Doncaster Rovers depart for Scotland training camp

The Doncaster Rovers squad head to Scotland today looking to foster the team spirit needed to win promotion next season.
Paul Keegan has travelled to Scotland despite a niggle.Paul Keegan has travelled to Scotland despite a niggle.
Paul Keegan has travelled to Scotland despite a niggle.

Rovers will be based at the University of Stirling for a five day training camp ahead of their programme of pre-season friendlies which begins on Tuesday at Rossington Main.

No friendly has been organised for the camp with boss Darren Ferguson keen to continue work on the team’s shape for life in League Two.

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And he wants the integration of the club’s eight new signings to continue north of the border.

“We’ll be together 24/7, just getting away from everything for a few days,” Ferguson told The Star.

“The new lads have settled in really well.

“They’re good lads with good personalities about them. That’s what we wanted to bring into the building.

“The group has got a good feeling about it and it’s about getting that togetherness in terms of when they’re doing the hard stuff, that they drag each other along.

“That’s been been very evident so far.”

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Ferguson says excellent facilities at the University of Stirling were the big attraction for him to return to his home nation.

And the chance to get the squad away and fully focused on the team goals was important.

He said: “Training camps are very important. It’s a change of scenery.

“I think they’ve normally been to Portugal in the past but I didn’t want to go abroad.

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“We’re not having any games there, just the training. It’s too early for games.

“The facilities up there are very good. The pitches are excellent, there’s gyms, swimming pools, everything we need.

“That’s the important bit.”

Ferguson will take the full squad to Scotland despite Paul Keegan carrying a niggle which he picked up on the first day of pre-season.

Youth team graduates Reece Fielding and Will Longbottom will also travel.

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“It’s based on what we need for practice matches up there,” Ferguson said.

“We may have to take another one as well.”

n Rovers’ League Two trip to Colchester United over the Easter period has been brought forward 24 hours and will now be played on Friday, April 14 (3pm).