The Richard Wood Column: A summer of promotion and Peroni! The Rotherham United skipper writes for the Advertiser

Richard Wood with his prized new coffee machineRichard Wood with his prized new coffee machine
Richard Wood with his prized new coffee machine

THE players knew it would be tough and the Gaffer hasn’t disappointed us!

I’ve got aches and pains from the first week of pre-season training.

The Gaffer is notorious for making pre-season training hard and nothing has changed in that respect. I thought we were going to be eased in, but we haven’t been!

I’m pleased to report that I’m running well and I’m feeling fit and good.

Training has been one session a day so far. We’ve been coming in in little groups at different times of the day. We’re still doing social distancing and we’re being tested for coronavirus twice a week.

The groups change. It’s not the same people in each one all the time. There is a timetable. As one group is leaving, the next one is arriving. It’s an EFL phased protocol for coming back that we’re following.

It’s just great to be training again and, hopefully, it’s the start of getting back to normal after the coronavirus outbreak. It’s nice to be able to drive to work and buy a coffee on the way in.

We’re doing plenty of running but there’s been a lot of ball work as well. It’s been really good. We were running all through lockdown anyway. We just need to get used to ball work again.

You can do all the running you want in lockdown but as soon as you come in and start doing stuff with a ball again things are different. You’ve got to move your feet quicker, and that’s something you can’t replicate properly at home.

I feel I’ve come back fitter than I normally would for pre-season. In a normal off-season I’d do bits of running and stick to a programme but that time is generally for rest. I’d go on holiday and be more relaxed.

This time, because of the circumstances, we’ve kept training just in case we had to come back and play again. Even when promotion was confirmed, we sort of carried on training anyway. Ross Burbeary, our fitness guy, relaxed the running programme a bit but the lads stuck to it because we were in a routine and it was good to get out of the house.

I’ve really missed going on holiday with the family this summer. It’s one of the things I want to do as soon as it’s possible. I had two holidays booked. We were going away to Portugal at the end of May for a week and then we’d sorted out a fortnight in Abu Dhabi in June.

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I REACHED the grand old age of 35 last Sunday and you won’t be surprised to know that I got a new coffee machine for my birthday.

I love my coffee and that’s three machines I’ve got now! It’s a proper milk-frothing one and I’m dead excited. I can do all my lattes on it. My missus, Jade got it for me and I got a bit carried away.

I had five coffees on my birthday because I was testing it out making flat whites. That was possibly too many because I went a bit dizzy!

I’m very easy to buy for. Get me anything to do with coffee and I’m happy.

I quite liked my old machine but this new one is all singing, all dancing. It’s unbelievable. My oldest one has long been retired to the garage and friends of ours are having the one I had been using before my birthday.

I love the new one. In fact, I was in the middle of cleaning it when Paul Davis rang me to sort out this column!

I got a pair of trainers as well and plenty of aftershave. I’m not the sort of person who is too concerned about their birthday. I can’t be doing with the fuss. I tell people not to bother. I’ve had too many of them now!

We had some sushi delivered to the house on Saturday night as a pre-birthday treat. It was lovely. One of our friends recommended it. It’s restaurant quality and from a place in Leeds called Fior Alba. We’re going to have it again. I like sushi and our two boys love it. Normally we go to YO! Sushi in Meadowhall.

I managed to go out for a meal on the day itself. That was a big thing because I’ve really missed eating out during lockdown.

On Sunday evening, me, Jade and the kids went to a tapas restaurant in Wakefield called Qubana. We went with friends: two households, which is allowed. and we did all the proper social distancing.

In the morning, we’d had a three-hour family walk around Langsett Reservoir.

Turning 35 doesn’t bother me. I’m feeling good. I don’t feel that old. Normally, 35 is seen as a retirement age for a footballer but this is the best I’ve felt in years. It’s just a number.

The management and staff have said to me: ‘Just keep going, keep playing, you’re doing well.’

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RUMOURS that I’m going to be sponsored by Peroni next season are wildly exaggerated!

I’m happy to admit I’ve been seen having a few drinks over the last few weeks to celebrate our promotion but the time has now come to knuckle down to training and I’m back to my usual routine that involves very little alcohol.

I’m too busy with my new coffee machine now anyway.

Fans saw me having a glass of wine when I hosted the Millers quiz during lockdown, then the players were allowed to drink during last month’s online promotion party. I had a couple of bottles of Peroni but it looked worse than it was because none of the other lads were drinking! I thought: ‘I’d best ease off here.’

I’ve definitely enjoyed myself! We all worked hard for months and it’s not every season you get promoted, so why not? It’s my first automatic promotion. The other two both came through the play-offs.

Although the circumstances for how we did it weren’t great, it’s still something to celebrate. It’s worth as much as any other promotion.

I don’t want to be secretive about having a beer. I want fans to see that we’re just normal lads who want to celebrate just like supporters do. We’re not robots. I reckon a lot of fans will have had a fair few beers when promotion was confirmed. That’s the whole point of it.

I have a good diet and look after myself but I don’t mind a beer or a bit of wine now and again if the football schedule allows it. Why not let your hair down a couple of times when your team has just been promoted?

I lifted the League One runners-up trophy during the online party. I felt really uncomfortable doing it, but it was nice to have the silverware in my house.

My boys loved it. They lifted it themselves more than once! We had it for the day, took loads of pictures with it, then returned it. It’s back with the club again now.

For me, though, it didn’t feel right lifting it and not having all the players and fans around me to celebrate with.

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THE first new boy of the summer is in the building. Mickel Miller has joined us from Scottish side Hamilton Academical.

I’ve met him and he seems like a nice lad. I’ve also heard good things about him and I’ve seen a few clips of him as well. He looks a player. He’s the Gaffer’s kind of winger: quick and tricky.

I’m looking forward to training with him and seeing what’s he about in a group session. At the moment, training is sort of individual stuff.

Does a new signing have an effect on players? It certainly does if he plays in your position!

A new signing is always a boost. All the lads want the best squad we can have. If that means somebody coming in in your position, it just makes you perform better.

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