United centre-half Danny Livesey (DL) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) this evening ahead of Carlisle's pre-season friendly at Kendal, Livesey another player joining the Brunton Park baby boom:
JP
You have had twins in the last few days?
DL
I have yeah, 14 days ago.
JP
14 days ago, so it must be a little bit like a creche at Brunton Park these days?
DL
It is yeah, there are plenty of them knocking about now.
JP
I have just seen the two little monkeys over there, what are they called?
DL
Tie and Isabelle, so a boy and a girl.
JP
How has that helped with your pre-season preparations then? You don't look too tired.
DL
Yeah, yeah, I am hiding it well, but it is hard work, when you are working hard and then you are not sleeping at night, but you just find a way to get by.
JP
Amazing stuff isn't it?
DL
Oh, it is phenomenal, it is unbelievable, I wouldn't change it though.
JP
When we get here and we talk about the excitement of the season being back, I suppose you have just got your own exciting news all over?
DL
That's it, I have got two things to look forward to now, the season, especially after the season I had last time, so it is nice to be back playing, and then obviously with the twins to come as well it is unbelievable.
JP
Yeah, a great spell for you, nine weeks since the Yeovil defeat, since the last match of last season and here we are with the opening pre-season friendly, can you believe how quickly it has come around?
DL
It goes quicker every year I tell you. Just the hard work, you seem to blink and then May and June has gone and then you are back into it again.
JP
We always hear about the hard first week for footballers in pre-season, what has this week been like for you and the boys?
DL
It has been hard, he (Greg) Abbott has been putting us through our paces a bit, but you have got to do it because you can't play football if you are not fit.
JP
We were all there for the opening session, from the media, watching you on the Monday session, I believe you had already had a couple by then, it was in baking hot conditions, I bet you would have rather it had been a bit like it is now, a bit overcast and a bit of rain in the air?
DL
Yeah, this is nice, since we have got the balls out it has been raining, when we were doing the hard slog of the running it was bleeding boiling.
JP
After a season like Carlisle had last year, what are the expectations and hopes like in the dressing room going into the new term?
DL
Well, you know we look forward to every season to see how we do and we know if we get it right, because of the team spirit we have got and the lads we have got in, especially the lads we have brought in this season, there is a chance that we could get into the play-offs. who knows? We just need to do a little bit better than last season at picking up results at the lesser teams, because no disrespect to anyone but we seem to do really well against the big teams in the league and then drop silly points, so we just need to put that to bed.
JP
What have you made of the boys that Carlisle have brought in, of course Andy Welsh, Jon-Paul McGovern and Stephen O'Halloran, I know that the fans get very excited when they see the new faces coming in, but I suppose as players as well when you think 'ooh, he was tidy when we played him', I suppose you guys can get excited too?
DL
Yeah, you do, you only see them in snippets throughout the season but when they are actually here, J-P and Welshy, they are both so sharp on the ball and you don't realise how good they are until you are actually training with them. Then Steve, he looks solid, and we haven't really seen much of him, with being a defender you don't get the chance to shine in possession and stuff. But, J-P and Welshy, they look brilliant.
JP
Year on year under Greg Abbott Carlisle United have progressed a little bit further, a little bit better in the league, getting to Wembley, alright getting beat, getting to Wembley again and winning the final. Is the feeling that the club can continue that progression this year?
DL
Yeah, of course it is, that is what we try to do every year, he installs it into us that we have got to do better than last year. Give the board credit, they have given him time and everything and he is turning it round. He is a really good manager and the lads really respect him and hopefully we can do something next season for him, for ourselves and for the fans.
JP
And on a personal note for you, how does it feel to be coming into this pre-season, despite you are a bit tired because of your family developments, how does it feel to be coming into this season fit and raring to go?
DL
Oh, it is unbelievable, it is nice just not to be not carrying anything, not carrying aches and pains and just back getting fit.