TWO FOOTED CORNER CHALLENGE...

WINNER'S CIRCLE APPEARANCE...

ODDBOYS...

                                

Who's good at predicting scores? Wanna take me on? If you do then here's the place to do it. I've set up a #challengehunty league at www.yoddboys.co.uk where I'll predict each weekends premiership scores. If you think you can beat me over the period of the season then click the link below and join the fun. Plus it's all free.

http://www.oddboys.co.uk/bets/games/21

If you want to keep to keep up to date follow @oddboys on twitter and they'll gladly advise you on how you're doing. There's a crate of beer and a signed shirt for the winner and maybe even a half way Christmas league leader prize too. So hurry up and challenge me.

Hunty 13

DRUM ROLL...

Congratulations to @LeeHosier on winning the signed Pompey programme! Fire me an email at davidhuntblog@hotmail.co.uk and we can arrange to have it sent to you or collect from training ground. Thanks to everyone that entered and there'll be more prizes (pair of boots) up for grabs in the next month.

Hope you had a good weekend with 3 points in the bag. Blog post on the season kicking off later this week.

Hunty 13

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED...

Winning the first game of the Season has put me in a good mood, so I feel it's time for a competition. I have a Programme from our game vs Portsmouth signed by all the Oxford United players and staff. To be in the draw all you have to do is follow me on Twitter @DavidJHunt and then RT the following using the hashtag #lifeofhunty

RT & Follow @DavidJHunt for chance to win this programme signed by the Oxford United players & staff http://tinyurl.com/hunty13 #lifeofhunty

The winner will be chosen this Friday 9th August. Good Luck...

Hunty 13.

THE BEGINNING...

Pre-Season...The worse part of being a footballer. No matter how many you do in your career they never get easier. When I was 21 I didn't think it really mattered to train in the Off-Season break but as time as gone on I've realised and appreciate that you need to look after your body all year round.

My holiday period started on the 28th April which is extremely early. That gave me just under 8 weeks off until I was back come 21st June. We were told to rest up for the first 7-10 days which is the norm at most clubs as our bodies had been through an intense season. Trouble was I had the bug to kick on. Crawley Sports Scientist Niall Clark had given us all individual programmes to help keep fit over this period but I wanted to start straight away. I knew my leg strength needed improving and I'm one of those people that likes to keep their fitness ticking over all the time. If i had near 2 weeks of nothing I'd of felt dreadful and probably need a lot of catching up. Instead I started straight away.

Here's a peak at my personal programme...

                           

  

I near enough copied the weights sheet as much as possible doing 2-3 sessions a week and eventually raising my squat weight to 90kg.

As for the running I'm pretty particular when it comes to this, I tend to stick to one run which has suited me for the past few years. The first couple weeks I do a 20 minute plod at level 11kph twice a week and then I step it up to 4 minutes at level 15kph with 3 minutes recovery at level 11kph and do this 4 times through. By the end im quite tired and I'm not gonna lie, the first session of my 11kph plod I ended up hanging off the end of the treadmill with the personal trainers sprinting to my aid. I nearly ended up on my arse because I hadn't realised the machine was set in mph. I was running at 11mph which is a big difference. In a way I'm glad because as I was increasing the speed I got to 8mph and thought jesus I'm so unfit as it seemed nowhere near as easy as it normally would. Lesson learnt.

During my seven day holiday in Cyprus I managed to get two gym sessions in which wasn't the most pleasant of environments what with it being in the basement where the outdoor temperature was over the thirty degrees mark and the air conditioning was broken.

Once my holiday was over I near enough signed for Oxford United and straight away continued my fitness regime knowing I want to hit the ground running at my new club. It also helped that I had worked with Oxfords Sports Scientist Al Lane before at Brentford so I knew I was in safe hands. He let me know what was expected of the players for when they returned so I didn't feel left behind.

21st June was the first day at my new club. It can be quite daunting When You walk into the dressing room for the first time but at Oxford I couldn't of felt more welcome. The staff and the players straight away made an effort to greet myself and the other new boys. I was lucky enough to already know a few lads like James Constable from our not so fun Shrewsbury days and also Hovis aka Scott Davies who I must add had a big influence in me signing. He sold the club to me like no other and for that I owe him a lot. With that there was Jake Wright who made his presence known that he was the skipper, if I needed anything at all to come to him. From the first minute I felt a real togetherness. I knew quite a few players had been let go from last season so getting that togetherness straight away can be tough but Jake has made sure that this isn't the case.

Al Lane gave me my nutritional supplements, heart rate strap and training kit of which I asked for squad number 13. I'm not one for superstitions but reason being my first daughter was born on the 13th, since then it's been my lucky number. 

Onto Pre-Season!!!! We've done the body fats (10.5%), the strength tests (max squat rep 155kg), the jump tests, the concussion tests and even the pee tests, now to the running. Everything at this club is structured so that they know the players will be in prime condition once the first game of the season arrives. 

We had a full week of training and then as many of you already know we had an 'interesting' trip to a Marine Boot Camp. This was the toughest thing I had ever done in my life. 

Before Boot Camp we had the privilege of staying in Wigan not only to Watch Wigan Warriors train but use their facilities and attend a match. Our Owner and Chairman Ian Lenagan also owns the Warriors and thought it would be a great opportunity to see how the best team in Rugby League train. It was real eye opener, yes these boys are playing a totally different sport but their work ethic, determination and team togetherness was something that the boys straight away acknowledged and i think learnt from. We managed to have a chat with a few of them and when one of our boys asked if they'd been to this Marine Camp they looked at us and pulled a face which could only be interpreted as 'pain', they hadn't done anything as hard as that! I think this was when the boys started to get a bit worried. 

Here's us watching the Warriors train and also using their facilities ourselves...

We were treated to the Wigan vs Castleford game. We got to see how the team prepared before the game in their dressing room...

Unfortunately the result didn't go to plan but all in all it was a great experience. 

And so to  Boot Camp. For myslef and the majority of the boys we had never done anything like this before and didn't know what to expect which in hindsight was a good thing. If I'd known what I do now I reckon I would of been a nervous wreck!

No matter how much I explain the experience you seriously won't understand how hard it was unless you do it yourself. for 27 hours the majority of us didn't sleep, not for the want of trying but the fact that you couldn't because of the anticipation of not knowing what's next. 

We tried to work out how many different sessions we did and I think we came up with 8 or 9. We literally were amateur Marines for that period of time. The whole process wasn't about physically battering us until we had no more (of which they near enough did mind) it was about testing the teams mental strength, bringing us together, making sure no one quits and that we help each other out if need be. People that don't normally like to take control were thrown to the front and told to organise, talk, order, lead. 

Sessions varied from 4 mile road runs with 25kg power bags on your neck, to hill runs on hands and feet, army crawls for 50 meters, 500m minibus pushes, 300m fireman carries and many more. 

We arrived at the camp around 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon and the sessions started near enough straight away. We were treated like Marines and with that we had to treat them with respect. There were rules:

- No hands on hips

- No touching your face

- No talking in certain areas

If these were broken then it was an instant 20 press ups. By the end of the trip I think I'd done well over 1000 press ups!!!

1.00pm was an introductory session along with the 4 mile road run with power bags until we came to a grass hill where we'd have to do a number of drills like dragging your partner backwards up a hill and then piggy back run him down again.

 

All this and it was only our first session!!! Once it was over the boys didn't know what had hit them. We were taken back to our rooms where we had to shower and then be back out in the same army trousers as before along with the sweaty top and all within 8 minutes. When back out we had to be in ranks of three and stand appropriately.

I'd say roughly 2.30pm was the next session which incorporated combat on mats. You lied on the floor and had to wrestle someone off of you for 1 minute, once that's up someone else gets on you and you do the same until you've been through 6 of your team members, after that you switch and one of them goes on the floor. By the time I'd wrestled 3 of my team for 3 minutes and then someone like Jake gets on top of you and you can hardly breath you start to understand that this is gonna be the longest day of your life! I was shattered and only 2 sessions were done. 

As there were so many sessions I may be slightly wrong but this is how I remember it. Every time you're in your room you don't know when the next one will be so you sit there waiting/hoping it's not going to be for a while. The Marine would turn up out of nowhere blowing a whistle and banging on your door. You'd have 1 Minute to get your army trousers on along with your same sweaty top. If you weren't out in time you'd be punished (which you'll soon see). I think both the 1am & 3am sessions we had people late. You're stood there freezing cold in formation looking around praying the other lads turn up whilst watching the Marine pace up and down looking at their glow in the dark watch gritting his teeth thinking of how to punish us. It was brutal to say the least.

5pm - Outdoor Circuit (power bags, boxing, core)

7pm - Dinner, after dinner we were told that the work for the night was done and to go and get some rest. Stupidly we believed them and by 9.30pm we had finally gone back to our rooms only to be woken (If could sleep)...

11pm - Minibus push race up the 500m humped hill with piggy back carry return.

1am - Was the dreaded reservoir introduction!!! head had to go fully under the freezing yet quite refreshing water. Probably did this 3 times then had a 150m hill race. 3 teams, 2 road cones, first team to fill up their wheely bin twice using only the cones. 

 

3am - First was punishment for being late which was 3 times in the reservoir and then into tiny heated room where it was really dark. 21 circuit stations laid out and we had to go round it twice for around 45mins on each one with no rest in between! Burpees, squat thrusts, wide arm press ups, close arm press ups, gladiator power bag drills, boxing, kneeing, you name it we did it. That for me was the toughest. 

6am - Was the fireman carry drills up the inclined driveway. 100m carry and then 300m carry which again was so tough especially as most had had no sleep and fatigue was kicking in. The boys dug in together to help drive each other on as you can see here...

I've missed some out but don't really wanna think about them so hopefully they're erased from my memory for good.

After this we finally had breakfast which is when you could see a few of the boys hurting. A couple needed to get seen by a doctor for precaution. 

9.30am - Came the final session where we went into a room and were told we would be going on a 24hr hike with tents...but as we were getting ready to go the Marine told us that he was happy with what he'd seen and that our work had come to an end. The boys all stood there in disbelief and no one said anything thinking it was a joke. Then the Marine repeated himself and the boys started celebrating like we'd won the League! The relief of not having to do anymore was unbelievable. I'm so glad the staff filmed everything of which I'm sure you'll one day get to see. We will be able to look back and say we did that. 

Not one player moaned about the whole process, not one player gave up and not one player didn't take something from that experience. It was great way to bond with the boys in a testing weird way. 

My sleeping/anticipation Quarters...

Myself and the boys want to thank Wigan Warriors player Paul Prescott for being a great Ambassador for the Rugby team. He was with us from the day we arrived to the day we left the Marine Camp and gave us some great advise.

And thanks to the Marines of who I never want to see again!!!

Banter was flying on the way home...

Since being back we've been heavily into the Pre-Season programme. Last week we had the VO2 Max tests at the Oxford University...

Followed by a special moment for the new boys to get our first 45 minutes under our belts. It Wasn't the prettiest of performances but with the heat and conditions in mind we start the campaign with a win. Next on the agenda is a week in Scotland. So until then...

WAKEY WAKEY...

Five weeks ago I was half way through writing this blog telling you about my holiday, instead the topic has changed drastically. I'm now an Oxford United player! It's amazing how things change so quickly. 

With the help of Social Media I'm sure some of you know what I've been up to. I've been trying to keep in touch with everyone via Twitter and Instagram. I say it all the time that I'm gutted I didn't have any of these sites/apps when I was younger as I know I'd love to of seen what my idols got up to. I know I can sometimes be boring and my teammates rib me for some of the pics I post but I'm trying to let people have an idea of what life is like for a footballer.

Since the season finished I've been non stop busy. I've had the pleasure of a trip to Barcelona, I then managed to get a free trip to Chelsea Vs Tottenham and experience the atmosphere of the Upper Shed End which was enjoyable. After that I decided to treat myself to a change of car which was hard to let go of especially with all the car skool memories I had shared with it. 

After all this I was honoured to be invited by Luis Melville to the Brentford Playoff Final at Wembley and commentate on their club website with the likes of Natalie Sawyer & Mark Burridge, whilst in between all this I manage to sneak a couple of free tickets to Alton Towers with my best mate in Nottingham who I rarely get to see much of. 

And if that wasn't enough, to top it off I was asked to play in a charity game for Brentford FC to raise funds for children in the Brentford community.

And then it all changed...

Leaving Crawley Town was a very hard decision and one that took nearly a month to make. I've had the most successful 3 years of my career with so many highs and not too many lows. I'd made some very close friends on and off the pitch and found a place inside me that joined Brentford. I had the honour of winning two promotions, reach two FA Cup 5th Rounds and break many records. Not many people can say they've played in a clubs first ever League game but I can! I'm a very lucky boy who's worked hard for years and appreciate what I've achieved. All of this made the decision to leave very hard.

I don't have a bad word to say about Crawley Town or Ritchie Barker. I'm not gonna lie and say everything was rosy red behind the scenes with my situation but when you've gone from playing near enough week in week out for two seasons and win back to back promotions to then start League One as second choice is hard to take. I felt like all that hard work of I'd put in of getting the club to where it was had been forgotten about.

8 Weeks before the vital Accrington Stanley game (to clinch promotion) I broke my foot in a tackle and was told my season was in other words over. Those 56 days were the hardest to swallow as I had to watch the boys battle for that 3rd automatic promotion place. I was desperate to get fit and managed to be back in training within 6 weeks. I still had a lot of pain in the foot and I didn't make the squad for the last home game of the season which could of clinched promotion against Hereford which we lost 3-0. If I'm totally honest I wasn't too disappointed as I felt totally out of the picture for what could of been a real special day. Instead I had the chance to play in the most important game of the season, and I did. We won 1-0 and that feeling of making history again was one that I refused to miss. There was still something wrong with my foot as I kept getting a pain when I kicked the ball a certain way and three days after the game an MRI scan confirmed my thoughts, my foot was still broken.

Of the 6 weeks holiday period I managed to do 3 fitness runs which is nothing at all and no where near enough to come back fighting fit but it was the only way possible to make sure my foot was fully healed for the League One campaign. After that came the drastic double change of managers Sean O'Driscoll and then Ritchie Barker. It's hard enough coming back not totally fit but having to impress new managers is an extra burden but I was fine with it. As the season got underway I could tell I wasn't going to start and I totally respected Ritchie's decision as I know it's hard for a manager to come in at such short notice and pick a team, but after a couple of months I started to get frustrated. The gaffer let me know that he wanted me to stay at the club but understood if I wanted to leave and that he wouldn't stand in my way. I decided to stay and fight for my place and after having four players play ahead of me during the year I eventually got my shirt back come the end of the season. But those few months of being in and out the team had an affect on my mindset. I couldn't take another roller coaster season of limited game time as I love football too much, not being on the field hurt me. The gaffer and I had a chat, he let me know that I would be starting next season but my confidence in believing him had changed when I asked for a contract extension and was declined, this made me start to think about leaving again. A few options popped up although none of them interested me enough make me want to leave. That was until Chris Wilder and Oxford United came knocking. 

I've always thought of Oxford as a big club and one that I believe should be much higher in the tiers of football. I've played with many ex United players such as Lee Steele, Andy Scott, Jamie Cook and the legend Dannie Bulman who all have spoken highly of the club. Bullwink had always let me know how good it was and what they are trying to achieve, this all made me fascinated. So when I knew they were interested I let Ritchie know that I was thinking of leaving. He understood my situation and didn't want to stand in my way as he knew my heart lied elsewhere. 

Like I said this wasn't an easy decision, it was all taking place whilst on my family holiday in Cyprus. I was spending around an hour a day on the phone trying to decide on my future. It's hard to leave a club that I'd come so attached to. I'd been told I won my shirt back and would be starting the season in League One, it was tough, my mind was all over the place. It did ruin my holiday as I didn't feel very relaxed but I guess that's the perks of the job. By the time I had got back to the UK I still hadn't fully made my mind up but I knew deep down that Oxford was too big an opportunity to turn down. Leaving my mates like Sergio Torres, Josh Simpson, Kyle Mcfadzaen of who we shared so many years of history making memories together and to say bye to my mucker/lover/coffee brother Dannie Bulman made it a sad day. But once I managed to speak to family the decision was made and it was time for a new challenge!

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone that took the time to message me via email and twitter. Reading those messages was tough to take in. When I left Brentford I never thought I'd have as close a connection to another club again, but I did, I'm truly blessed. I'll never forget you and along with Brentford will always look out for your results for the rest of my life.

So now to a new chapter in my career and one that I'm extremely honoured and excited about. I don't mean this in anyway disrespectful to Crawley Town but considering where Oxford United used to be I do believe I've joined a sleeping giant. I haven't come here to sit comfortable, I want to win things and believe this is the club to achieve that with. It's by no means gonna be an easy challenge ahead but it's one I'm ready for.

Hunty 13...