TOP, AND NO HANGOVER!

I THINK we can safely say we miss the fans so much. I cannot wait until they come back because we need each other badly. Football is not football without them. It’s been really strange. I have taken in nine games in October at various levels with no fans, with 100 fans, with 600 fans. It’s just a crazy situation that makes no sense.

- Steve KING

WE MOVED top of the National League South table in the week. It’s nice but all it means is we’ve had a decent opening.

You see it time and time again. Teams that lose in the play-off final, as we did, often struggle at the start of the next season.

Psychologically it is so deflating. I know how I felt after the Weymouth game for at least a month. I was wrecked.

But, as manager, you’re the leader. The group are looking to you to respond. You have to quickly pick yourself up and get your players back on their games.

Management is a lonely place at times. People don’t necessarily realise that. After disappointments I like to be on my own – usually some quiet time in my car driving back from a game!

I’ve said before, even the highs are hard to enjoy. You’ve been tense the whole game. It means everything to me. I kick every ball! Always have.

We had a fantastic pre-season, playing six National League sides and didn’t lose one. That helped. I knew the players’ mentality was good. Now we’ve carried that into the new season.