It's been a while since the last competitive fixture for myself which was on April 29 this year, but it was great to be back. I always find pre-season fixtures difficult as most fellow professionals do.
It's tough to stamp your mark on the team, with so many new faces on the scene. It all seems a bit disjointed when trying to get into the swing of things as a squad. Players are on many different wavelengths, which at times can make it all the more difficult to impress individually, and collectively.
It takes time for any team to gel, and most clubs would ask fans to be patient. On social media I am already reading that some supporters have their teams as absolute bankers for relegation. Wake up and smell the coffee, there are still 40 games to go for most sides! It's never all about quality in this league, you need a lot more than that. A toughness, a resilience and a special bond are key.
I, for one, never expected Hungerford and Poole to be near the play-offs when the season started last year, but sometimes team spirit can be good enough in the lower leagues of football to give you a platform for success. Obviously at the same time they had some unknown individuals who caused real problems for the opposition too.
Having won both of our opening two matches in a matter of days, the word ‘efficient' has been labelled on our performances. Workmanlike, dogged and ruthless are the three words that come to mind.
It's been instilled in us this season at Chelmsford that there is to be no ‘poison' within the changing room – the first time I've heard this since dropping out of the Football League. Any bad characters or smells will be dismissed which has certainly changed my mindset of how to react if I were to be unhappy with the decision of the management.
In the past, even last season at Oxford City, I reacted poorly when being substituted at half-time. I was asked to play out of position for the first half and was then told at half-time I was being hooked. It's a huge dent to your ego being taken off so early in a game as you believe that you have the ability to help the boys go back out there and get a result.
I've seen so many traits this season in Rod Stringer that I once saw under Steve Evans' leadership at Crawley Town. The way I felt on Saturday walking out at Chelmsford was strange, feeling nervous for the first time about a match in over three years. The buzz in the changing room was something I hadn't experienced in a while, and it made me feel as though the pressure was on to perform. I've played in sides before where the expectation was high, and fortunately back then we hit those heights and achieved success.
We work tirelessly on our jobs and know what is required when we cross that white line. It's not rocket science, it's just the extra five per cent that we add to each of our games that when it adds up, it's tough to combat. At times it hasn't been pretty, but when that whistle blows for the final time, you're aware that you've been to a battle, that's for sure.
At times when playing for Crawley under Steve, I would hardly touch the ball, but would be greeted with a ‘tremendous tonight son', as I left the pitch. I couldn't really work out how he came to that conclusion, but looking back now I could argue that for him it was what you did in the game when you didn't have the ball.
We made it hard for the opposition back then, and we're doing the same now. We play with a high intensity to try and make it as difficult as possible, and if you don't buy into that then chances are you'll be sat watching others that are willing to do it.
Some say we are the team to beat. We're not favourites to win the league within the eyes of people, we are only favourites in the eyes of the bookmakers. And most people know what I think of them. What do they know? How can you predict the outcome of something before 42 matches have to be played? It's ludicrous.
Injuries, suspensions, work commitments are all yet to play a part in this rollercoaster of a ride, so hold on tight.
Be prepared to be shocked by some results, be prepared for the disappointments – this is the National League South!
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