Football training in days gone by – in pictures

Wolverhampton Wanderers players examine a contraption called 'the Football Machine' in 1938, which was designed to simulate long passes or crosses Photograph: Fred Morley/Getty Images

Wolves again, this time in 1937, as they practice with Indian clubs – a widespread fitness fad of the time. The clubs were swung in a variety of different patterns according to a strength building fitness regime Photograph: H. F. Davis/Getty Images

The Arsenal team are given a display of the 'Gymno Frame' in December 1932. A frankly dangerous-looking contraption, which you can see in operation here Photograph: J. A. Hampton/Getty Images

Manchester City captain J McMullen does some limb stretching exercises on a rowing machine in preparation for the 1926 FA Cup final against Bolton Wanderers Photograph: Kirby/Getty Images

International footballer and cricketer John Arnold, right, of Fulham and Hampshire, rides his bicycle while others run during a training session at Craven Cottage in 1935. An expert had advised Arnold to take up cycling to help heal a knee injury Photograph: H. Allen/Getty Images

Johnny Haynes and Bobby Robson doing that old staple of playschool sports days, the wheelbarrow, before the 1958 World Cup in Sweden Photograph: Popperfoto/Popperfoto/Getty Images

Birmingham City's Stan Lynn hones the time-honoured kicking-a-ball-against-a-wall technique in 1965. Except here it's a special wall with a stick man drawn on Photograph: R. Viner/Getty Images

A frankly disturbing piece of training equipment: a ball hung from a set of gallows for heading practice with Leyton Orient in 1956 Photograph: Harry Kerr/Getty Images

Four years later and the equipment still exists, albeit in a less morbid form. Arsenal striker David Herd works on his heading technique at the club's new training ground in Colney Hatch, Hertfordshire Photograph: George W. Hales/Getty Images

Players from Coventry City devise some bizarre training methods to help with their promotion chances in 1965. To be fair, there are some weirder exercises these days to help build core strength … Photograph: R. Viner/Getty Images

August 1936: the Arsenal team using that formidibly draining training method known as 'the brisk walk' up Tufnell Park Road Photograph: H. Allen/Getty Images

Jimmy Greaves training at Cheshunt in 1962 with the rest of the Spurs team, in readiness for the opening of the new season Photograph: PA/PA Archive/Press Association Images

It's Wolves once again, as captain Billy Wright, left and 'wee' Johnny Hannocks take to the hurdles in preparation for a visit to the USSR in 1955 to play Spartak and Dynamo Moscow Photograph: PA/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Spurs forward Bobby Smith undergoes a power test by leaping and stretching with a vertical jump in 1958, during a 'Keep Fit' conference held at the University of London Photograph: William Vanderson/Getty Images

Sam Weaver of Chelsea leaps into the arms of his team-mates during a training session in 1939, during what could perhaps be more of a team-building exercise than a physical one … Photograph: Kurt Hutton/Getty Images