Pre-season is just around the corner

The Stoke players will return to the dreaded pre-season training sessions tomorrow.

With few exits and no new faces so far, it's going to be a familiar squad that turns up at the Clayton Wood training ground.

Just Steve Simonsen (Sheffield United), Amdy Faye (released) and Andy Griffin (Reading) are the only senior players to have departed along with TP's assistant, Peter Reid (to be the new boss of Plymouth Argyle) but several others are unlikely to still be here come the start of the season on August 14th as the club is forced to trim the size of it's squad of over 23 year olds to comply with the new league rules.

With no home friendlies over the next few weeks, fans short of their Potters' fix are going to have to travel, although the traditional fixtures against the local non-league clubs, Newcastle Town and Nantwich Town won't pose too much of an effort for many travelling fans.

Pre-season schedule
Depart for Austria - Sunday 11th July
Return from Austria - Monday 19th July
Notts County (a) - Thursday 22nd July (7.45pm)
Nantwich Town (a) - Thursday 22nd July (7.00pm)
Newcastle Town (a) - Saturday 24th July (3.00pm)
Derby County (a) - Tuesday 27th July (7.45pm)
Burnley (Galpharm Stadium) - Saturday 31st July (3.00pm)
Bristol Rovers (a) - Tuesday 3rd August(7.45pm)
Worcester City (a) - Tuesday 3rd August (7.30pm)
Wrexham (a) - Friday 6th August (7.45pm)
Prestatyn Town (a) - Friday 6th August (7.30pm)

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