By John Acres BBC Radio Stoke in Austria

Stoke boss Tony Pulis and BBC Radio Stoke's John Acres in Irdning, Austria

This is my first pre-season tour with Stoke City after the club and Tony Pulis were kind enough to extend the invitation for me to join them here in Austria.

The alarm sounded at 4am, and the press corps (well four of us) assembled at the Britannia Stadium for our 5am taxi to Manchester Airport for our flight to Salzburg.

We didn't travel with the players as their flight was full, so after 12 hours and a four hour wait in Dusseldorf we arrived at 'The Castle', as Tony Pulis calls it, in Irdning.

The scenery is breathtaking as you make your way south east of Salzburg by car. With every twist in the road, another picture postcard Sound of Music-type view awaits you.

The snow is still on the tips of the mountains when you can see them for the low cloud, but the temperature in our car is 24 degrees.

Typical Austrian chalet buildings adorn rolling green fields, from where you half expect to see Steve McQueen tearing across on a motorbike.

Myself, Martin Spinks from the Sentinel, and Colin and Mark from the club's media team arrived at the hotel about an hour before the players, and you can see why Tony had been calling it 'The Castle'.

It's a 1000-year-old building set high up in between two grand mountains. It's idyllic- with everything the players could need to get them prepared for their second season in the Premier League.

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Swimming pools, a large gym, a private dining area, private televisions, internet, a gaming room, saunas, steam rooms, a spa and a golf course - you get the picture.

Real Madrid have used this as their base on five occasions, and it's where England would have stayed if they hadn't made a mess of qualifying for Euro 2008. This gives you get an idea of what kind of place it is.

The players arrived in brand new training tops, with a wide variety of expensive looking, colourful designer suitcases.

Liam Lawrence arrived grinning like a Cheshire cat, hardly surprising having signed a new and improved four-year contract earlier that day.

Steve Simonsen (who I've heard loves any excuse to have a bit of a moan) celebrated like he'd just saved a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty at the news that there is free wireless internet in the rooms. "That'll be me on Facebook for the week," he beamed.

The players and staff checked in to their rooms, then tucked in to a lavish buffet. Andy Griffin, Andy Davies, Carl Dickinson, Liam Lawrence and James Beattie all have a mischievous look in their eyes whilst we're eating. I've got my eye on them, and will try and steer clear of any pranks during the coming week.

Dave Kitson informed me in the games room that the first training session would be at 7am in the gym the next morning. "Ouch," I replied. 'Kits' says that the players were all expecting it. They'll have breakfast after that, and then will train at 11am on the pitch at Irdning.

It seems Stoke could be close to making their first signing of the summer if Steve Bruce's comments are to be believed BBC Radio Stoke's John Acres

It seems Stoke could be close to making their first signing of the summer if Sunderland manager Steve Bruce's comments are to be believed, especially after Dean Whitehead has been spotted at the Britannia Stadium.

I've been sat at my desk all summer waiting for some action, and then it kicks off when I'm on the way to Austria. Typical. TP understandably didn't want to comment on the situation, as he likes to wait until any deal is signed and sealed before talking about it in the press.

After dinner, the players returned to their rooms, Griff and Kits had a wander round the swimming pool while Richard Cresswell went to check out the golf course.

The press boys retired to the bar along with the manager and the rest of the staff. Academy coach Adrian Pennock is with the squad after the departure of former assistant manager Dave Kemp.

Just as I was about to go to bed, I hear Giff the kit man asking a confused Austrian barman for a pint. "Sorry," said the barman. "A pint," replied Giff. You can take the boy out of Stoke, but you can't take the Stoke out the boy.

From Austria,
John

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