Chris Todd column

By Chris Todd
Torquay United defender

Running out as a League club on Saturday will be amazing for everybody

The season's almost upon us now. The boys are looking sharp and we're all organised and ready.

Everything's gone really well in training over the past week.

The gaffer's been to watch Chesterfield and we know we're up against it.

It's going to be a tough match, but also a good eye-opener as to how we'll do this season.

Running out as a League club on Saturday will be amazing for everybody, considering that only two years ago we dropped into the Conference.

I signed after that, hoping we could get back and that's what we've done, so it's going to be a special occasion and hopefully we'll get off to a good start and stride on from there.

The manager has told us he won't announce the starting 11 until late on Friday or Saturday morning, but I'm hopeful of playing and I think I've done enough over pre-season to show that I'm ready to get stuck in.

People ask about nerves when you go out to play on a Saturday, but I don't really get them that often.

There were some at Wembley, but that was to be expected, although I might have a few butterflies on Saturday, simply because we're back in the League.

But as soon as the game kicks off it'll be down to business and the fans really help you get into a match too.

The fans can become an extra player and at the end of last season they really got behind us

Chris Todd

When you're out on the pitch there's nothing better than hearing them singing your name and cheering the team on - that's when you get goose pimples on the back of your neck.

The fans can become an extra player and at the end of last season they really got behind us.

This year there are some big sides coming down and that's coupled with some big trips to go on, so the fans will play a part.

Finally, if I do get picked on Saturday, there may be a new centre-half partnership between Kieran Charnock and myself.

Kieran trained with us on Thursday for the first time, but we didn't really have the chance to play as a pair and work on shape.

We're just waiting to do that and see if we can form a partnership.

Kieran seems a nice lad and he knows Scott Rendell, which has made it easier for him and as a group we've got a good team spirit and we make people feel welcome.

Chris Todd was talking to BBC South West's Phil Tuckett.