Last Saturday’s 2-1 win away at Maidenhead was one of those occasions where everything just felt right – the performance, the travelling support, the atmosphere around the opposition ground and in the dressing room afterwards. That buzz has carried through into this week, and it is infectious. You can feel it in conversations around the ground, in the messages I have had from supporters, and in the energy from the players in training.

Do not get me wrong, one win does not define a season. I have been in football long enough to know that the National League South will quickly punish any side that thinks it can coast after a good result. But to start with three points, away from home, against a side freshly relegated from the National League, is no small feat. It is also the second year running we have kicked off with a tough away trip – last season to Eastbourne for a hard-earned draw, and now Maidenhead for a win. That tells me a lot about our pre-season preparation, the fitness levels, and the mentality of the group.

The game itself was exactly what you want from an opening day: competitive, fast-paced, and a proper test. What really pleased me, though, was how we handled ourselves under pressure. There were moments when Maidenhead had us penned back, but the lads kept their discipline, dug in, and took their chances when they came. Those small moments – a blocked shot here, a clever interception there – are often what separate the sides who just survive from those who thrive over the course of a season.

I must give a huge thank you to the travelling support. It was fantastic to see so many of you there, making your voices heard from the first whistle to the last. When you are stood in the away technical area, and you can hear your own supporters drowning out the home crowd, it gives you a lift. The players feel it too – that extra yard they find in the last few minutes often comes from knowing you are right there with them.

Not everything about the day was perfect, mind you. The lack of parking for players was frustrating, with some having to pay £7 to park nearby, and no post-match food provided – which, under new rules, is no longer compulsory. I understand the nutritional reasoning, especially for full-time sides, but I did have to smile (or was it a grimace?) when I saw their players tucking into burger and chips afterwards! Each to their own.

Now, all attention turns to tomorrow and our first home game of the season against Farnborough. They are a strong, competitive side and will arrive looking for all three points, so we need to be ready. I would love to see The Meadow packed, with the same noise and passion we had away last weekend. Let’s make The Meadow a difficult place for visiting teams to come, and you can play your part in that.

We are fortunate to have some great additions to the matchday experience this season. Wallis’ Bar will be open serving draught Taskmaster lager and a Generals ale as well as a wide range of other refreshments. The tea bar will also be open, and I am particularly pleased to say that we will once again have a printed programme on sale. Many clubs have gone digital-only, including my beloved Watford, but I think there is still something special about holding a programme in your hands. Tomorrow’s edition is 52 pages, I have seen a copy and can confirm that it is packed with unique content you will not find online, including an article from a Lincoln City supporter reflecting on their FA Cup visit to us and how their season panned out after that. If we want to keep producing a printed programme, we need to keep selling them, at the price and the quality we are offering, it is exceptional value.

Around the ground tomorrow you will notice our Supporter Liaison Officers in their bright orange bibs. They are there for you – to listen, to gather feedback and ideas, and to make sure your voice reaches the board. Please take the opportunity to talk to them. We will also have our regular stewards on duty, but we are always looking for more volunteers in this area to help to keep the costs down, without compromising safety or security. If you are interested, full training is provided, and it is a great way to be part of the club on matchdays.

The pitch, as always, has been a huge focus for Craig and his team. They have been working tirelessly, but what we could really do with is a proper downpour. If anyone has a contact book that includes someone skilled in North American rain dances, now might be the time to make a call! The surface is looking good, but a bit of natural help from the weather would not go amiss.

We do not have long to catch our breath after tomorrow, because on Tuesday night we are at home again, this time against newly promoted Horsham. Remarkably, it will be the first league meeting between our two clubs in 45 years. It is also 64 years to the day since we beat them 4-1 in the Corinthian Memorial Shield final – a little bit of football history worth remembering as we meet again (thank you as always to Giles Stevenson for the stats!).

I have also been informed that this season is also a landmark in another way as it will be the 90th league season played at The Meadow since our first campaign there in October 1931. Of course, there were four years without league football during the Second World War, but it is still a remarkable record. Generations of supporters, players, and volunteers have made their mark here, and we are just the latest custodians of that history. Our job is to add our own chapter, and to leave the club stronger than we found it.

Away from football, today I took time to join others in town for VJ Day commemorations, marking the end of the war in Japan and remembering those who lost their lives for our freedom, including my own grandad. The official event was today, but there will be further celebrations in the park on Sunday. It is always humbling to reflect on the sacrifices made by previous generations, and it is fitting that our football club, as a community organisation, stays connected to these moments in our town’s history.

As I sit here writing this, the feeling I keep coming back to is one of pride. Pride in the performance last weekend. Pride in the work that has gone into preparing The Meadow for another season. Pride in the volunteers who give their time, energy, and skills to keep this club moving forward. And pride in our supporters, who are as much a part of the team as the eleven players on the pitch. We are still at the early stages of our journey and there is a long way to go, but it has been another excellent week.

Thank you as always for your support.

Peter Brown