Swedish Magpies - The Trip

Seven years since our first and only visit. Seven exciting, long, sometimes joyful, but mostly nerve-wrecking years. But at the Oldham game the Swedish magpies were back, It wont take that long again.

There was a lot of boiled up excitement for both me and Fredric as we drove up from London city airport on Friday. Seven years ago we visited Meadow Lane and Notts County to write a big article about the club as a part of my journalism exam.

Since then we been fans, following intensely from afar by radio or the web. But at last we got the chance to be back. We left Nottingham overwhelmed – and wanting to return soon again.

Notts have often been described as a family club, now we know excatly why. After being contacted by Notts-Joe, who is the webmaster of Pride of Nottingham, we arranged to meet up with him along with his son Jake and friend Martin before the game to do a small interview about us Swedish magpies travelling to the game.

Just after we met, Notts-Joe introduced us to commercial manager Damian Irvine who really took us in.

Without us saying anything, we all found ourselves inside Meadow Lane, meeting players like Hayden Mullins and legend Mike Edwards, both really friendly, sitting in the dugout and much more.

Being on a Notts-high after that tour we were guided for a pitstop in the MLSB meeting more great fans – and the Norwegian magpies, before we found ourselves in the Kop. What a great feeling that was!

The Notts fans are truly great at creating an atmosphere. We went to see Manchester City vs Chelsea on the following Sunday (don't hold it against us) and I can tell you that the crowd of 45 000+ or so would have been out-sung.

Second half, sitting with Notts-Joe, Jake and Martin, almost got us on the field it felt and we really hoped for a goal to make the day perfect, but hey, at least we didnt lose and really, this club is about more than just the football and result.

People like Damian, Notts-Joe, Jake and Martin showed what this great club is all about and I know that there are more people like that who support Notts. That's one part of what makes this club great, never mind the division.

After saying goodbye to our new Notts-friends both Fredrik and I walked from Meadow Lane happy but hungry (we were supposed to eat before the game but then we met Notts-Joe and Damian....).

We left Nottingham the day after but I can promise it wont take seven years next time. Hopefully, after telling all our friends about our trip, there will be more than two Swedish magpies.