Bristol City opened the doors to Ashton Gate on the eve of the first home game of the new season, holding an open training session for 1,000 season ticket holders and members, with a considerable proportion of the crowd being younger fans.
Putting aside the technical aspects of the session, it allowed supporters a more personal window into the squad as usually the squad would arrive in BS3 on a matchday to empty stands, this time they were applauded as they made their way from the team bus to the tunnel.
The conclusion of training then allowed an informal meet-and-greet with players and staff signing autographs and posing for pictures, which may seem like small gestures but do a lot in building a relationship between the two aspects of the club, something that can increasingly feel distant - and dangerously so - in football’s modern age.
