Cambridge United Hub
Cambridge United, currently 3rd in England League Two with 82 points, is focusing on fitness training. On 2026-05-02, they drew 0-0 with Crewe.
What is the common mistake in football fitness training?
Most recreational players tend to run a couple of 5Ks around their local town then declare themselves fit for duty. But that doesn't do a very good job of preparing you for an actual game, explains Laurence Bloom, Cambridge United's executive performance lead.
How does Cambridge United prepare players for the season?
A player covers roughly 10 to 12km per game, says Bloom. To help players avoid the five kilometre-wide pre-season pitfall, Bloom shared some examples of drills he uses to ensure Cambridge players are ready for the season ahead.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| League standing | 3rd in England League Two |
| Points | 82 |
| Recent form | DWLDW |
What are the key aspects of a game that demand intense fitness training?
A game of football is not a continuous effort, it's a matrix of sprints, accelerations, decelerations and changes of pace, all of which are far more demanding on the body than simply running 5km in the same direction. The most metabolically demanding aspects of a game are the short, intense bursts of effort, says Bloom. Players wear GPS tracking vests and do a series of performance tests during pre-season.
How does Cambridge United use data to inform training?
The resulting data is used to split players into groups, then drills will be prescribed accordingly to suit each group's needs, speeds and fitness levels. In League Two and League One, you're probably only looking at a maximum of 60 minutes of ball-in-play time per game, and 15-20 per cent of a player's distance covered will be walking, adds Bloom. But then they'll do 800m to 1,200m of high speed running – anything above 19.8km/h, which is the stuff that's really going to push the hamstrings
