Pre-season: Part one

In the very first episode of Strain on the Game, hosts Stephen Warnock and Adrian Lamb dive into the brutal reality of pre-season in elite football. From gruelling training sessions to fitness testing, they break down what players really go through behind the scenes before the first whistle of the season. Stephen reflects on his own experiences as a Premier League player, while Adrian explains the science and strategy that goes into building a squad’s physical foundation for the months ahead. This is a part of football fans rarely gain access to – and it’s where the real work begins.