Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell on the special bond between players and fans after holding open training session

Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell has stressed the importance of the bond between players and supporters.

Maxwell made the most of a blank weekend by inviting fans to attend an open training session at Woodstock.

The Brickies boss and his squad spent time with those in attendance after the two-hour session.

And with a number of new faces at the club this season, it was a worthwhile exercise.

“It was nice for the players to meet some of the hardcore fans that travel home and away,” said Maxwell.

“I’ve always championed the fact that this football club is built on its fantastic support.

“The ones who remained here, they’re well-versed in how important I place the fans at this club, and I want the new players to feel that.

“There aren’t many clubs who can get people to come out and watch them train at Step 4, and again it’s an example of the fantastic support we have here.

“The fans are incredibly important and they’ve been incredible to me in my time here.

“They were a huge part of what we did last year and without them I don’t think we’d have got some of those results.

“So I’m well aware of how important they are and I felt we had to show a bit of appreciation on Saturday and also let the new players know how fortunate they are to have a fanbase like Sittingbourne’s.”

Maxwell has been a big advocate of players and fans mixing after games, based on his own experiences in non-league.

It’s not so widely seen these days but remains fundamental, as far as the Brickies boss is concerned.

He said: “My first taste of non-league football was at Grays Athletic in the old Conference South and the bar was packed with fans integrating with players.

“That’s what I was brought up on.

“It has died away, and I’m not sure why, but it was