IT'S SO GOOD TO BE BACK!

Depending on when you are reading this, I may be on my way there, already there, or possibly on my way back from there.

- Steve Hill

‘There’ of course being Moss Lane, Altrincham, setting for the mighty Chester’s first play-off match for 17 years. Absolute scenes. Except of course there won’t be, the match sadly taking place behind closed doors for obvious reasons.

I thought I had seen everything following this club, but a play-off match against a local rival played in front of a handful of press and photographers is not something I ever envisaged.

Presumably, some banter lords have hilariously pointed out that Non-League grounds are generally half empty anyway, but in normal circumstances it is no exaggeration to say we would have taken a good 2,000 to Alty, spilling out of pubs, singing in the streets, and guaranteeing an absolutely febrile atmosphere. The good old days…

So, while my precious press pass is a Golden Ticket far sweeter than anything conjured from the mind of Roald Dahl, thoughts will be with those that can’t be there for safety reasons, many of whom are counterintuitively planning to pile into pubs to watch the live stream. It’s by no means ideal, but simply having a game to look forward to has been a rare salve in these uncertain times.