Published: Friday, 15th January, 2010 11:43am

Sun, sea, sand and shuttles for Vale

The Vale squad on the beach at Portobello

PROMOTION chasing Vale of Leithen have turned their backs on the big freeze.

The Victoria Park squad have spent the frozen festive period training on Portobello Beach.

And manager Rab Paget hopes the sandy sessions will have his players ready for their final push in the East First Division.

Paget told the Peeblesshire News: "We've been down on the beach six times since the snow arrived and it's been perfect for us.

"We have also been training indoors but we can do a lot more work on the beach. The boys are fit, I can promise you that."

Former Rangers manager Jock Wallace was ridiculed in his early days for his training methods on the sand dunes at Gullane - until his side went on to win the European Cup Winners Cup in 1972.

And since the infamous Ayrshire beach sessions, more and more managers have used the coastal sands for winter training.

But it's not all been plain sailing for the Innerleithen team. Last week the Peeblesshire contingent of Vale's squad were forced to turn back after heavy snowfall briefly closed the road towards Edinburgh. And in their boot was the full training kit.

Rab added: "We were left standing on the beach with no balls, bollards or bibs. Thankfully Spartans have also started training on the beach and they gave us all of their equipment when they finished.

"There's obviously no hard feelings from the Image Printers Cup - it was really good of them.

"The boys from the Borders have been tremendous throughout this cold spell as they haven't complained once about traveling up to Portobello to train - and they've only missed one session."

Although most pitches are starting to thaw, the Vale were due to return to Portobello last night (Thursday) for another hour-long session.