Hadden back for more at Jags
Scott Hadden is determined to be in peak condition for his latest spell at East Kilbride Thistle after signing up for another season.
The midfielder has committed to the Showpark club for next season’s West of Scotland Conference C campaign and hopes to rediscover the fitness he found during the first lockdown of the pandemic.
Hadden was the fittest he has ever been when the Jags returned to the field in October, but further waves of Covid eventually led to the WOSL being suspended and then declared null and void.
It was a huge blow to the 32-year-old, having worked so hard on his fitness, but wants to make sure he finds those levels again for Iain Diack’s side in time for pre-season kicking-off in a few weeks.
Hadden, from The Murray, said:“I can’t wait to get back.”It’s been a nightmare not playing.
”It’s all I’ve been used to, playing football every week, and now it’s over a year since we’ve had a proper go at it.
”To be training every week and playing every Saturday is what we all want to get back to. The first lockdown I got myself really fit. I did a couple of half marathons. I’m not much of a runner, so I was quite proud of myself about that.
”We got back for a three week spell and I was feeling really good about myself and then it stopped again.
“After that, my head just went and I got fed up with it.
“I’ve been out again the last two months and I’ve told the manager I’m going to try and get as fit as I possibly can.
”I’ve still got five week before pre-season so I’m hoping to be as fit as possible and push on for the team on the park.”
Hadden has been in and out of the Showpark in recent years, having played under former Jags boss Alan Paterson in two separate spells.
In those halcyon days, players were able to enjoy the banter and camaraderie of being in the same dressing room.
But social distancing restrictions in lower league football have prevented players from that experience for over a year now.
So it’s something Hadden is hopeful will return when next season kicks off on July 17.
He added:“It will be good to get back in
thechanging rooms at some pointand havethat banter again. It’s beenweird not having it.
”We haveaWhatsApp group and it’s still a bit madyou could say, butit’s not thesameas being in thechanging room.
”I can’t wait forthat to come back. ”I reallywantto get games as well.I signed up when the newmanager camein, buteverything got so messed up with CovidI never reallygot many games.
“But Iwas talking tothe manager again and he wantedme to sign on for next season, so it felt therightthink to do because I am itching to get playing.We played a fewgames last season and we weren’t too faraway from someof theso-calledbigger teams, so I think we’ll givea good accountof ourselvesifwecanget a full season.”