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Former Sunderland midfielder Dylan McGeouch is still on the lookout for a new club after parting ways with Carlisle United earlier this summer. The 32-year-old has been actively participating in the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) free agent pre-season camp to maintain his fitness and readiness for any potential opportunities. Despite his efforts, McGeouch remains without a team as the football calendar progresses.
Dylan McGeouch said: “It’s been obviously tough over the summer, just keeping myself fit and trying to keep myself ticking over until hopefully the phone goes and I can find myself a new club. I do my own stuff in the gym and a little bit of running here and there but there’s the English PFA. They put on a pre-season camp over the summer, so because I’ve been down the road for a few years, I was eligible to go down and spend like five or six weeks down there. Four days at a time, everything’s paid for and stuff, so a good standard. Good standard of players and the coaching, so it got everyone up to speed. Almost like a club environment as well, which is good.”
He further added: “It’s great. It’s helpful. I find it helpful. I find it suitable for players like myself in this situation, out of contract, with the need of training and with the need of the football side of the game. Because, yes, you can train on your own as much as you want, but you need to be with the boys and play and passing the ball, tackling, shouting and all the parts of the game. I have to say thank you to the PFA for this opportunity, because mentally it gets hard when you train, like myself, for five weeks on your own, day in, day out. Even if it’s with your personal trainer or in the best facility in the world, it’s still hard. Because we used to be around people, it’s a team game and this is where you want to be. So it’s a great set-up and to be fair I didn’t expect it to be as good with recovery, with the football pitch, the level of the players as well, it’s great. And I will definitely use this and suggest this to other players in the same situation.”
McGeouch’s participation in the PFA camp highlights the challenges faced by out-of-contract players in maintaining their fitness and readiness for potential club opportunities. The camp provides a structured environment akin to a club setting, allowing players to engage in team activities such as passing, tackling, and other essential football drills. This initiative is crucial for players like McGeouch, who emphasize the importance of being part of a team environment, which is difficult to replicate when training solo.
Having spent two years with Sunderland between 2018 and 2020, McGeouch’s experience and skill set remain valuable assets. His ongoing search for a club underscores the competitive nature of the football market, particularly for seasoned players striving to continue their professional careers. The PFA’s support through such camps demonstrates the association’s commitment to assisting players during transitional phases in their careers.
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