Alison Hitchman worked for Exeter City as a receptionist and secretary in the early 1980s. This was was when all the staff, playing and non-playing, would have been based at St James' Park.

At a time when the Express and Echo published six times a week, with many supporters buying the paper purely for its coverage of the Grecians, there was always an eagerness to cover the latest events at St James' Park. Wherever possible this might include a photograph and quote.

One such event was the arrival at the club of Alison Hitchman in 1982 who had previously worked for an unnamed business on the Marsh Barton trading estate. Showing enthusiasm for her new job Alison was reported as saying:

"It's great! I'm really enjoying it. I've always enjoyed watching football and of course now that I'm working with the club I get so much more involved, knowing the people that are playing. I'm always meeting new people and it's so much more interesting than sitting behind a desk all day."