Chris Todd column

By Chris Todd
Torquay United defender

A few years ago you were able to take it easy over pre-season, not do a lot and just enjoy yourself but those days have gone

It's good to be back in training and I'm really looking forward to the season now, particularly after getting promoted last time around.

Promotion was a great result for us and afterwards the lads all went on holiday to Magaluf.

As you can imagine it was a bit hectic, but really good fun, and deserved after the season we'd had.

Since then I've spent the summer with the family and have been back to Swansea.

Over the past few weeks I've been getting my fitness levels up high during pre-season training.

A few years ago you were able to take it easy over pre-season, not do a lot and just enjoy yourself but those days have gone.

Every professional will tell you that you've only got to be out for a week or so and you'll really feel it when you come back, so you have to keep ticking over.

I even built myself a gym in the garage this year. There's a weight bench, punch bag, speed ball in there and it's helped a lot.

Everyone's still buzzing after getting promoted and there's a good atmosphere and team spirit in the dressing room.

Also, we've had a few decent results against better opposition than ourselves.

I know everyone expects us to be mid-table or maybe struggling but we don't feel that because we're used to winning and we want to carry that on into the league.

The doctor is hoping that within the next few months I'll go into remission and if that pans out it may mean that I can come off my tablets

I'm really focusing on the Chesterfield game at the moment. It's been in the back of my mind ever since the fixtures came out.

It won't be an easy ride because they've got some good players, but it will be a good test and show us where we are.

Last month we held a charity match to raise money for leukaemia research and it went really well.

We made around £3,000 so it was a great exercise and I can't thank the people who helped out enough.

In terms of my own health, my blood just keeps getting better and better now.

The doctor is hoping that within the next few months I'll go into remission and if that pans out it will be outstanding really and may mean that I can come off my tablets.

There's a few different scenarios really, but it's all good signs and it's amazing because I feel like a different man.

Chris Todd was talking to BBC South West's Phil Tuckett.