THE start of a new football season is always a special time of year, and I'm sure everyone who helped usher in another one on Saturday will have taken away their own particular memory of our Vanarama National League fixture with Woking.

For me, the feature that stood out on the day and is still in my mind's eye now is people. Alty fans old and new, young and not-so-young, some there as volunteers willingly and happily doing their bit and others offering support in a more vocal sense on the terraces and in the stands.

So many different strands, but, as the day unfolded, it became clear how each one plays a part in the shared objective of helping the club continue to thrive.
And what a day it was. There were one or two hefty downpours early on, but nothing was going to rain on our parade, and it was wonderful to see the stadium bathed in sunshine as we welcomed everyone back after the summer recess.

It reminded me of just how much I have missed the match day buzz. My routine is to arrive at the ground, bucket of coffee in hand, mid-morning to allow plenty of time for checking everything is in place.

The order of events seldom varies and always includes a chat with our resident barrista about the prospects for the afternoon. It doesn't matter about the role we fill or the area of expertise we bring to the table - we are all Alty fans, all together supporting our team, just as I support my local coffee shop in between match days.

Shortly after, The J.Davidson Stadium starts to come to life, with more arrivals announcing themselves and going about the task of ensuring everything is not only where it should be but as it should be, functioning properly as the clock continues to tick down.

The groundsman David and his volunteers have been working hard throughout the week, and the fruits of their labours are there for all to see; a pitch that resembles a green carpet.

Alex, our media manager, and the media volunteers begin to arrive, taking their places on the gantry or in the press box and checking equipment for Radio Robins and Alty TV in readiness for kick-off.

Behind the doors of the main entrance, another volunteer Peter is on hand to greet Woking players and officials and direct them to the away dressing room or wherever they need to be. By this time, I will have wandered over to the John King Lounge for a natter with our chef Mark.

Always make friends with the chef, a very wise man once told me, and Mark is hard at work putting the finishing touches to a gourmet menu that is one of the absolute delights of booking yourself a hospitality package at Alty these days.

Another volunteer Stuart is on a similar schedule, as he and his team prepare the food and drink kiosks and the Fan Zone, where they deliver classic football food that's a firm favourite with my kids!

We are well into the afternoon now, and the turnstile operators are in place, ready for the gates to open and fans to start streaming in. Our stewarding team are undergoing a briefing, and there is a palpable buzz of excitement and anticipation in the air.

The bar staff know they are in for a busy time on an afternoon that feels warm and sultry, and Adele, our events manager, is doing the rounds to make sure everyone is ready for the off.

The AO bear arrives, and our very own Rocky Robin is good to go. Simon, our Community Manager, is leading our flag wavers around the stadium in readiness for the guard of honour they form as the players emerge from the tunnel.

I spot members of our junior teams and their families all meeting up to perhaps say "hi" for the first time since their season finished. A few of our Women's team also come into view as they take their seats, ready to enjoy the game.

Saying hello to old friends after the gap between seasons and welcoming new ones is always a real joy. Both of those groups are the heart of our club and are valued tremendously.

As copies of the Robins Review match day programme continue to be sold by a band of volunteers, the players trot out to begin their warm-up routines.

Kick-off is close, and that is when the real excitement begins, but the common theme of all the above for me is people. People forming a community.

What does community mean to me? It means stronger together, and that applies whether we are supporting Joseph and his No Limits Challenge, seeing our young Wildcats coming together to train and have fun, shouting from the terraces as we start the new season, supporting our Community Trust as they deliver fantastic health and wellbeing initiatives to the local community or buying a coffee on the way to the stadium or a glass of wine in Altrincham on the way home, which tastes especially good after a victory (so I am told!).

Community is my theme for the season ahead, and I thank everyone who is helping make Altrincham FC, Altrincham FC Women, Altrincham FC Community Sports and Altrincham FC Juniors a community that I am proud to be part of.

Next up at The J.Davidson Stadium are Eastleigh on Saturday, August 24 (3pm). Tickets can be found here, hospitality here AND sponsorship packages here.