AS an exercise in building team spirit it was magnificent, but few of the players probably thought that way at the time.

The Oxford United players were taken on the army assault course at St George's Barracks, Bicester, at the weekend - and they passed the rigorous test with flying colours.

"It was hell," admitted assistant manager Mark Harrison. "It was very tough, though if you're fit it was not a problem.

"It probably hurt Malcolm (Shotton) and me much more than it hurt the players. We went through it all as well but had to pull out just before the end. All the players got through all of it, so great credit to them."

The players and management team had to crawl beneath logs under water, through water under barbed wire and at times were in five feet of muddy water.

They came out exhausted and looking like drowned rats - but feeling stronger for it and prepared for the battles ahead in Nationwide League Division 1.

Harrison added: "The lads have come back far fitter than they have done in the past and training exercises like this are a good laugh and are good at building team spirits and strength.

"Our players don't get fazed by things any more and the atmosphere in the squad is top class."

New signing Danny Hill completed the course but former Southend striker Andy Thomson had the rest of the squad green with envy by picking up an ankle injury on the Friday, which meant he had to give the assault course a miss.

However, the injury is minor and nothing to worry about, Harrison insisted.

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