RONNIE MOORE is hoping that a four-day boot camp in North Yorkshire will give his Hartlepool United players a winning team ethic.

Moore and the Pools squad are in Catterick from today, training with the Army and taking part in assault course-style exercises for their second week of their pre-season training.

While it may appear to be a tried and tested idea, it’s the first time that Moore has taken a team to an Army camp, and boss expects the exercise to be a worthwhile team building experience.

“They’ll be split into two teams, it’s all about teamwork,” said Moore, who has brought seven new players to Victoria Park this summer. “That’s what Army life is about and it’s a little like what football is like. You’re a team, you need to be winning together, you need to egg each other on, encourage each other, and they’ll certainly be doing that.

“It’s the first time as a manager that I’ve been away to an army camp as a manager. I did once as a player, and that was old-school. It’s a modern Army now, they’ll know they’ve worked when they have been there.

“There will be no messing about, they’ll be treated properly and in the right way.”

The Catterick trip is a departure from Pools’ typical pre-season visits to Holland, and while last year Colin Cooper took his squad to Spain, Moore is dead against taking his side abroad.

He boss said: “I don’t like travelling away. It’s hot enough now here, there’s no need to go over to Spain and have five days running about. You can’t get fit doing that.

The Northern Echo:

“We were never going to do that. I’m not into that. Pre-season is so important, it’s important they get the fitness levels to where we want them. I said to them last Monday, if you’re feeling a little twinge, then pull out, but don’t pull out for the sake of it. Last thing we need now is a little strain, those players will be playing catch-up.”