Bob Oteng said Brentford’s pre-season trip to America took around three months to plan.
The Brentford squad are currently in Florida on a pre-season training camp.
They are training up to three times every day at the IMG Academy, in Bradenton, and staying at a hotel in Sarasota.
Bob – the Club’s Kit Man – is responsible for many of the logistics around the First Team squad, along with Player Liaison Manager Peter Gilham.
He told Bees Player how it all came together.
“The trip has been eight to 12 weeks in the planning, there was a lot that needing doing ahead,” said Bob, speaking from Florida earlier this week.
“Prior to coming out we had conversations with the training camp and the hotel to ensure training was smooth.
“Weeks before the season finished I was speaking to airlines about weight limits and size of bags.
“I am carrying kit for 40 bodies training three times a day for 12 days.
“That’s a lot of kit.
“We don’t have matches but that would be extra as well.
“We were allowed 12 23kg bags and personal bags on top of that.
“We had to get the players to bring in their bags early, weigh them, weigh the kit bags and make sure everything is planned.”
Brentford left the UK last Wednesday, July 2, and will head back to London today, Saturday July 12, arriving home tomorrow.
Bob said IMG have helped him prepare for each training session but he brought a lot of kit to America.
“We are here for 12 days, we train every day, three times a day,” he explained.
“You need a minimum of three kits; I have brought five for each person.
“We train at 7.30am, 10am and 4pm, which is three sets of kit straight away.
“You need another for first thing the next morning.
“I takes 24 hours to turn round a kit and you have to have enough to not disrupt training.
“It’s a lot of planning.
“Players and staff have to help, bringing back kit so we can turn it around.
“At IMG they will turn it around for us in 24 hours.”
Bob has experience of working in the Premier League and The Championship, with West Ham United and Watford among his former clubs.
He said the 2014/15 pre-season was one of the best he has been involved in.
“Everyone we deal with is Premier League quality, as is the organisation, hotel and pitches,” said Bob.
“I have done more than 20 pre-seasons and this is in the top two.
“Everything is planned meticulously and I have been involved.
“At other clubs I have been told where we are going at the last minute.
“Everything has been scheduled really well, even down to when we have time off.
“We are planning as a Premier League team.”
Brentford’s 2014/15 adidas home kit was released late last month and the away kit will be available to purchase in two weeks.
Bob said designs for 2015/16 had already been approved and work for 2016/17 was set to start in the coming months.
“When you deal with kits for each season, the lead time is 12 months,” he explained.
“I have already seen home and away kits for 2015/16.
“That has to be done so far in advance because of numbers.
“We require a vast number of kits for the shop, First Team, Academy and community.
“It has to be prepared and shipped.
“We will do the training kit when I get back to England and by mid-August or early September everything for 15/16 will have been done and by the end of the year we will look at 16/17.
“I am quite privileged to know what we will wear next season and it is really exciting.
“We minimise issues with our planning.”
Bob took the opportunity to say thank you to the Brentford fans.
He had his named cheered and sung by supporters towards the end of last season and he said it meant a lot to him.
“I want to take the opportunity to say thanks to the fans,” said Bob.
“Particularly away from home, they are really good supporters, probably the best I have seen.
“To have a song for the kit man, normally in the back ground, is an honour.
“I love it.
“I have been made to feel welcome ever since I have been here.
“To have a song – even if my wife doesn’t like the words, although she sees the funny side – makes you feel part of the Club.
“Long may it continue.”
Bees Player subscribers can see an interview with Bob Oteng here.