I DON'T often get to go to new grounds reporting on Wrexham but venturing into the unknown poses problems when they play low down the football pyramid.

The Reds' pre-season programme began against Hanley Town at Potteries Park on Saturday and a nice little trip to Stoke-on-Trent.

Hanley play in Northern Premier League Division One West and while the set-up was nice and the club was very welcoming, the media facilities aren't what we are used to in the Football League.

With no power points in the main stand, I knew I'd have a problem proving the usual updates via a blog and on X.

But Hanley owner Ron McIlreavy couldn't do enough to help.

He allowed me to use the club's treatment room. The only problem was it was 30 yards away from the pitch and on the same level, meaning I couldn't see over the throngs of Wrexham supporters - many with umbrellas to shelter from the rain - who'd make the short journey and were standing between me and the playing area.

I'm hardly the tallest person either but fear not.

A chair in the treatment room doorway gave gave me a bit of a height advantage and when the action began, it was a case of watching on from afar and scrambling across to the other side of the room to quickly offer updates on my laptop.

It was hardly ideal and tough going, especially in the second half when the goals were flying in, and I also had a policeman asking what I was doing!

I'm not going to lie, I was glad when the final whistle blew after Wrexham won 5-1, but I can't fault Hanley's hospitality and I wish them well for the coming season.