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Well, what a pleasure it is that, after last week’s awful performance, I am now commenting on a second consecutive away win for Notts under Jamie Fullarton’s leadership. Also this time by all accounts it was a thoroughly deserved win. Here are the League Two results for the weekend: Saturday 30th January 2016 Accrington 1–0 Bristol Rovers Wimbledon 2–3 Yeovil Crawley 0–1 Mansfield Dagenham &

Go on, hands up if you thought Kyle Wootton would turn out to be this good when Notts County signed him on loan from a struggling League Two side at the end of August? Granted, one of the things fans have constantly complained about is the lack of a big, strong target man. Someone who can hold the ball up, bring other players into the game, win the headers and generally lead the line in a way which helps the poachers like Kristian Dennis and Wes Thomas find the space to play their own game.

I wouldn’t really say that I was surprised to learn about the departure of Stanley Aborah. That said, I did value what he offered and although some believe that he was difficult to manage, I’m not quite sure I would agree. Who knows for sure? However, from his opening debut after trialling with Notts, Aborah shown that he had some spark about him. In games where the Magpies desperately lacked that certain quality, Aborah was there to provide it and until Jamie Fullarton came aroun

January has been the quiet month that I had expected from the club, going into the transfer window I only felt two positions needed reinforcing – however the loss of Ryan Yates did mean that the midfield required some patching up. I am pleased with how Notts have conducted their business so far, bringing in Matty Virtue on loan and Noor Husin on a permanent deal seems good business. Also, the long awaited arrival of Liam Noble appears to add a bit more depth – however we will need to see hi

The nineties were a mixed decade for Notts to say the least, starting with two trips to Wembley and a return to the top flight. However, the five years after relegation from the first division were marked by bewildering sackings, even more bewildering managerial appointments, a cost-cutting drive overseen by Colin Murphy and, finally, relegation to the fourth division in 1997 (at that time the third division, now known as League Two. I know). This was our first relegation to the fourth divi

Notts County went into the new League Two campaign as one of the pre-season promotion favourites following on from last season which saw the Magpies reach the playoffs defying all expections. There was a real hope last season with Notts riding high up the table, many tipping and even expecting them to go up automatically, but the form after Christmas left fans wondering if they would even make the playoffs, which they did only to beaten by eventual winners Coventry City. But 7 League games

(Nearly) 30 years of hurt 4 days, 6 weeks and 29 years ago was the last time Notts County were in the playoffs. Back then the Division 2 playoff promotion spot was won under Neil Warnock. That was the 1990/91 season, over nine years before I was born. Since then only one (arguably anti-climactic) playoff attempt- in the 2017/18 season- was made. It is probably an understatement to say: “The club's results in recent years have not lived up to the high expectations” (Reedtz brothers, 2019). O

Notts County, a name that echoes with fervour, commitment, and an unwavering love for football. Yet, behind every triumphant team is a legion of devoted supporters, the fans. Their role in the team's success is often understated, but as Notts County's captain Kyle Cameron and head coach Luke Williams have highlighted, they are the lifeblood of the club. The fans' impact is tangible, from the electrifying atmosphere they generate at matches to their steadfast support throughout the season. C

Michael O’Connor for me was the standout signing at the start of the season. As a player, he looked to have all the right qualities that Notts would require. However, for the most part of this 2016/17 season, he has been nothing short of average. I believe the recruitment at the club at the time had identified a player very much capable of being a fan favourite. Whilst the decision to name O’Connor as the captain did seem to be a good call, I would say that in hindsight it has lum

The play-offs are on. Finally, the National League gave the go ahead for them and the chance for one of six teams to win promotion to League Two for the 2020-21 season. The season was eventually decided on a PPG basis which meant most clubs kept their original position in the final standings bar a few changes. The biggest change of them all coming with Barnet moving from 11th to 7th and a play-off date with Yeovil. The stoppage of the league meant The Bees climbed above Stockport, Soli

This week's fixture list has thrown up some very interesting games and every one is important for all the teams, whether trying to avoid relegation or aiming for promotion. So this week I'm going through each game individually and the importance of each game will become apparent. I've made Notts County v Hartlepool my key game. *Important Game ** Key Game Saturday 6th February 2016 *Bristol Rovers v Wimbledon – Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction (2-0) *Cambridge v Dagenham &

With Jon Stead and Shola Ameobi both signing the contract extensions offered to them by Notts County, it dismisses my concerns over who can lead the Magpies front line during the 2017-18 season. The majority of fans I know were quietly confident about both of them signing, but I had my doubts and I thought it would be just one of the two staying put. Yet it is fantastic news that Kevin Nolan has successfully managed to retain them both, they showed us last season what a hard-working du

One striking difference I have noticed during the 2017-18 League Two season for Notts is that Kevin Nolan has delivered on his words. He has his side playing for the shirt, he’s tightened up the defence and made each player accountable on the pitch. It’s hard to imagine Notts playing like they did last season, especially under John Sheridan. When you think about changing the philosophy a team plays, you wouldn’t expect the changes to be made so quickly – yet it was visible upon the app

There's been many things unusual about 2020, both from a footballing and non-footballing perspective. One of the many unusual things from a Notts County point of view is that for the first time in any Notts fan's lifetime, Notts have not participated in the FA Cup this year due to an outbreak of COVID cases causing Notts to withdraw from the competition. As it is FA Cup 1st round weekend, an exciting weekend for any lower league football fan, I thought it would be a good time to look b

This week, the biggest sports news company in the world officially backed Notts County to win the League Two title. The Sky Sports League Two Predictor believes that the Magpies will finish top of the standings ahead of the likes of Luton Town, Coventry City and the other big sides in the division. My initial reaction was yet again to pinch myself, as the 2017-18 League Two campaign really has been something much different than previous seasons and it’s something which I hope isn’t jus

Hartlepool United presents Jamie Fullarton an excellent opportunity, as does the run of fixtures taking place within February. Yet, it’s tricky in a sense because we feature the Pools twice within recent weeks of each other and those games are quite hard for teams struggling to insert themselves on the field – especially when the first game is at home. York City, Leyton Orient and Accrington Stanley are games coming up. We also face a difficult Plymouth Argyle towards the

This season came off the back of a truly calamitous campaign in 1996-97 that saw Notts County embark on a record 20-match winless run and suffer relegation to the basement division for the first time since the 1960s. The manager was Sam Allardyce, who had inherited Colin Murphy's rudderless team part-way through that awful run. Allardyce made only modest changes to the previous season's squad in the summer. Dennis Pearce and Mark Robson arrived from Wolves and Charlton respectively, with th

I know I'm not the only Notts County fan who feels deflated following the last couple of months at Meadow Lane, seeing a side that, following full time in the New Year's Day win over Port Vale, was second in League Two - four points behind then leaders Luton Town and seven clear of fourth - now in fifth, seven adrift of the top three and just four above eighth. We've seen Notts put in superb performances this season and also grind out results, and it was superb to see - and obviously expect

Transfer sagas are usually the domain of clubs in the upper echelons of the football pyramid. Virtually all the players currently in the middle of the annual soap opera currently play for one top team and are rumoured to desire a move to another top team. Will David de Gea move to Real Madrid? Will Diego Costa return to Atletico Madrid? And so on and so on. It's basically the sort of cliche love triangle storyline you get in your typical soap opera / reality TV show, but adapted to the beau

What a great bit of business by Notts County in extending Cal Roberts’ contract at Meadow Lane to the end of the 2022-23 season. As a declaration of intent, it doesn’t get much better as he seems to be the talisman and when Roberts plays well, Notts are very difficult to hold. I guess that could be said about several players throughout history but what helps Roberts stand apart is that more than not since he joined us, he has actually played well. It’s fine to have some tricks and

This is an article basically to give a shout out to one of Notts County's most consistent performers who doesn’t get much praise on here. When he first arrived here I wrote him off as being too small and lightweight for the physicality of the national league but how wrong could I be? What he lacks in size he more than makes up in passion and fight. Dion never shies away from a battle and stands up to players much bigger than him. He flies into tackles winning the ball and making sure t

Five thousand, thanks. It’s been a few years in the making, but this weekend Notts County finally play their 5,000th Football League match away to Gillingham. It will be our 888th fourth division match. We’ve spent the largest share of our Football League existence in the third division (1528 matches), with 1516 matches played in the second division (now the Championship) and 1068 in the top flight, albeit mostly before the war. We are the eighth club to reach the landmark, after Prest