Goalkeeper Scott Loach is 'absolutely loving' his time with Derby County and says he was delighted to sign a new deal with the club last month.
The 35-year-old shot-stopper has over 500 career appearances to his name and, as well as providing competition for both Joe Wildsmith and Josh Vickers as third choice goalkeeper, he's also earning his coaching badges as he looks to his future career.
Loach joined Derby last summer from National League side Chesterfield and provided cover for Wildsmith during the campaign, as well as appearing three times in the EFL Trophy.
Speaking to RamsTV, Loach provided a quick update on how things are going for him and the group so far at the Spanish training camp as preparations continue for the upcoming 2023/24 season.
On pre-season so far...
It's been tough, but you expect that in pre-season. I think the biggest factor out here has been the weather and the heat, but that's what we're here for. If you want to win the league, you've got to put that grind in at the start of the season.
On a goalkeeper's pre-season...
It's obviously different. Ours is more around putting the work in over short-blasts. The work may be less in time but it's a bit more explosive. It's been good to be involved in though. The standard has been really high, all the goalkeepers have come back looking really sharp and it's been a real pleasure watching Joe Wildsmith and Josh Vickers.
On the togetherness being built in the group...
All the new lads have come in and settled in well. Kane Wilson walked through the door about 10 hours ago and he's already everybody's best mate! I think the gaffer is well known for that though. He does a lot of background work before he signs players and he tries to make team-mates comfortable with whoever or whatever situation they are in.
The demand is high in training already, there's no excuses and you've got your likes of Conor Hourihane in there who's had an unbelievable career and Sonny Bradley and Curtis Nelson and the likes of Max Bird who is the youngest most senior professional I've ever met. Everybody pushes each other but nobody takes it to heart, everybody trusts each other and that's really good.
On signing a new contract last month...
I love this place. I have the clarity, I know what my role is and I just have to be at it 100% in training to keep the other lads' standards high and, if called upon, or if I'm needed then I'm ready. I've been very lucky to work with some good people over my career but this is probably the happiest I've been over the last year here. I really enjoy it.
On his coaching aspirations...
I want to be a player for as long as I can but what the club has done with me has been great, giving me that platform to get out there and do my coaching and get my badges. There's some unbelievable goalkeepers in the Academy. I want to be that guy that Joe and Josh can lean on but also the younger guys too. I really love it, really enjoy it and long may it continue hopefully.
