Phallon Tullis-Joyce was the first to emerge, closely followed by her teammates, including former Brann players Lisa Naalsund and Elisabeth Terland. They took a leisurely stroll to the practice area, engaging in a brief ‘walk-and-talk’ interview in anticipation of their return to familiar surroundings. While we awaited Lisa’s arrival, Elisabeth was curious about our media team’s past visits to her home country and offered some recommendations that I’m sure we’ll explore if time permits before our game on Wednesday.
The duo then joined the rest of the squad, who had gathered for a special presentation by Skinner before the session began. Summer signings Julia Zigioitti Olme and Jess Park were reunited with the shirts they wore for their WSL debuts over the weekend, now adorned with signatures from their teammates.
It was a thoughtful gesture, especially as the players donned their training tops inside out in a show of solidarity for Suicide Prevention Day.
The training session kicked off with quick running drills and agility exercises through poles to warm up, while the players skillfully dodged the sprinklers watering the nearby fields. Unfortunately, our cameraman Noel wasn’t as fortunate, getting a quick soaking as he continued steadfastly to capture close-up footage.
Following the warm-up, the team engaged in a series of small-sided ‘rondos,’ while away from the outfield players, new goalkeeping coach Joe Potts worked with the keepers on a separate area of the training pitch.
As the coaches launched a drone to capture the tactical nuances of the session, our media team took this as a cue to switch off our cameras and head indoors. Even in a brief span of fifteen minutes, the expertise, skill, and quality on display were truly a privilege to witness firsthand.
