Aaron in the thick of things at Rochdale

RETIREMENT is the furthest thing from Aaron Wilbraham’s mind as he heads into his first season as a Rochdale player.

The 38-year-old striker may be in the autumn of his playing career but insists his passion for the game burns as brightly as ever.

“I know it can be the case with some older players, they come to a club and pick up the money, wind down and sit around injured. I’m not I wasn’t like that, I want to did when you were start,” he said. “This training that doesn’t get like that, I get bored if I’m play and I want to be younger.” season has been totally any easier, but I’m feeling not involved,” he said. involved. And Wilbraham feels different. I was fit by the good and I just want to

“I remember when I “I think the enthusiasm better heading into this end of last season, I’ve stay fit and play as many signed for Bristol City gets stronger each year campaign than he did 12 trained through the games as I can. when I was 34, the because when you get to months ago when at summer and I’ve not “All round the squad manager, Steve Cotterill this age you look after Bolton. missed a day of preseason, there is competition for said to me ‘the chairman yourself a lot better than “When I turned up at so I’m feeling fit. places, I’ve been really and others will only see when you were 18 or 19 Bolton this time last year I “A lot of people look at impressed, more so than I your name and age, but and you are hungrier for it had a knee injury in the the age, but it’s just a was expecting if I’m being once they see what you because you do know that April, so I wasn’t in the number if you look after honest. Now that I have are like they will give you it’s going to come to an best shape – I hadn’t been yourself properly. I’m trained with the lads and a longer contract.’ I ended end at some point, so you able to train through the chasing Dan Adshead seen them at close up signing there for four do everything properly summer and I’d missed around in training, he’s quarters, I’m more years! and relish each minute on pre-season so I was sixteen, and chasing the impressed than I was “I think Keith Hill knew the pitch more than you playing catch up from the young lads around in before.”

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