Moss Side is probably the reason why I have become something of a regular this season.[LNB] Despite his love of boxing, Bardsley says there is no chance of him following in the footsteps on footballer and boxer Curtis Woodhouse.[LNB] I love my boxing so I wanted to go there and but I am not going to do a Curtis Woodhouse on Sunderland, Bardsley said.[LNB] The lads here think I will because they have seen me on the pads and think I'm halfdecent but there is no chance of that.[LNB] I am all right hitting bags but you don't get hit back and I don't fancy that.[LNB] I was asked if I wanted to spar with Steven junior but he is a European champion and I said absolutely no chance.[LNB] Bardsley's impressive club form has also seen him break into Craig Levein's Scotland squad, something he has no regrets about despite the fact he is English-born.[LNB] Qualifying through his father's side of the family, Bardsley made his debut back in October in a 3-2 defeat to European and World Champions Spain.[LNB] I have absolutely no regrets about Scotland, he said.[LNB] It was a great experience to play against Spain at the recent friendly. I have now experienced international football and it is fantastic.[LNB] I have enjoyed every minute of it and I hope it continues for a very long time.[LNB]
