THE joyous scenes of Chorley FC players celebrating their third round FA Cup win with a locker-room singalong of one of music megastar Adele’s greatest hits has made the rounds on social media this week.

In the thrilling moments after the sixth-tier club pulled off a cup upset against Wayne Rooney’s Derby County on Saturday, the team united in a rip-roaring cover of Adele’s hit song Someone Like You.

And amongst the happy faces was Bala’s Alasdair Hamilton, head sport scientist and strength and conditioning coach for the Lancashire side.

Sitting 83 places below Championship club Derby County, the Magpies ran out deserved 2-0 winners against a decimated Rams outfit to set up a mouth-watering fourth round clash against Premier League Wolves at Victory Park on Saturday, 23 January.

A Covid-19 outbreak meant The Rams were without their entire first-team squad, boss Wayne Rooney and several members of their under-23 side.

But it was still a significant scalp for Jamie Vermiglio’s men whose impressive cup run – which includes a win against 2013 winners Wigan in the first round before seeing off another League One side, Peterborough – continues.

And the fitness of the players has certainly played a part.

Alasdair, who attended Ysgol Bro Tegid and Ysgol y Berwyn, in Bala, before furthering his education at Aberystwyth University and Bangor University, has given his appraisal of the cup run to the Cambrian News.

After beating two teams from the National League North, Gateshead and York City, they reached the first round proper for a record-breaking fourth consecutive season, after benefitting from a bye, where they faced Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

Alasdair said: “My reaction to this game was a huge positive! Being the fittest side and having no non-contact injuries was a bonus in my area of the team.

“Being the sport scientist and strength and conditioning coach at a part-time non-league club and matching a League One team’s physicality.”

He added: “In the second proper round we were drawn against yet another League One team, at the time Peterborough Utd were top of League One.

“The fitness had to be improved once again to match the opposition and the players knew this would be a tough game.

“I had to ensure the physical preparation was on point. Keeping the players fit, keeping players hydrated.

“The result was huge, winning 2-1, and again the fittest team overall. All of our players managed 90 minutes and kept on attacking.

“From this I started to have messages coming through my social media from the Adele singing video and also how can I keep the fitness of players part time greater than full-time pro players?

“Well I must be doing my job right.”

Alasdair, who has worked with Sale Sharks Rugby Club and the Wales Rugby 7s National Team, said that preparations for the third round against Championship side Derby, managed by Wayne Rooney, were different, beginning with Covid tests, ensuring the whole set up was correct and minimising any outside club contacts.

“The time of the Derby game we had previously played a large number of games in the space of a few weeks (Christmas period) picking up contact injuries.

“Myself and the physio had our jobs cut out, ensuring the best rehabilitation plans were in place, and the best fitness regimes.

“Pre-game, the Derby first team had a Covid outbreak which led us to play their Academy Under-23s.

“We had to plan the same due to them still being a Championship side.

“Result 2-0. Players were over the moon!

“I did my job, physio did his job, everyone did their job.”

Looking forward to the chance of another cup upset against Wolves, Alasdair added: “Preparation has started around our next few games of the league and then fingers crossed, we will come out with the win and hopefully be playing Arsenal in the fifth round. But this is football and anything can happen.”