Portland Timbers' first official MLS pre-season kicked off on Monday, delighting head coach John Spencer.
The former Chelsea, Everton and Rangers man has been busy putting together the franchise's inaugural playing roster but is now excited that the real work can begin as he prepares his players for the 2011 MLS season, which begins in mid-March.
"As coaches, it's all great and fine and dandy doing the draft and those things, but you want to get the ball out on the field and start doing a little bit of coaching," Spencer told The Oregonian.
"That's what all the coaches are happy about. It's exciting and I'm looking forward to getting that started."
And players David Horst and Jeremy Hall were also eager to get their teeth into some proper training.
"We've been hanging out these past couple of weeks getting ready for the season. It's finally here," defender Horst said. "It's a new team and the city is excited. So are we."
Midfielder Hall added: "I just got here from New York and I'm trying to get situated as soon as possible and get ready for the preseason. It's been a long offseason. I'm just excited to get everything started here in Portland."
