PREPARATIONS for the forthcoming 2010-11 Barclays Premier League campaign continue as the Potters spend eight days in Central Austria on their annual pre-season training camp.
stokecityfc.com are out in Irdning with them so be sure to keep logging on throughout the duration of the stay for all the goings on from within the camp. (please note - we are one hour ahead of UK time here in Austria).
Friday (July 16)
07:58am - Well we have had something of a lie-in today as the gaffer told the players to all report for breakfast between 7:30am and 8.00am. We are expecting the coach to turn up imminently to take us to our white water rafting course which is about one hour away.
08:19am - Just been told that we will now be leaving at 9am. Each and all of the players will be on the trip, including Carl Dickinson, despite media reports suggesting otherwise. In fact, he is sitting next to me right now.
08:45am - The players have all had their breakfast of eggs, beans, toast, fruit and cereals and are now gathered in the foyer at the hotel here in Fuschl. It's another lovely place, but it is rather like a maze, which could become a problem for Giff the kit man.
08:49am - The coach is here and everybody apart from Mamady Sidibe and Abdoulaye Faye are in attendance. I hope they haven't bottled it. Even Rudgie is coming along, so it can't be that bad!
08:53am - Here they are. Full travelling party, now let's be on our way. Speak to you later.
3:11pm - What a trip that was - absolutely brilliant. We have been ordered to get lunch straight away so I will bring you all the news shortly.
3:42pm - Well here we are. Lunch has been served. It comprised of salmon, grilled chicken, pasta, rice and vegetables. The usual helpings of fresh fruit, yoghurt and dried fruits were available too.
3:44pm - Anyway back to this morning events. Firstly, following a 1 hour drive on the coach we arrived in the town of Golling. A small, picturesque town about five miles away from the German border. Here we were greeted by three or four of the rafting instructors who sorted us out with all our equipment. We were given wetsuits, water shoes, life jackets and helmets and were then told to go and change in two tents, which mustn't have been any bigger than ten square feet. Once we were all ready, and prepared to get going, we were told to get back on the coach as we had to travel for a further half hour to get to the start point. After a few moans and groans from people compalining about the heat, we were off and on our way. The smiles were soon back on the lads faces though as we pulled up at the top of a cliff. Dave Kemp, starry eyed began to look around and wondered what was going on. However, after further inspection, a little down the mountain was the river. So one by one we descended down an extremely steep hill almost James Bond-esque as we held on to a rope and lowered ourselves down. Shortly after the rafts were lowered down to join us. Upon touching down at the river edge we were met by an instructor who got us all into our rafts and then ran through a 30 minute health and safety check - just to make sure we knew what to do if someone was to come out of the raft. After this it was time to go. So in our five rafts, we set off one by one, with Matty Etherington, Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth and co getting off first. The rest, including my boat soon followed and it wasn't long until we came into some real strong rapids. Almost immediately someone in the distance was in the water, whether they fell or got pushed out remains a mystery. But anyway on we continued, and we were soon riding some huge waves; but thanks to the steering of our guide we avoided capsiding. It wasn't long before the real fun started - the pushing in. Firstly, Kian, the tour organiser was pushed in by goalkeepeing coach Andy Quy, before I followed suit, and went in head first. A few boats soon came together and it was a free for all. Several players desperately tried to pull each other in, whilst Danny Higginbotham flew across the water like superman, as he tried to pull several staff from our raft into the water. Giff the kitman continuously said how much he was enjoying it, was the only one of our crew to avoid landing in the freezing cold river, whilst John Rudge evaded similar fate towards the end of the run as he fought off Kian. After about 90 minutes we came to the end of the course, where we disembarked off the raft and carried it out of the water. A quick dry and change was next on the agenda before we all set back off to our hotel at around about 1:50pm. What a fantastic experience, and I'm sure I speak for the entire travelling party with those words.
5:23pm - A couple of the lads are currently out at the local 9 hole golf course, whilst there are a similar amount making the most of the hotel's spa facilities. The gaffer and some of his coaching staff have taken a wander down to the huge lake which is situated just down from where we are based.
6:00pm - It's a little quiet around here today with the lads out and about enjoying a bit of free time, so I will catch up with you later shortly before dinner.
7:52pm - The lads are all about now after enjoying their afternoon off. We are off to the restaurant for some dinner, before the manager has called a quick meeting for the players at 9pm. I'm sure it will just be to outline the plans for the final few days out here.
8:49pm - Dinner was delightful again with helpings of chicken stuffed with spinach, grilled salmon, pasta, rice and vegetables, of course followed by fresh fruit salad and some sort of traditional Austrian pastry. A couple of the coaching staff enjoyed some ice cream shortly after the players had vacated the vicinity.
