22 June 2010

State-of-the-art equipment to track Dundee players' fitness

Photo opportunity: 10am on Tuesday, June 29th at Institute for Sports and Exercise, Old Hawkhill, Dundee. Dundee players will have their fitness levels monitored by University staff using the latest technology.

Dundee FC’s first team squad will tomorrow be put through their paces by sports science experts from the University of Dundee as the Dark Blues gear up for the coming season.

Using state-of-the-art equipment, staff from the University’s Institute for Sports and Exercise (ISE) will be measuring Gordon Chisholm’s players’ current levels of fitness and helping to monitor their development over pre-season. This arrangement will continue throughout the season, when the squad will return to take part in strength and conditioning work with the ISE team.

This continues a relationship between Dundee and the ISE stretching back many years. ISE Director Brian Ewing said he was delighted to be welcoming the Dark Blues back and that he hoped the Institute could help bring success to Dens Park this season.

'We are always delighted to be able to help our local sides,' said Mr Ewing. 'I’ve been here for 16 years, and in that time we’ve seen more and more clubs realise the benefits that we can bring to their players’ performances.

'Basically, we’ll be providing detailed, scientific info about the performance of players, which will allow the manger to plan training to make it much more effective. It’s great that our relationships are ongoing and we are always happy to be supporting our own clubs.

'As well as Dundee, we’ve had Dundee United, St Johnstone, and other local clubs work with us, and continue to do so. The likes of Livingston and Morton have also used our facilities and benefited from the services we offer.'

The leading-edge facilities and expertise available has seen the ISE designated as an accredited training venue for both the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games.

After a £4million extension in 2007, ISE can boast the largest gym in Tayside, several fitness studios, specialist facilities for a number of sports, and a strength performance centre (SPC).

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277