It might only have been a typical pre-season friendly played on a warm summer afternoon, but there is something about going to Edgar Street for a Saturday 3pm kick-off after nearly three months away.
And with the news that at last the Blackfriars Terrace, pictured, is to be redeveloped perhaps also a certain amount of nostalgia.
Seeing some of the players for the first time, well most of them this season, and pretending one can tell how good they will turn out to be is part of the excitement.
Whilst the eleven who started were fairly easy to put a name against, when the substitutes came on it was more difficult, especially as the PA didn't seem certain of the names either.
For example who was that young looking player who came on as a sub in mid-field? Was he a lad from the youth set-up or someone completely different?
Certain players stood out. Ryan Green has lost a little bit of hair since that play-off final at Leicester but looks a good signing by manager John Trewick.
Marc Pugh, probably the man of the match, made some good runs down both wings and perhaps was unlucky not to score when he tried his luck from twenty yards in the first half.
Kenny Lunt looked solid in midfield and destined to be captain this season.
Richard Rose, playing in the centre of defence, made several last-ditch tackles to keep the Bulls in the game.
Of the two forwards who started the game, Lee Morris and Leon Constantine, Morris, in particular, worked hard and could be just the sort of forward the team lacked last season. However the jury is out on whether Constantine is a decent replacement for Steve Guinan.
As for Wasiu and Ameobi, the other two forwards on show, neither looked contract material on this afternoon's showing.
Finally as regards team matters, is the average age of the starting eleven the oldest for several years?
Off the pitch a sneak look in Legends now renamed Radfords revealed a lot of work has been carried out to brighten up the club house.
However a coffee from Lindley Catering now costs £1.70 a rise of 10p on last season. How they can justify that price increase at a time when coffee has dropped in price is open to question?